Seven months ago Matt Elam’s story looked to be a cautionary tale. On Wednesday Elam took the first step in changing that narrative when he worked out during the Florida Gators Pro Day — the second time Elam had gone through a pro day in Gainesville.
Matt Elam’s career with the Florida Gators was a bonafied highlight reel. There were big hits, interceptions and no Gator fan can forget his tackle and forced fumble on Odell Beckham Jr. that saved the Gators’ win over LSU in 2012. He was named a First Team All-American following his junior season in 2012
Elam appeared in 39 games over three seasons in Gainesville with 26 starts (including his final 25 games) at safety. He declared early for the 2013 NFL Draft and went to the NFL Combine and then through Florida’s Pro Day. At that time NFL analyst Mike Mayock had this to say of Elam.
“On tape he plays so close to the line of scrimmage, especially in their nickel package, he’s on the slot. He’s quick-footed, an aggressive tough kid. What I saw today was what I wanted to see, his ball skills, especially on deep balls. I could see him open his hips, take angles like a deep half or deep third. I thought he really helped himself today.”
Elam was taken 32nd overall in the first round by the Baltimore Ravens and had a very productive rookie campaign. Elam played in all 16 games for Baltimore with 15 starts. He tallied 77 tackles and an interception as a rookie but his production fell off in his second season where he had just 55 tackles and a forced fumble with no interceptions.
In 2015 Elam was suspended one game for violating the NFL
S substance abuse policy and then a torn biceps tendon landed him on the Raven’s injured reserve list. Elam played in just nine games, as a reserve in 2016, before he started having off the field issues.
First he was pulled over in Miami in February of 2017 and charged with reckless driving, marijuana possession of more than 20 grams, possession of marijuana with the intent to sell and possession of a controlled substance. The three drug charges were felonies. With his rookie contract set to expire, the Ravens released a statement saying that they were aware of Elam’s legal issue but that he was not in their plans for 2017. They were cutting ties with their first round draft pick after just four seasons.
In May Elam was arrested for domestic violence against his girlfriend as well as grand theft. Those charges were dropped when his girlfriend stopped cooperating and Palm Beach prosecutors felt that they didn’t have enough evidence to pursue charges. His felony drug case was dropped in June of 2017 but Elam was still out of the league.
He says he got complacent and that complacency led to him taking football for granted and helped lead him astray off the field.
“I got complacent. First-round pick. Just made me feel confident,” he says. “It’s all right to be confident, but you’ve still got to work.”
He spent the entire 2017 season watching his former teammates and now the younger guys that played under him on Sundays. He says he never turned NFL Network off, that it helps fuel him, but his phone never rang. It seemed that not only the Ravens but the entire league had shut him out.
“I’m pretty sure what happened was the thing and they weren’t sure about my charges getting dropped and everything was behind me and cleared up,” Elam said. “When they found that out it probably would give them a better feeling.”
Elam made the trip last month to Indianapolis to be at the NFL Combine. He’d been there before as one of the most sought after players but this time he was the one doing the seeking.
The last 14 months have been some of the lowest times of Elam’s, 26, life. He leaned on family for support through it and family is the biggest reason he was at Florida’s indoor practice facility for pro day. His brother, Abram Elam, told him he should come.
“My brother mentioned it to me that it’d probably be a good idea. Coaches are going to be around to see guys coming out and scouts are always gonna come to UF,” said Elam. “UF is UF. DBU. It’s just an opportunity, another opportunity that I had to take advantage of. I put my head down and got the opportunity.”
So he had the chance Wednesday. Working out with guys who were in high school the last time Elam wore a Gator logo. That alone is humbling. Guys like Marcus Maye, Brian Poole and Keanu Neal that sat behind Elam and learned from him surrounded him. Now, they are collecting NFL paychecks while Elam is looking through the glass door hoping it will open just enough for him to slide in.
The weight of all of that hit him when he finished. He needed a couple of minutes to gather himself, clearly emotional, before speaking with the media.
“Marcus Maye, Brian Poole, they’re my guys. Keke, they’re my guys. They were under me when I was here. I kind of showed them the way and then I let them down,” he said. “It’s time for me to show them how I bounce back and didn’t give up on it. I lean on them guys because they’re positive guys. I wish I would have leaned on them more.”
At the moment his story is still a cautionary one. He’s the guy that came from nothing, went to college, earned a degree, was drafted in the first round and then out of the league as quickly as he came in. He’s trying to change the narrative but he’s not hiding from what he did. He’s taking ownership of it.
“Yeah, because I love this game, and I know I’ve got plenty of people looking up to me. I let a lot of people down,” said Elam. “It’s very important to me. It’s tough. If I get another opportunity, I’ve got to take advantage.”
That’s what Wednesday was. Swallow your pride, humble yourself and do anything and everything possible to get back to where you were, where you believe you should be.
He still has time to wait. No NFL team is going to sign a 26-year old safety with legal troubles in his past before the NFL Draft. He knows that he has to be patient. A younger Elam may not have been capable of that but he’s learned from the last year.
“People make mistakes. People make mistakes in life,” he says. “One mistake don’t define a person. I feel like people make mistakes.
“It’s what you do with that second chance. That defines what type of person you really are.”