Esks Headlines

Esks sign 2, release 1

630 CHED Sports — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:49:00 GMT

Three moves announced by the Eskimos today, all involving non imports.

Released after two years with the team, defensive back Delroy Clarke, who saw action on special teams. He was acquired from Toronto just before the start of the 2011 CFL season.

Signing with the Eskimos today, two players that were selected by other teams in last years CFL draft.

Receiver Ismael Bamba , who was born in the Ivory Coast but played college at Sherbrooke, and defensive lineman Gregory Alexandre from Montreal.

Bamba was a 6th round pick of the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2012, Alexandre was taken in the 5th round by the Toronto Argonauts.

The Eskimos will open training camp on June 2nd, and play their first pre season game on June 14th.

Eskimos draft defensive lineman; seven picks overall

630 CHED Sports — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:31:00 GMT

The Eskimos have taken defensive lineman Stefan Charles with their first pick of the CFL draft.

Charles is 6'5" and 310 pounds. He played his university ball at Regina. He was a first team All-Canadian and a Canada West all-star in 2011. He battled an injury in 2012 and missed half the season. In three seasons with the Cougars, Charles registered 50.5 tackles and ranks fourth in school history with 9.5 sacks.

The Eskimos took Charles with the first pick of the second round as they didn't have a pick in the first round, Charles currently is under contract with the NFL's Tennessee Titans.

The Eskimos with their first of two selections in the third round picked St. Mary's linebacker Kyle Norris who'll give the Eskimos a big body on special teams, Norris is listed at 6'3, 232 pounds. The Eskimos then looked to the University of Regina Rams to select 6'7 290 pound offensive lineman Chris Mercer with their second pick of the third round.

The Eskimos pulled off a trade with the Calgary Stampeders sending non-import defensive lineman Etienne Legare for a fourth round pick. The Eskimos selected Ottawa offensive lineman Taylor Servais, 6'7, 300 pounds. The Eskimos also picked long snapper Jorgen Hus from the University of Regina in the fourth round. Hus currenlty has a contract wih the St. Louis Rams.

The Eskimos didn't draft until the sixth round, they picked 6'2, 270 pound Bishop's defensive end Elie Nyogi. At the CFL combine in March, he had the best result on the bench press recording 40 reps at 225 pounds.

The Eskimos stayed home with their final selection of the draft selecting U of A fullback Smith Wright.

General manager Ed Hervey says he wanted to address an overall team need.

"Everything about this draft was about being physically tough, finding those players that fit what we're doing here," Hervey explained. "The persona that we want to carry forward."

Next up for the Eskimos is training camp which begins on June 2nd. (jrw/dc)

Esks re-sign Henry

630 CHED Sports — Wed, 01 May 2013 21:18:00 GMT

The Eskimos re-sign receiver Marcus Henry. Henry, 27, spent the last two years in green and gold, pulling in 61 catches for 766 yards and two touchdowns.

The Esks also sign defensive back Otis Merrill, who spent some time with the Green Bay Packers last season. He played his college ball at Illinois State. (jrw)

Eskimos continue support of grassroots football through 50-50 program

Dave Campbell — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:22:00 GMT

The Edmonton Eskimos and the University of Alberta Golden Bears are teaming up once again in support of amateur football.

The Eskimos are looking to match last year's contribution to the Golden Bears from their 50-50 program of $50,000 once again in the 2013 CFL season.

The monies received by the Golden Bears will be dedicated to the Edmonton Eskimos Golden Bear Scholarship program in support of amateur football in Northern Alberta.

Current Eskimos offensive lineman Gord Hinse played three seasons with the Golden Bears and says the partnership is very important.

"We're both Edmonton teams, both striving to compete, and make good football in Alberta," Hinse said. "I think if can foster that at the lower levels, especially through the University, it will pay dividends for the Eskimos down the road."

Eskimos general manager Ed Hervey says it's important to support grassroots football in Edmonton and Northern Alberta.

"They're a lot of kids in this area that aspire to play football and go to this University," Hervey said. "Speaking in football terms and the contribution of the 50-50 funds, we all have discussions that are the same, we want to keep Edmonton's kids here playing football. Those funds are earned here, they're spent at our games, and they're re-distrubuted back into the community."

The U of A Golden Bears have opened their spring camp as 127 players, including 55 returnees are vying for 85 available roster spots for upcoming 2013 Canada West season.

Esks sign OL Rockhill

Morley Scott — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 20:33:00 GMT

The Edmonton Eskimos have agreed to terms with offensive lineman Carson Rockhill. The rights to the 6 foot 6 284 pounder were acquired from the HamiltonTiger Cats in a February trade. He was a 2nd round selection of the Ti-Cats in the 2012 CFL draft, 13th overall, but elected to go back to school at the University of Calgary.

Rockhill was traded to the Eskimos February 5th, along with LB Nathan Kanya in excahnge for OL Greg Wojt, LB Simoni Lawrence and QB Jeremiah Masoli.

Scott sticks with Esks

630 CHED Sports — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 22:02:00 GMT

The Edmonton Eskimos have resigned receiver Tyler Scott.

The Windsor native has been with the Esks since signing a free agent in July of 2010, though he missed all of 2012 after suffering a broken collarbone in training camp.

Scott was drafted by Toronto in 2008. He has 47 career catches for 627 yards and two touchdowns. (jrw)

Former Eskimos assistant coach Lancaster Jr. passes away

630 CHED Sports — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:52:00 GMT

Former Edmonton Eskimos assistant coach Ron Lancaster Jr. has passed away.

Lancaster Jr., the son of the late Ron Lancaster was found dead in his Hamilton apartment on Tuesday night. He coached junior and high school football in Hamilton since 2007.

Lancaster Jr. served as the Eskimos offensive coordinator in 1996 and 1997. He returned to the green and gold in 2005 as an offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach. His last season in Edmonton was in 2006.

He won a Grey Cup title in Edmonton in 2005. He also served as an assistant coach with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the Toronto Argonauts, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

Eskimos make trade with Argonauts

630 CHED Sports — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 20:37:00 GMT

The Edmonton Eskimos have traded non-import defensive lineman Jermaine Reid and two fifth round picks in the 2013 CFL Canadian College Draft to the Toronto Argonauts for 2013 third round draft pick.

Reid played 25 games over two seasons with the Eskimos recording 24 defensive tackles, and three quarterback sacks.

Esks fined for tampering

630 CHED Sports — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 22:26:00 GMT

The CFL has fined the Eskimos $10,000 for tampering.

It's in connection with the signing of defensive lineman Odell Willis. The Eskimos were in touch with Willis before he became a free agent last month.

The Esks announced Willis' signing shortly after free agency began on February 15. He spent last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. (jrw)

Esks open season against Riders

630 CHED Sports — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:15:00 GMT

The Eskimos will open the 2013 regular season at home against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. It'll be on Saturday, June 29 at 1:30pm.

Including the pre-season, the Roughriders make three trips to Commonwealth Stadium.

The Esks will host the CFL Hall of Fame game on Saturday, October 5 against Montreal.

Ricky Ray and Grey Cup champion Toronto Argos will be here on Saturday, September 28th.

Edmonton will play four home games in five weeks from September 6 to October 5.

All Eskimos home games will be played on either Friday or Saturday.

For a look at the full Esks schedule, click here. (jrw)