Matt Elam
refer to caption
Elam with the DC Defenders in 2020
Personal information
Born: (1991-09-21) September 21, 1991
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:208 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school:William T. Dwyer
(Palm Beach Gardens, Florida)
College:Florida (2010–2012)
Position:Safety
NFL Draft:2013 / Round: 1 / Pick: 32
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:131
Sacks:0.5
Forced fumbles:1
Fumble recoveries:2
Interceptions:1
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR · CFL.ca

Matthew D. Elam (born September 21, 1991) is an American football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at Florida, where he earned All-American honors. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft.

Early years

Elam was born in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. He attended William T. Dwyer High School in Palm Beach Gardens, where he played linebacker, defensive back, running back and wide receiver for the Dwyer Panthers high school football team. As a senior, he had 1,883 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns. He was named Gatorade High School Football Player of the Year and Mr. Football for the state of Florida,[1][2] and a USA Today high school All-American. He played in the 2010 U.S. Army All-American Bowl, where he announced his intent to play at the University of Florida during the game. He is the younger brother of former NFL safety Abram Elam and the uncle of current NFL cornerback Kaiir Elam.[3][4]

College career

Elam accepted an athletic scholarship to attend the University of Florida, where he played for coach Urban Meyer and coach Will Muschamp's Florida Gators football teams from 2010 to 2012. As a freshman in 2010, Elam played in all 13 games and recorded 22 tackles. As a full-time starter during his 2011 sophomore season, he had 78 tackles, two interceptions and two quarterback sacks. Following his junior season in 2012, he was named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press, The Sporting News, CBS Sports, Scout.com and Sports Illustrated, as well as a second-team selection by the Walter Camp Football Foundation. He was also a first-team All-Southeastern Conference selection and a semifinalist for both the Thorpe Award and Bednarik Award.

College statistics

Career statistics Tackles Sacks Interceptions Other
Season Games Starts Solo Ast Total Sack TFL Int Yds IntTD DefTD FFum FRec PD
2010 13 0 16 6 22 1.0 1.5 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
2011 13 13 50 28 78 2.0 11.0 2 18 0 0 2 0 7
2012 13 13 58 18 76 2.0 11.0 4 73 0 0 1 0 5
Totals 39 26 124 52 176 5.0 23.5 6 91 0 0 3 0 13

[5] [6]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard splitVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
5 ft 9+7⁄8 in
(1.77 m)		 208 lb
(94 kg)		 32+5⁄8 in
(0.83 m)		 9 in
(0.23 m)		4.54 s1.58 s2.53 s35.5 in
(0.90 m)		9 ft 10 in
(3.00 m)		17 reps
All values from NFL Combine[7]

Elam was viewed as one of the top safeties in 2013 years draft class. Some experts and scouts said he lacked size for a safety with just a height of 5' 10" and maybe should be moved to corner because of that. He is known for his ability to make electrifying plays all over the field and for his emotional leadership. Most experts projected Elam to go mid- or in the late first round of the NFL Draft.[8]

Baltimore Ravens

Elam in 2013

The Baltimore Ravens selected him in the first round (32nd overall pick) of the 2013 NFL Draft.[9][10] After a promising rookie season, Elam struggled the following year causing him to lose playing time. On August 31, 2015, Elam was placed on injured reserve, after suffering a torn bicep and missed the entire 2015 NFL season.[11]

On May 2, 2016, the Ravens did not pick up the optional fifth year of his contract.[12] On September 5, 2016, Elam was placed on injured reserve.[13] Elam was activated off injured reserve on November 5, 2016 prior to Week 9.[14]

With declining performance since his rookie year, missing significant playing time, and given the Ravens decision to not pick up the final year of his rookie contract, Elam was considered a bust given his status as a first-round draft pick.[15]

After his arrest on February 26, 2017, the Ravens released a statement regarding the upcoming free agent, stating "we are aware of the arrest of Matt Elam. Matt is not in our plans for the 2017 Ravens", indicating their plans of moving on from Elam.[16]

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Elam signed to the Saskatchewan Roughriders' practice roster on July 2, 2018. He was promoted to the active roster on July 24, but was placed on the suspended list on November 7. He was released on May 24, 2019.

DC Defenders

In October 2019, Elam was picked by the DC Defenders during the open phase of the 2020 XFL Draft.[17] He was waived on March 3, 2020.[18]

Tucson Sugar Skulls

On March 13, 2021, Elam signed with the Tucson Sugar Skulls of the Indoor Football League (IFL).[19]

Edmonton Elks

The Edmonton Elks announced the signing of Elam on January 26, 2022.[20] He was released on June 27, 2022.[21]

Orlando Guardians

Elam was selected in the 11th round of the 2023 XFL Defensive Backs Draft, by the Orlando Guardians.[22] The Guardians folded when the XFL and USFL merged to create the United Football League (UFL).[23]

NFL career statistics

Note: Statistics are correct through Week 17 of the 2016 NFL season.

