Matthew D. Elam (born September 21, 1991) is an American football safety for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Florida, and earned All-American honors. Following his 2012 junior season, he decided to forgo his final college football season, and was chosen in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He was considered one of the top draft prospects at safety for 2013.
A two-year starter in Gators' secondary, Matt Elam boasted one of the best highlight reels of any prospect in this class due to his big hits and personality on the field. Elam entered the college ranks as the top high school safety prospect. His older brother Abe Elam has paved the way for Matt to make it in the NFL. He was a two-way player in high school, but Elam made the transition to safety shortly after focusing on special teams during his freshman season in 2010.
During that first year, Elam played on the kickoff coverage unit and was one of the first defensive backs off the bench. As a sophomore, Elam took a big step forward and was one of five Gators to start all 13 games in 2011. Playing strong safety, Elam led the team in tackles for loss (11), pass breakups (seven) and forced fumbles (two). Elam kept his starting strong safety spot in 2012, compiling 76 total tackles, once again making 11 of them for a loss. He added two sacks, one forced fumble, and four interceptions.
High School, Personal: Five-star prospect who was rated the No. 1 safety and the No. 10-overall player in the nation according to Scout.com at William T. Dwyer (West Palm Beach, FL) HS...Selected as the Gatorade Player of the Year and named Mr. Football for the State of Florida as a senior in 2009...Selected to the 2009 EA Sports All-America first-team as an all-purpose player...Named a 2010 Parade High School All-American and No. 12 on the Top 150 Dream Team by PrepStar Magazine...Rushed for 1,883 yards and 27 TDs as a senior, including 918 yards and 13 TDs, leading Dwyer to a 14-1 record and the 4A State Title...Rushed for 187 yards and 4 TDs in the 2009 state title game...Selected as the Palm Beach County Player of the Year in 2008 and was a FSWA first-team All-State selection...Racked up over 200 tackles, including 38 TFL and 15 sacks, in his final two years at Dwyer...Also rushed for 435 yards with 4 TDs and had 758 receiving yards with 9 TDs as a junior...Older brother, Abram, has played for the Dolphins, Chiefs, Cowboys, Browns and Jets during his seven-year NFL career.
College Honors
• First-team All-American by the Associated Press, The NFL Draft Report, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports (2012)
• First-team All-Southeastern Conference by media and coaches (2012)
• Second-team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation (2012)
• Semifinalist for Chuck Bednarik and Jim Thorpe Awards (2012)
College Career
• Saw action in 39 games (26 starts) and finished his Gators career with 176 tackles (124 solo), 5 sacks (-20 yards), 24 TFL, 2 FFs, 1 FR, 13 PD and 6 INTs (returned for 91 yards)
• A team captain, he finished his final season at Florida with 76 tackles (58 solo), 2 sacks, 11 TFL, 5 PD and a team-high 4 INTs
• In 2012, Florida allowed 14.5 points and 287.5 yards per game, both marks ranking fifth best in the nation
• In 2012, Florida finished No. 2 in the nation with a 95.6 pass efficiency defense
2013
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 in the mid to late first round of the NFL Draft.
The Baltimore Ravens selected him in the first round (32nd overall pick) of the 2013 NFL Draft.On December 16, 2013, Elam had a breakout performance against the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football, recording 10 tackles and his first career interception.
2012: (13/13) Ranked second on the team with 76 tackles (58 solo), 2 sacks, 11 TFL, 5 PD and a team-leading 4 INTs... Became just the second safety in school history to be named first-team All-American by the Associated Press, The NFL Draft Report, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports...Also earned unanimous first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors and second-team All-American (the Walter Camp Foundation) honors
• Recorded a season-high 11 tackles, including a sack, in his final collegiate game against Louisville in the Sugar Bowl
• Led the team with 7 tackles and recorded his team-leading fourth INT of the season against Florida State
• Named the SEC co-Defensive Player of the Week after notching 7 solo tackles and recording a game-changing FF in the third quarter in the win over LSU
• Led the team with 10 tackles and added his first INT of the season against Tennessee
2011: (13/13) Established a career high with 78 tackles (50 solo), adding a team-leading 11 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 FFs, 7 PD and 2 INTs (returned for 18 yards)...Led a defense that ranked seventh in the nation in pass defense (166.9 ypg) and eighth in total defense (299.5 ypg)
• Made 6 tackles, including 2 TFL, and a sack in the Gator Bowl win over Ohio State
• Registered 8 tackles and a FF vs. Florida State
• Made first-career start, netting 4 tackles vs. Florida Atlantic
2010: (13/0) Was one of six true freshmen to play in all 13 games...Recorded 22 tackles (16 solo), including 2 TFL, 1 sack, 1 PD and 1 FR
• Totaled 3 tackles and a PD in the win at Vanderbilt
• Recorded his first-career sack at Alabama
• Posted 4 tackles from scrimmage and played on all special teams squads in the season opener vs. Miami
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