The Edmonton Elks have signed American defensive backs Marloshawn Franklin Jr., Ky’el Hemby, and Antonio Mitchell.
Franklin was a member of the Ottawa Redblacks and B.C. Lions in 2019, though he never dressed for a regular season game. The native of Detroit, Mich. played for the Hamburg Sea Devils of the European League of Football in 2021 and made 22 tackles, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles in six games.
Hemby played three years at Southern Mississippi from 2018 to 2020 after starting his collegiate career at Iowa Western Community College in 2017. He made nine interceptions over 34 games with the Golden Eagles, ranking third in the nation with six interceptions in 2018 when he was named second-team All-Conference USA.
Mitchell was a collegiate sprinter who had stints at Riverside Community College (2017-19), Arizona State University (2019-21) and Purdue University (2021-22). He twice won the California Community College Athletic Association championship in the 100-metre event and once in the 200-metre event. He has not played football since he attended high school.
