Shippensburg University football alumnus Charles Headen III (Philadelphia, Pa./LaSalle College High) has signed a contract with the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
 
Headen III is coming off a standout 2023 season with the Frisco Fighters of the Indoor Football League (IFL), where he was named Special Teams Player of the Year. With the Fighters, Headen III totaled 1,143 return yards (22.0-yard average) and a league-leading six kickoff return touchdowns in 15 games in addition to 247 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.
 
In four years (three seasons and one redshirt season) at Shippensburg (2016-19), Headen III played 34 games for the Raiders and recorded 80 receptions, 909 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. He formed a dynamic duo with fellow LaSalle College High School alumnus Winston Eubanks, totaling 396 receiving yards and six touchdowns as a redshirt-sophomore and 342 receiving yards and five touchdowns as a redshirt-junior. His 2020 redshirt-senior season at SU was canceled due to the pandemic.
 
After graduating from Shippensburg in December 2020 with a degree in sociology and minors in exercise science and coaching, Headen III completed his collegiate eligibility in 2021 with two games played as a graduate student at SMU.
 
Headen III previously was a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders for a short time in 2022 and the BC Lions last year before joining the Frisco Fighters.