Rankin Aims To Keep Elks Alive Against Bombers - Beritaja

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EDMONTON – Through the first 8 games of the Edmonton Elks season, moving backmost Justin Rankin averaged 5.2 yards a transportation for 308 yards, doubly was held to zero yards successful a game, and scored conscionable 2 touchdowns.

The Elks were 2-6 complete that stretch.

In the 7 games since, the five-foot-10, 215-pound autochthonal of Oberlin, Ohio, has rushed for 530 yards, a 6.8-yard average, and six touchdowns. The Elks won 4 of those games to resurrect their playoff hopes, which are connected the statement again Saturday nighttime erstwhile they big the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

So what happened betwixt Weeks 10 and 11 of the CFL play that led to the turnaround for some Rankin and the Elks?

“Nothing really changed,” Rankin said this week aft he signed a statement hold done the 2027 season. “We had a batch of caller guys coming together, trying to get utilized to each other, each other’s playing styles, and believing successful each other.

“I deliberation that was the large point that did about apt change, we believed a batch more. It takes clip to build that chemistry and that bond.”

Offensive coordinator Jordan Maksymic backed that assessment, adding he and Stephen Sorrells, violative statement coach and tally crippled coordinator, besides had to find immoderate communal ground.

“It’s been a operation of schemes pinch coach Sorrells,” Maksymic said. “He and I had ne'er worked together truthful integrating really I spot things and really he sees things and past everybody coming together arsenic acold arsenic the players spell and taking what we study and thatch successful the gathering rooms to the field. We’ve decidedly deed our stride successful the past period aliases so.”

The pivotal individual successful the Elks improved capacity connected offence has been Rankin, an avid hiker who loves the Alberta parks and a self-proclaimed “pretty good” bowler successful the off-season, who was signed connected Nov. 23, 2023, released May 19, 2024, re-signed July 21 and yet made the roster connected Aug. 2.

“I was grateful,” Rankin said of the Elks giving him a 2nd chance. “They gave maine a chance to travel into campy and showcase my skills. That’s each I really asked for.”

His breakthrough crippled came connected Aug. 17 past twelvemonth erstwhile he ran for 108 yards and 3 touchdowns successful a 47-22 Edmonton triumph complete the Toronto Argonauts. That was Week 11. By season’s extremity he had rushed for 765 yards connected only 98 carries for a CFL-best 7.8 yards per carry.

“He’s been 1 of our champion players the full year,” caput coach Mark Kilam said of Rankin’s 2025 performance. “He’s explosive, has a ton of explosive plays, brings power each day, useful tremendously hard, awesome successful the room.

“He plays pinch a ton of heart. We cognize he’s incredibly skilled, has the flashy, sexy plays … he’s a awesome plus to the squad connected the section and successful the room. He loves the crippled and it shows successful the measurement he plays.”

The 6-9 Elks request a triumph complete the 8-7 Bombers to support their slim playoff hopes alive. An Edmonton nonaccomplishment and a Calgary triumph complete Hamilton eliminates the Elks. An Elks triumph by 14 points aliases much would springiness them a playoff tiebreaker complete Winnipeg but the Bombers could unafraid a playoff berth pinch a victory.

This study by BERITAJA was first published Oct. 10, 2025.

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"Rankin Aims To Keep Elks Alive Against Bombers - Beritaja"

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