{"id":676296,"date":"2026-05-17T22:05:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-17T22:05:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/676296\/"},"modified":"2026-05-17T22:05:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-17T22:05:13","slug":"former-badger-defensive-tackle-suddenly-has-new-life-in-the-cfl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/676296\/","title":{"rendered":"Former Badger defensive tackle suddenly has new life in the CFL"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Wisconsin defensive tackle Elijah Hills was one of the better transfers Luke Fickell has gotten over the years. He came from Albany and was part of a key rotational defensive line unit that helped the Badgers stop the run and get into the backfield to take down the quarterback. As a senior, <\/a>he had 26 tackles, 3 sacks, and even a pass deflection. It earned him an opportunity for a rookie minicamp with the San Francisco 49ers. <\/a><\/p>\n

That opportunity didn’t pan out, and then he disappeared (more on that in a minute). But recently, he turned back up in the CFL when the Calgary Stampeders signed him<\/a> and now have listed him on their depth chart as part of a rotational defensive line (again). <\/p>\n

Our first depth chart of the season is here \ud83d\ude4c<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udccb Download full chart here: https:\/\/t.co\/gC1ga9nrxy<\/a>#TogetherWeRide<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/I5kZ6HY52J<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Calgary Stampeders (@calstampeders) May 17, 2026<\/a>Former Badger Elijah Hills is now playing in the CFL for the Calgary Stampeders<\/p>\n

Related: Luke Fickell can\u2019t afford to lose Ryan Hopkins and needs a long-term plan now<\/a><\/p>\n

Hills has always been a little bit under the radar, which is one of the ways in which Wisconsin found him at Albany. His performance as a Badger landed him a chance in the NFL. However, when that didn’t work out, it looked like his playing days may be behind him. In fact, he turned up at his high school as an assistant freshman football coach. <\/a><\/p>\n

But he clearly didn’t give up his dream of playing professionally, and his agent was working to get him tryouts. It was Calgary this time that found him. Hills will now get another opportunity to find his way towards the NFL or at least as a mainstay in the CFL.<\/p>\n

He’s currently not listed as the top starter in the defensive tackle room but as the backup. The 6’3, 282-pound defensive tackle is listed at No. 2, but as defensive lines work, he will find plenty of snaps on the field. Good for Elijah, and on Wisconsin! <\/p>\n

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