SeasonTeamGPGS Comb Total Ast Sck PDef Int Yds Avg Lng TDs FF
2013Baltimore Ravens16157754230.0311818.01800
2014Baltimore Ravens16115031190.54000001
2016Baltimore Ravens904400.00000000
Total 412613189420.5711818.01801

On February 26, 2017, Elam was arrested in Miami, Florida for possession of 126.2 grams of marijuana and 3.1 grams of oxycodone.[24] He was charged with one count of cannabis possession, one count of possession of cannabis with intent to sell or deliver, and one count of possession of a controlled substance. On June 26, 2017, the drug charges were dropped.[25]

On May 22, 2017, Elam was arrested on battery and theft charges involving a dispute with his girlfriend over an iPhone. Delray Beach Police charged him with suspicion of grand theft and misdemeanor battery after confrontation and was booked in Palm Beach County Jail and had a bond set at $4,500. According to a police report, he went to his girlfriend's residence to pick up a vehicle and attempted to grab her iPhone from her hand after she refused to give him his money. During the process of grabbing the phone, the couple fell to the ground and continued to struggle over it. She then entered his vehicle and took his cell phone and Elam responded by leaving after she refused to return it.[26] On June 21, 2017, the charges were dropped after the prosecutor said the accuser would not cooperate and they had insufficient evidence to proceed with the case.[27]

See also

References

  1. ↑ GATORADE NAMES MATT ELAM FLORIDA PLAYER OF THE YEAR Archived January 31, 2013, at archive.today
  2. ↑ MATT ELAM WILL BE NAMED 2009 MR. FOOTBALL Archived January 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ "Elam succeeds in the wake of tragedy". espn.go.com. December 21, 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  4. ↑ "UF's Elam shows strength in times of tragedy". foxsportsflorida.com. Retrieved August 25, 2012.
  5. ↑ "cfbstats.com - Matt Elam 2012 Player Statistics - Florida Gators". cfbstats.com. Retrieved September 26, 2022.
  6. ↑ "Matt Elam Game by Game Stats and Performance | ESPN".
  7. ↑ "Matt Elam Stats, News and Video - SS". NFL.com.
  8. ↑ "Matt Elam, SS, Florida, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com". www.cbssports.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2013.
  9. ↑ "2013 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Chiefs make Eric Fisher top pick". ESPN. April 25, 2013. Retrieved April 26, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Ravens Place Matt Elam, Three Others On Injured Reserve". baltimoreravens.com. August 31, 2015. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved September 1, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Baltimore Ravens NFL - Ravens News, Scores, Stats, Rumors & More - ESPN".
  13. ↑ Mink, Ryan. "Ravens Place Carl Davis, Matt Elam on IR, Sign Devin Hester". BaltimoreRavens.com.
  14. ↑ Ryan, Mink (November 5, 2016). "Ravens Safety Matt Elam Activated to 53-Man Roster". BaltimoreRavens.com. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017.
  15. ↑ "Baltimore Ravens: 3 Biggest Draft Busts In Franchise History | FOX Sports". FOX Sports. January 24, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  16. ↑ Mink, Ryan (February 26, 2017). "Reports: Matt Elam Arrested In Florida On Drug Charges". BaltimoreRavens.com.
  17. ↑ Bender, Bill (October 21, 2019). "XFL Draft picks 2019: Complete results, rosters, players for new football league". Sporting News. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  18. ↑ Alper, Josh. "Matt Elam waived by XFL's D.C. Defenders]". NBCSports.com.
  19. ↑ Cusumano, Steven (March 21, 2021). "Former NFL First Round DB, Elam Signs with Tucson". TucsonSugarSkulls.com. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  20. ↑ "Elks add several big names". Edmonton Elks. January 26, 2022. Retrieved January 26, 2022.
  21. ↑ "Edmonton Elks release five, including starting defensive back Matt Elam". June 27, 2022.
  22. ↑ "XFL 2022 Draft Tracker: Live Draft Results and Rosters from Day 1 and Day 2". November 17, 2022.
  23. ↑ "Newly formed United Football League sets 8 markets, tabs coaches". espn.com. January 1, 2024.
  24. ↑ Smith, Michael David (February 26, 2017). "Ravens' Matt Elam arrested on drug charges". Profootballtalk.com. Retrieved February 26, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Drug charges dropped vs. Matt Elam in Miami-Dade County". ESPN.com. June 26, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
  26. ↑ A.J. Perez (May 22, 2017). "Ex-Ravens S Matt Elam arrested on suspicion of battery, grand theft". usatoday.com. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
  27. ↑ "Ex-Ravens safety Matt Elam has grand theft, battery charges dropped". ESPN.com. June 21, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2017.
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