MEDIA RELEASE | Nine Elks named to 2026 West Division All-CFL Team
Nine nominees is the most for any team in the CFL's West Division
EDMONTON - The Canadian Football League announced the 2026 Divisional All-CFL teams on Thursday, and the Elks led the West with a division-best nine nominees.
It was the Green and Gold's defence that led the way with four nominees, including three members of the secondary.
Malik Carney was named a Divisional All-CFLer for the first time in his career after a dominant season that saw the defensive end record a team-high 11 sacks (second in the CFL), while forcing a league-high four fumbles. The season was highlighted by an all-time performance in Week 19 at Hamilton, where Carney racked up six tackles, a forced fumble, and tied a Double E franchise record with four sacks in a game.
Carney is joined by two other first-time nominees in halfback Kordell Jackson and cornerback JJ Ross — as well as two-time West Division All-CFL cornerback Tyrell Ford (2024, 2026). The trio of defenders helped pace an Elks defence that forced a CFL-leading 29 interceptions — including Ford's league-best seven picks.
On offence, it was the resurgent Austin Mack who led the charge for the Elks. The Ohio State product was named a Divisional All-CFLer for the second time in his career courtesy of 1,254 receiving yards (fifth in the league) and nine receiving touchdowns (tied for second in the CFL). He is joined by offensive lineman Carter O'Donnell and fullback Skyler Griffith, who played an instrumental role in the Elks league-best 2,296 rushing yards this season.
The Elks special teams were also well represented in the Divisional awards, with league Most Outstanding Special Teams Player candidate Vincent Blanchard garnering his first nomination after a historic season. The second-year kicker connected on a Double E record 55 of 59 field goals (93.2 per cent), while also adding 42 converts for a CFL-leading 211 points. Blanchard would set the CFL record for field goals in a game with a flawless 9-for-9 performance in Week 17 vs Hamilton. Punter Jake Julien picks up his second West Division All-CFL nod after leading the West in punting average for a third consecutive season.
View the full list of All-CFL Divisional nominees below:
2026 DIVISIONAL ALL-CFL TEAMS
(POS | West Division | East Division) * National
OFFENCE:
- QB | Nathan Rourke* (BC) | Davis Alexander (MTL)
- RB | Brady Oliveira* (WPG) | Travis Theis (MTL)
- FB/TE | Skyler Griffith* (EDM) | Jacob Mason* (MTL)
- REC | KeeSean Johnson (SSK) | Tyson Philpot* (MTL)
- REC | Austin Mack (EDM) | Tyler Snead (MTL)
- REC | Keon Hatcher Sr. (BC) | Damonte Coxie (TOR)
- REC | Jalen Philpot* (CGY) | David Ungerer III* (TOR)
- REC | Kian Schaffer-Baker* (SSK) | Ayden Eberhardt (OTT)
- C | Logan Ferland* (SSK) | Peter Nicastro* (TOR)
- G | Christy Nkanu* (CGY) | Pier-Olivier Lestage* (MTL)
- G | Carter O’Donnell* (EDM) | Brandon Revenberg* (HAM)
- OT | Jarell Broxton (WPG) | Nick Callender (MTL)
- OT | Jermarcus Hardrick (SSK) | Tiger Shanks* (MTL)
DEFENCE:
- DE | Clarence Hicks (CGY) | Shawn Lemon (TOR)
- DE | Malik Carney (EDM) | Phillip Ossai (HAM)
- DT | Jake Ceresna (WPG) | Mustafa Johnson (MTL)
- DT | Jaylon Hutchings (CGY) | Ralph Holley (TOR)
- LB | Darnell Sankey (BC) | Tyrice Beverette (MTL)
- LB | Jameer Thurman (SSK) | Isaac Darkangelo (TOR)
- CLB | Deontai Williams (BC) | Adarius Pickett (TOR)
- CB | Tyrell Ford* (EDM) | Lorenzo Burns (MTL)
- CB | J.J. Ross (EDM) | Benjie Franklin (TOR)
- HB | Evan Holm (WPG) | Robert Kennedy III (MTL)
- HB | Kordell Jackson (EDM) | Wesley Sutton (MTL)
- S | Jackson Findlay* (BC) | Alonzo Addae* (OTT)
SPECIAL TEAMS:
- K | Vincent Blanchard* (EDM) | José Maltos Díaz (MTL)
- P | Jake Julien* (EDM) | James Burnip (TOR)
- ST | Trey Vaval (WPG) | Janarion Grant (TOR)
- S | Mike Benson* (SSK) | Louis-Philippe Bourassa* (MTL)
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