The Edmonton Elks have released American quarterback Todd Centeio and American receiver Arkell Smith.
Centeio played his final collegiate season at James Madison University in 2022, winning Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year after posting an 8-2 record as a starter. He completed 181-of-284 pass attempts for 2,697 yards, 25 touchdowns, and five interceptions, while rushing for 366 yards and seven majors.
A two-time transfer, the native of West Palm Beach, Fla. spent his first three seasons at Temple University before a two-year stint at Colorado State. He dressed for 47 games and started 23 between all three programs, completing 61.2 percent of his passes for 6,475 yards, 48 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. He also rushed for 1,132 yards and 10 scores.
Centeio did not land a contract after going unselected in the 2023 NFL Draft, settling for a rookie mini-camp tryout with the Kansas City Chiefs. He later signed with the XFL’s Orlando Guardians but saw his opportunity disappear when that team folded in the midst of a merger with the USFL.
Smith made 196 catches for 2,816 yards and 34 touchdowns over 41 career games at the University of Central Missouri, a Division II program in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. He is the program’s all-time record holder in receptions and receiving touchdowns.
The 24-year-old native of Carthage, Mo. was named first-team All-MIAA and a first-team AP Division II All-American this past season as he recorded 1,425 yards and 18 touchdowns through the air.
The Elks will open their 2024 regular season by hosting the Saskatchewan Roughriders at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday, June 8.
