MEDIA RELEASE | Elks sign pair of wide receivers, defensive backs
Rookie camp opens at Commonwealth Stadium May 7
.png "Kalon Barnes (above) is among the latest batch of players signed by the EE, as the Club prepares for CFL rookie camp, which opens May 7.")
EDMONTON — The Edmonton Elks have signed a pair of American wide receivers and defensive backs, as the countdown to the CFL training camp enters the home stretch.
When Edmonton's 2025 Rookie Camp opens May 7 at Commonwealth Stadium, Jacob Copeland (WR), CJ Hutton (WR), Kalon Barnes (DB), and Braxton Clark (DB) will be among the new faces looking to crack the Green and Gold roster. The four Americans' signings were announced Wednesday by the Club.
Copeland (5'11, 200) joins the Elks after attracting interest from NFL over the last two seasons, spending time with the Tennessee Titans, Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, and on two occasions the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Pensacola, Fla. product played collegiately at both Florida and Maryland. During his final year of college at Maryland, Copeland recorded 422 yards and three touchdowns at Maryland, before declaring for the NFL Draft.
Hutton (5'9, 180) arrives in Edmonton directly from the college ranks, after completing his career at UC Davis last season. The multifaceted talent finished second among Aggie receivers in 2024 with 669 receiving yards, making 51 receptions and scoring two touchdowns. He also led the team with 248 kickoff return yards, averaging 22.5 yards per game and had a return long of 72 yards.
Like Copeland, Barnes (6'0, 186) joins the Club after stints in the NFL following his college career. The defensive back spent time with five different NFL organizations between 2022 and 2024. Barnes ran a 4.23-second 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL Combine, which was the third-fastest time at the combine since electronic timing was first implemented in 1999. That performance helped the Baylor get selected in the seventh round (242nd overall) of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers.
Clark (6'4, 204) comes to Edmonton after playing at South Florida in 2023 where he recorded 26 tackles and one interception in 10 games played. He wrapped up his collegiate career with the Bulls after starting at Nebraska, where he played from 2018-22.
All four players will hit the field for the first time Wednesday, May 7 when the Club opens CFL rookie camp. It all leads to the team's regular season opener Saturday, June 7 when the Green and Gold travel to B.C. to take on the Lions, before opening the Club's home schedule on Thursday, June 19 against the Montreal Alouettes.
TRANSACTIONS
SIGNED:
- Jacob Copeland | AMER | WR | 5'11 | 200 LBS | 1999-07-20 | Pensacola, FL | Maryland
- CJ Hutton | AMER | WR | 5'9 | 180 LBS | 2002-04-04 | Folsom, CA | UC Davis
- Kalon Barnes | AMER | DB | 6'0 | 186 LBS | 1998-12-16 | Silsbee, TX | Baylor
- Braxton Clark | AMER | DB | 6'4 | 204 LBS | 1999-10-04 | Orlando, FL | South Florida
EDMONTON ELKS
The Edmonton Elks are proud members of the Canadian Football League, playing their home games at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta.
The club, officially renamed the Elks in June of 2021, has a tradition of excellence having won 14 Grey Cup championships (1954-56, 1975, 1978-82, 1987, 1993, 2003, 2005, 2015). Since its founding, the club remains focused on providing outstanding football memories for Edmonton and all of Northern Alberta.
Elks Football… Always Edmonton
Evan Daum