If you’re looking for a single reason to head to Commonwealth Stadium this season, look no further than Javon Leake.
Strategically, the punt game is a chess match of field position — a disciplined battle of hang time, lane integrity, and sure-handed tackling. Coaches preach the fundamentals: clean execution and zero mistakes. But every so often, the script gets flipped. A punt return can electrify a stadium, shift the entire momentum of a game, and etch a permanent memory into the minds of the fans.
That magic requires a perfect alignment of scheme and execution, but above all, it requires a “special guy” back deep.
The Elite Class
Edmonton’s history is defined by legendary returners like Henry “Gizmo” Williams, Joe Hollimon, Winston October, and Hank Highbaugh. Javon Leake is now knocking on the door of that exclusive club. To put his current impact into perspective, when looking at all Edmonton punt return seasons with a player with 50 returns or more, Gizmo in 1991 had a 14.7 yd/return, in 1993, he had a 13.9 yd/return, and Leak is third with 12.7
Historically speaking, Javon Leake was the Elks’ leading punt returner last season with 879 punt return yards on 69 returns. His 879 yards put him 10th on the single-season list, while his 1091 career punt return yards as an Elk put him 16th on the all-time career Elks list. Leake’s 92 career Elk punt returns have him currently sitting 23rd on the Elks’ all-time career punt returns list and have him poised to be the 21st Edmonton player to have 100 career punt returns for the team. The two punt return TDs by Leake made him the 8th Edmonton returner to have multi-TD returns in a season (Mike Fink, Joe Hollimon, Henry Williams (7x), Eddie Brown, Winston October, Tony Tompkins, and Tristan Jackson). It also places him tied for 7th on the single-season punt return TD list and tied for 6th on the career punt return TD list.
Elks Single Season Punt Return Yardage List
1 – 1440 – 1991 Henry Williams
2 – 1181 – 1989 Tony Hunter
3 – 1157 – 1993 Henry Williams
…
9 – 931 – 2005 Tony Thompkins
10 – 879 – 2025 Javon Leake
11 – 874 – 2004 Winston October
Elks Single Season Punt Returns List
1 – 118 – 1989 Tony Hunter
2 – 100 – 1982 Gary Hayes
3 – 98 – 1991 Henry Williams
…
25 – 70 1974 Dave Campbell
26 – 69 – 2025 Javon Leake
27 – 67 – 1994 Henry Williams
Elks All-Time Season Punt Return Yardage List
1 – 11,177 Henry Williams
2 – 2819 Winston October
3 – 2190 Larry Highbaugh
…
15 – 1181 – Tony Hunter
16 – 1091 – Javon Leake
17 – 988 – Oscar Kruger
Elks All-Time Season Punt Returns List
1 – 1003 – Henry Williams
2 – 299 – Bayne Norrie
3 – 278 – Rollie Miles
…
22 – 94 – Joe Hernandez
23 – 92 – Javon Leake
24 – 85 – Joe Burnett
Milestones for 2026
Edmonton has had only two 1000-yard punt returners in its history: Tony Hunter (1989) and Henry Williams (1991, 1992, 1993). Will Jeavon Leake be the 3rd?
See below for amazing accomplishments the Elks can accomplish this season in the Punt Return Game
- Punt returner with back-to back 800+ yd return seasons (2004 Winston October 833 yds, 2005 Tony Tomkins 931 yds),
- Same punt returner with back-to back 800+ yd return seasons (1992, 1993 Henry Williams),
- last punt returner to have a return TD in back-to-back season was Jason Armstead (2010, 2011)
- Javon Leake will move up 7 spots on the team’s all-time punt returns list with 47 punt returns.
- Javon Leake will move up 11 spots on the team’s all-time punt return yards list with 801 yds
No Edmonton returner has been this dangerous or as efficient as Leake for awhile. He isn’t just gaining yards, he’s chasing history.
Is it June yet?
