The Edmonton Wildcats have high hopes for the 2024 season as they look to get back into the conversation when it comes to the Canadian Bowl playoff picture.

Their special teams can play a massive role this coming season, setting their offence up with decent field position after forcing the opposition to kick.  Breyan Elias will be an important part as he enters his second year.

The strength in his game is his speed and vision on the field, two assets that allow a kick returner to be successful.  Players like Elias rely on their vision to see even the smallest of holes open up, then use their burst of speed to get through them before they close.

Elias not only has team goals of getting back into the playoffs, but has some personal goals as well.  He is working towards growing into a better kick returner and wants to contribute as receiver.   As a rookie last season, he returned nine kick-offs, averaging 33.7 yards and had a pair of touchdowns.  He returned 16 punts averaging 8.2 yards and on the offensive side had six receptions for 51 yards and did get into the endzone for a major. 

Those two kick-off returns for touchdowns both came in the same game against the Calgary Colts last season.  It’s no surprise that he also calls that game, the favourite in his young CJFL career.  Incredibly they came on consecutive kick-offs, helping the Wildcats to their first win of the season.

The first kick-off return for a touchdown is his career highlight so far.  He said he had great blocking up front, burst into the gap and saw nothing but green grass in front of him the rest of the way down the field to pay dirt. This play also made people suddenly get up and watch him proving that just because he was a rookie, doesn’t mean he couldn’t have an immediate impact.

The Wildcats open their season when they meet the Colts in Calgary on August 11th.  Elias will be ready to snag that opening kick-off and hopes history will repeat itself. 

Breyan Elias is a CJFL Player to Watch in 2024!