J-Min Pelley
{{Short description|J-Min Pelley, a Canadian gridiron football player (born 1998)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2015}}
{{Infobox Canadian Football League biography
| name = J-Min Pelley
| team =
| image = {{CSS image crop |Image=J-Min Pelly meets fan.jpg|bSize=500 |cWidth=230|cHeight=300 |oTop=100 |oLeft=130 |Location=center}}
| caption = Pelley with the Edmonton Elks in 2022
| status = Active
| import = no
| position1 = DL
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|03|23}}
| birth_place = Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| death_date =
| death_place =
| number =
| CIS = Calgary
| amateur_title = CJFL
| amateur_team = Okanagan Sun
| high_school =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lbs = 330
| CFLDraftedYear = 2022
| CFLDraftedRound = 2
| CFLDraftedPick = Supplemental
| CFLDraftedTeam = Edmonton Elks
| playing_years1 = {{CFL Year|2022}}–{{CFL Year|2024}}
| playing_team1 = Edmonton Elks
| career_highlights =
| CFL = j-min-pelley/162614/
}}
J-Min Pelley (born March 23, 1998) is a Canadian professional football defensive lineman who is currently a free agent. He most recently played for the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played U Sports football for the Calgary Dinos.
Amateur career
Pelley received "Athlete of the Year" honours with his Bishop McNally High School, playing football, rugby, basketball, and track.
Pelley played with his University team the Calgary Dinos in 2019 and 2020. Before signing with Calgary he received offers from multiple universities. Pelley said he wanted to play for his hometown, and that he wanted to play with the Dinos specifically because he watched them when he was younger.{{cite news |last=Neumann |first=Jack |url=https://godinos.com/news/2019/1/14/football-signed-j-min-pelley.aspx |title=SIGNED: J-Min Pelley |work=GoDinos |date=2019-01-14 |accessdate=2022-10-08 }} He won the 55th Vanier Cup with them in 2019, while making 2 sacks in the championship game.{{Cite web|url=https://usports.ca/en/sports/football/m/events/4016880|title=Event #4016880 — Men’s Football — U SPORTS|website=U SPORTS|language=en|access-date=2022-10-08|archive-date=October 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004220705/https://usports.ca/en/sports/football/m/events/4016880|url-status=dead}} He was also selected to the second all Canadian team on defense in the same year.{{Cite web|url=https://usports.ca/en/sports/football/m/news/2019/11/2602352540/western-qb-merchant-highlights-2019-award-winners-and-all-canadians|title=Western QB Merchant highlights 2019 award winners and all-Canadians|website=U SPORTS|language=en|access-date=2019-12-09|archive-date=October 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004235429/https://usports.ca/en/sports/football/m/news/2019/11/2602352540/western-qb-merchant-highlights-2019-award-winners-and-all-canadians|url-status=dead}}
Pelley played with the Okanagan Sun in 2018 and earned conference all star status.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bcfootballconference.com/roster_players/26359978|title=OKANAGAN SUN - 2018 Regular Season - Roster - #55 - Jmin Pelley - DL|website=BC Football|language=en|access-date=2022-08-09|archive-date=October 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004221723/https://www.bcfootballconference.com/roster_players/26359978|url-status=dead}} He also played with Football Canada on the 2016 junior national team.{{Cite web|url=https://footballcanada.com/team-canada/player-profiles/j-min-pelley/|title=J-Min Pelley - Football Canada|website=Football Canada|language=en|access-date=2022-08-09|archive-date=October 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004201337/https://footballcanada.com/team-canada/player-profiles/j-min-pelley/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news |last=De Paoli |first=Gino |url=https://www.okotoksonline.com/articles/kellogg-representing-canada-in-china-at-the-world-junior-football-championships |title=Kellogg Representing Canada in China At The World Junior Football Championships |work=Okotoks Online |date=2016-07-06 |accessdate=2022-10-08 }}
Professional career
