Former Bulldog signs NFL contract

Former CSM football player Eddie Elder walked across the stage May 3, at the Arizona State University commencement ceremony and received his degree in communication and sociology. Less than two weeks later he had his first job offer: a free agent contract with 

the Arizona Cardinals.

 

“Eddie was so talented,” said CSM defensive coordinator Tim Tulloch on Elder’s time at CSM, “He’s one of the best players we’ve had.”Elder’s impressive career highlights at CSM include over 20 starts at safety, the school record for interceptions (13), NorCal defensive player of the year in 2009, and a NorCal championship in the same year. Ranked as three-star recruit by rivals.com and four-star recruit by scout.com, Elder signed with Arizona State and transferred in January 2010.

 

“He has great character and just got his college degree,” said Tulloch. “You can’t ask for anything more.”When Elder began his career as a Bulldog, he was not unfamiliar with CSM football. His coaches at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento were alumni of the program and Elder had played a few games at College Heights Stadium with his high school team.“I sent (the CSM coaching staff) a highlight tape and signed once I found out I wasn’t going to a D-1 school (out of high school),” said Elder. “They were very helpful with 

school and made sure I was on top of all of my assignments.”

 

Elder played 25 games at ASU, starting 20 and recording 130 total tackles, three interceptions and one sack. Despite tallying solid stats as a Sun Devil, Elder was not selected in the NFL Draft in April, mainly because of his size. At 5-feet-10 190 lbs, he is smaller than most NFL safeties.

 

“He’s going to have to put on more weight, but he’ll be able to do it,” said Tulloch. Elder was invited to Cardinals rookie camp soon after graduation and was awarded a contract shortly thereafter. Under current Caridnals defensive coordinatior Ray Horton. Elder will be reunited with the 3-4 defense, a scheme he was a part of in high school and at CSM.

 

“ASU was the first 4-3 I’ve played in since Pop Warner,” said Elder, “It was a relief to finally go back (to 3-4).”While many Division-1 players leave school early for the riches of the NFL, obtaining a degree has always been a priority for Elder,  he said.

“Football is not going to last forever, even if you have a long career in the NFL,” said Elder, “You can never go wrong with an education and I’ll always have it to fall back on if things don’t work out with football.”