Elks select Dublanko first overall in CFL Draft

EDMONTON — The Edmonton Elks selected University of Cincinnati linebacker Joel Dublanko with the first overall pick in the 2024 CFL Draft on Tuesday.

The six-foot-three linebacker spent the 2023 season with the Philadelphia Stars in the USFL, appearing in seven games, totaling 27 total tackles. Prior to joining the spring league, Dublanko signed with the New Orleans Saints after going undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft. After a brief stint with the Saints, Dublanko joined the Seattle Seahawks, playing in all three of their preseason games, where he registered 22 tackles, 0.5 sacks and one pass deflection.

“We are excited to have a player of Joel’s calibre in our building. High football IQ, leadership, a winner and a high character individual is what we’re getting,” says Elks assistant general manager Geroy Simon.

WELCOME TO EDMONTON, JOEL DUBLANKO 🥳 @JDublanko29 is headed from @GoBearcatsFB to the @GoElks!

📺: #CFLDraft on TSN
📱: Stream on TSN+ pic.twitter.com/pddFZV0kWU

— CFL (@CFL) May 1, 2024

Dublanko played five seasons for the Cincinnati Bearcats (2017-21), where he earned All-AAC First Team honours as a graduate student in 2021. He also served as a team captain and led the team with 113 tackles in his final season. In 63 career games for the Bearcats, the Aberdeen, Wash., native finished with 233 total tackles, 22 tackles-for-loss, 7.5 sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles. Dublanko was also a part of Cincinnati’s back-to-back American Athletic Conference championships in 2020 and 2021.

2024 marks the 75^th season of pro football in Edmonton, as the Elks open a new CFL campaign on Saturday, June 8 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Commonwealth Stadium. Season tickets are available now, with all youth season tickets $75 (17 and under) and adult tickets starting at $175.

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