The Edmonton Elks drafted Pelley in the 2022 CFL Supplemental Draft.{{cite news|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2022/05/05/elks-take-dl-j-min-pelley-stamps-take-t-j-rayam-in-supplemental-draft/|title=Elks take DL J-Min Pelley, Stamps take T.J. Rayam in Supplemental Draft|publisher=Canadian Football League|date=May 5, 2022}} Pelley was not eligible until the 2023 Draft but was granted special inclusion by Randy Ambrosie, the CFL Commissioner. Pelley was rated highly as a prospect, and was considered to have been a top three pick if he was eligible.{{cite news |last=Campbell |first=Dave |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/8813096/edmonton-elks-cfl-supplemental-draft-defensive-lineman-pelley/ |title=Elks take hulking defensive lineman Pelley in CFL supplemental draft |work=Global News |date=2022-05-05 |accessdate=2022-10-04 }} When talking about Pelley being an option for the 2022 Supplemental draft, Jeff Hamilton of the Winnipeg Free Press said Pelley's availability to Edmonton (along with their expected first overall pick) would give them a clear advantage. Hamilton also discussed that Pelley may have been made available due to him having aged out of junior football, and having to wait a year before the 2023 CFL Draft may have caused issues with Pelleys raising children.{{cite news |last=Hamilton |first=Jeff |url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/featured/2022/04/19/negotiations-about-to-heat-up |title=Negotiations about to heat up |work=Winnipeg Free Press |date=2022-04-19 |accessdate=2022-10-08 }}
Before the first home game of the 2022 season, promoting Commonwealth Stadium's clear bag policy, Pelley was involved in an ad for the Elks branded clear bags. In it, he pours out a can of baked beans into the bag, before taking a handful and eating them. This ad earned him the nickname "Big Bean Guy."{{Cite tweet |user=GoElks |number=1538265298326827008 |title=DL J-Min Pelley - BIG BEAN GUY 🫘 🚨 REMINDER ELKS FANS - CLEAR BAG POLICY 🚨 Bags must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and not exceed 12″ x 6″ x 12. Even for your beans... For more information visit - https://bit.ly/3iegiod #GoElks #CFL #Beans #Football}}
In an interview about the Battle of Alberta, Pelley talked about the switch from Calgary to Edmonton. Having formerly played for the Calgary Dinos, who share McMahon Stadium with the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL, he noted how it felt confusing going to the visitors locker-room after years of playing for Calgary.{{cite news |last= Moddejonge |first=Gerry |url=https://edmontonsun.com/sports/football/cfl/edmonton-elks/next-generation-of-edmonton-elks-getting-familiar-with-alberta-rivalry |title=Next generation of Edmonton Elks getting familiar with Alberta rivalry |work=Edmonton Sun |date=2022-07-06 |accessdate=2022-10-08}}
In the 2022 season, Pelley appeared in 16 games and recorded 11 total tackles.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/players/j-min-pelley/162614/|publisher=Canadian Football League|title=J-Min Pelley}}
In January 2023 Pelley declared for the 2023 NFL draft.{{cite news |last=Abbott |first=JC |url=https://3downnation.com/2023/01/20/edmonton-elks-defensive-tackle-j-min-pelley-declares-for-2023-nfl-draft/ |title=Edmonton Elks’ defensive tackle J-Min Pelley declares for 2023 NFL Draft |work=Three Down Nation |date=2023-01-20 |accessdate=2023-01-21 }}
On February 12, 2025, it was announced that Pelley had been released by the Elks.{{Cite web |date=2025-02-12 |title=TRANSACTIONS: Elks re-sign Acheampong, release Pelley |url=https://www.goelks.com/2025/02/12/transactions-elks-re-sign-acheampong-release-pelley/ |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=Edmonton Elks |language=en}}
Playing style
Pelley is known for his ability to push through opponents,{{Cite tweet |user=lemonspread |number=1567543340828073984 |title=This is why @J_m_i_n is double teamed so often. Dangerous to take this man 1 on 1}}/{{cite news |last=Moore |first=Wayne |url=https://www.castanet.net/news/BCFC/233096/Sun-ready-for-season |title=Sun ready for season |work=Castanet |publisher=Castanet |date=2018-08-04 |accessdate=2022-10-08}} allowing him to have taken position as running back for a touchdown with the Dinos.{{Cite tweet |user=Dinos_Football |number=1175217081513414656 |title=J-MIN PELLEY! The big man brings the ball into the end zone and makes it 7-0 Dinos! #GoDinos}}/ He is also known for his ability to create pressure that causes opponents to rethink their strategy when playing against him.{{cite news |last=DeDekker |first=Jeff |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/cfl/cfl-roughriders-elks-recap-sept-16-1.6586202 |title=Elks pull out dramatic win over Roughriders with late field goal |work=CBC |publisher=CBC |date=2022-09-17 |accessdate=2022-10-08}}
Edmonton Elks defensive line coach Demetrious Maxie described Pelly as "One of a Kind" as well as quick, athletic, bright, and explosive.{{cite news |last=Moddejonge |first=Gerry |url=https://edmontonsun.com/sports/football/cfl/edmonton-elks/cornelius-not-playing-a-third-game-in-a-week-this-time-against-lions |title=Cornelius not playing a third game in a week this time against Lions |work=Edmonton Sun |date=2022-08-05 |accessdate=2022-10-08}}
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- [https://www.goelks.com/players/j-min-pelley/162614/ Edmonton Elks bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pelley, J-Min}}
Category:Edmonton Elks players
Category:Canadian football defensive linemen
Category:Players of Canadian football from Alberta