Edmonton has a history of top receivers: Brian Kelly, Fred Stamps, Terry Vaughn, Tom Scott, Adarius Bowman, Jason Tucker, Ed Hervey, George McGowan, Tommy Joe Coffey and Derel Walker as your top 10. They are legends that defined the position with a mix of lethal route running, dependable hands, speed and discipline.
Last year, the Elks offence produced three 700+ yd receivers for the 24th time in franchise history. That is a great achievement, but when your general manager is Ed Hervey, the man in seventh on the team’s All-Time Receiving Yards List with 6,715 yds, he knows what a WR1 looks like because he was one.
Since Dec. 1, the front office has been busy, bringing in nine new faces to the receiving corps. The biggest acquisition is former Alouette, Austin Mack. I do not anticipate that Ed Hervey is done yet and is still hunting for the next piece to put this offence over the top.
Elks top seven Receivers in 2025
Julien-Grant 57 rec 820 yds 7 TD ***Extended
Gittens Jr 62 rec 777 yds 4 TD ***SIgned with Hamilton
Rankin 56 rec 713 yds 4 TD
Dunbar Jr 44 rec 511 yds 2 TD *** Free Agent – Retired
Smith 37 rec 402 yds 0 TD ***Free Agent
Hiliare 32 rec 400 yds 0 TD
Victor 32 rec 331 yds 1 TD
Receiver ddditions since Dec 1, 2025
Austin Mack ***Signed Jan 29/26
Brendan O’Leary-Orange ***Signed Feb 11/26
Joe Robustelli ***Signed Feb 10/26
Ayir Assante ***Signed Jan 23/26
Ketron Jackson Jr ***Signed Jan 23/26
Justin McGriff ***Signed Dec 22/25
JJ Jones ***Signed Dec 22/25
Justin Lockhart ***Signed Dec 22/25
Kolby Hurford ***Signed Dec 22/25 National
Jackson Tachinski ***Signed Dec 22/25 National
Historically Speaking
Kaion Julien-Grant was the Elks leading receiver last season with 820 receiving yards on 57 receptions. His 820 yds puts him 104th on the Single Season List while his 820 career receiving yards as an Elk puts him 97th on the All-Time Career Elks List. Retired Steven Dunbar Jr finishes his Elks career with 1047 receiving yards and 83rd on the Career Elks List. Running Back Justin Rankin had a productive year as areceiver with 713 yds and 4 TD receptions. His career 765 yds puts him tied for 104th with Bob Paffrath on the Career Elks List.
Elks Single Season Receiving Yards List
1 – 1812 – 1983 Kelly
2 – 1761 – 2016 Bowman
3 – 1687 – 2017 Zylstra
…
103 – 822 – 1997 Bowman
104 – 820 – 2025 Julien-Grant
105 – 817 – 2002 Hervey
Elks Single Season Receptions List
1 – 120 – 2016 Bowman
2 – 112 – 2014 Bowman
3- 109 – 2016 Walker
…
T75 – 62 1959 Smith
T75 – 62 – 1992 Ellis
T75 – 62 – 2011 Bowman
T75 – 62 – 2025 Gittens Jr
Elks All-Time Receiving Yds List
1 – 11,169 Brian Kelly
2 – 7932 Fred Stamps
3 – 7681 Terry Vaughn
…
82 – 1049 – Roy Bell
83 – 1047 – Steven Dunbar Jr
84 – 997 – Bobby Walden
Elks All-Time Receptions List
1 – 575 – Brian Kelly
2 – 545 – Terry Vaughn
3 – 496 – Fred Stamps
…
T85 – 83 – Cary Koch
T85 – 83 – Steven Dunbar Jr
Milestones for 2026
The Elks have had only 1 – 1000yd receiver since the COVID shutdown (Eugene Lewis 1070 yds in 2024). Below summarizes historical production as a group. Where will this group land this year?
- 3 receivers over 700 receiving yards (24 times), 4 receivers over 700 yards (twice – 1982 & 2018)
- 3 receivers over 800 receiving yards (13 times),
- 3 receivers over 900 receiving yards (3 times),
- 2 receivers over 1000 receiving yards (19 times),
- 3 receivers over 1000 receiving yards (once – 1981 Brian Kelly, Tom Scott, Waddell Smith),
- a newcomer getting 1000 yds receiving will place 84th on the all-time receiving yards list
- a newcomer getting 2000 yds receiving will place 39th on the all-time receiving yards list and superstar status
- Justin Rankin will move up 30 spots on the teams all-time receiving yards list with 349 yds,
- Justin Rankin will move up 50 spots on the teams all-time receiving yards list with 853 yds
Is it June yet?
