`Bad-luck' linebacker picks new number

Coming back to a club that decided to change its name and logo in his absence, second-year Edmonton Elks linebacker Vontae Diggs took things one step further and switched numbers heading into training camp.

The 25-year-old University of Connecticut product rocketed onto the Canadian Football League scene as a rookie in 2019, initially brought in to back up free-agent acquisition Jovan Santos-knox.

But three games in, Santos-knox went down to injury and Diggs stepped up, earning 73 tackles, 11 more on special teams, two sacks, one forced fumble and two recoveries on his way to being Edmonton's nominee for most outstanding rookie. All the while wearing No. 43.

But he's since shaved 30 digits off his back, sporting No. 13 for 2021.

“I love 43, I'm grateful for it, but in college, if I could have worn it in any of the other leagues I played in, I would have,” said Diggs, who is returning to the same number he wore at U-conn, while getting No. 48 during the NFL pre-season he spent with the Washington Football Team in 2018.

“But I had an opportunity to wear it this year, so I wanted to come back to it. This is who I am. My guys used to call me a little bad-luck player, you know, for certain people? A little kryptonite around here. Freaky Friday's my thing.

“We're ready to go. I've got my old number back, feeling like my old self. Really excited, really comfortable and I think that's one of the biggest changes with me. I'm comfortable. As a rookie, I was stuck with all the waggles and all the motions, this, that. But now, I'm more comfortable and more me.”

One other potential change has seen Diggs taking reps early on in the camp process at middle linebacker, as well as his familiar position outside at WIL LB, as the coaching staff, including new defensive co-ordinator Noel Thorpe, test drive some ideas to fill the void left behind by last season's most outstanding defensive player nominee Larry Dean.

LABOUR OF LOVE

This week, the Elks announced kids get in free to the annual Labour Day Rematch against the Calgary Stampeders.

All youth 17 and under can receive free admission into Commonwealth Stadium for the Week 6 tilt on Saturday, Sept. 11, (5 p.m., TSN).