Elks extend OL Martez Ivey; sign DL Jonathan Kongbo

EDMONTON — The trenches in Edmonton just got a little bit deeper.

American offensive lineman Martez Ivey has signed a two-year extension, the Elks announced on Monday. In addition, the club has signed National defensive lineman Jonathan Kongbo.


This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.cfl.ca/2025/01/13/elks-extend-ol-martez-ivey-sign-dl-jonathan-kongbo
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If Kongbo lives up to his draft billing he’ll be a good add. At this point he doesn’t move the needle for me. As for Ivez, it’s an understatement to say he had a great season. This from Pro Football Focus:

" Ivey concluded 2024 as the top offensive lineman overall at 77.3 with the highest run-blocking grade at an outstanding 86.1, plus a pass-blocking grade at 63.4."

Not much notice has been paid to the Elk OL. The Elks, should they bring back Foucault & Richards, will have the highest rated starting 5 in the CFL going into this season. Per PFF again - “Boyko finished as the top right tackle in the CFL with a 76.0 overall grade.”

Squishy may have a lot to talk about this year.

I’ll be cheering for BC native Kongbo despite the fact that he’s playing for the Elks :+1:

Lots and lots of Nationals for Elks DLine this spring tryout camp. Elks could put 2 starting Nationals on the D line. An embarrassment of riches?

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I don’t think Foucault will be back. I heard back problems for him. I think he missed a few games to start the season because of that last season. Too bad. He and ivey were not just opening holes but Foucault was setting the edge and trapping overeager LB’s in the middle of the field.

So far best guess is Beard is at centre, Korte will take Foucault’s spot at RG, there was talk EE had possibly signed MacKeller from Toronto who I think would be a development/rotation guy at RG, if the report is correct and Toronto didn’t make a qualifying offer.

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Agree. I wonder if Grohovac is ready to take on a bigger role. Take on him is he’s a road grader. Jack-Kurdyla was a high draft pick - missed all last season but has 18 CFL starts. They have a bunch of youngsters. I’d like to see them bring Richards back while some of the younger guys develop. Not sure which way they go on that open spot.

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I had Korte on the wrong side, he’s left guard.

Ghrovac got a little time at RG last season behind Richards, Steward got a few reps at RT too, I think both need a little more time. They need to be rotation guys and get a little more experience before we turn them loose. In the last preseason we put all the development guys in the game in the 4th quarter and maybe they are better now, but they were not good then.

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