EDMONTON — The Edmonton Elks have signed the American running back Justin Rankin to a new one-year extension, the club announced on Saturday. The new deal runs through the 2025 season and replaces Rankin’s rookie contract.

Rankin joined the Elks in training camp before being released on May 19. The Kent State product was re-signed by the club on July 21, before becoming a prominent member of the Elks league leading rushing attack. Rankin racked up a CFL rookie record with 765 rushing yards on 98 carries (7.8 yards per carry) and five rushing touchdowns.

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The five-foot-10, 215-pound fullback eclipsed the 100-yard mark four times in 11 games, without receiving more than 17 carries in a single game. Rankin was second in the Canadian Football League in runs of 20+ yards with 10, one behind the league leader. Brady Oliveira who had 130 more carries than the Elks rusher. Rankin was named to the PFF Honor Roll in Week 11 for his 108-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Before joining the CFL, the Ohio native played for the Bay Area Panthers of the Indoor Football League in 2023, where he won the IFL National Championship. Rankin would finish second in the league in rushing yards (923) and touchdowns (45) with the Panthers. The 27-year-old also made stops with the Frisco Fighters in 2022 and the Bismarck Bucks in 2021.