
The Edmonton Elks have selected linebacker Joel Dublanko with the first overall pick in the 2024 Canadian Football League Draft. Dublanko is American born but was eligible for the draft because his father was born in Edmonton according to Matthew Washington of The Score.
Dublanko was initially ranked sixth in the CFL Scouting Bureau Rankings. However three of the players ranked ahead of him were drafted this past weekend in the National Football League Draft. They were Illinois offensive lineman Isaiah Adams of Ajax, Ontario (drafted by the Arizona Cardinals), tight end Theo Johnson of Winnipeg, Manitoba (drafted by the New York Giants), and tight end Tanner McLachlan of Lethbridge, Alberta (drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals).
Dublanko played College Football in the National Collegiate Athletic Association with the University of Cincinnati Bearcats from 2017 to 2021. In 50 games, he had 233 tackles (120 assisted tackles and 113 solo tackles), 22 tackles for a loss, 7.5 sacks, one interception for nine yards, one pass deflection, two fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles. The fumble recoveries and interception came in Bearcats wins. The fumble recoveries came in a 24-10 Bearcats win over Army on September 26, 2020, and in a 45-28 Bearcats win over South Florida on November 12, 2021. The interception came in a 35-20 Cincinnati win over Houston on December 4, 2021.
In 2022 and 2023, Dublanko was in training camp with the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks. This past season, he played for the Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League.
Joel’s cousin Curtis Dublanko of Thorsby, Alberta, played four seasons in the Canadian Football League from 2011 to 2014. Also a linebacker, he was with the Montreal Alouettes from 2011 to 2013, and with Edmonton in 2014.