Rutgers Recruiting Class: DB Elijuwan Mack
Rutgers Recruiting Class: DB Elijuwan Mack
Picture source: 247Sports (ScarletNation.com)
At the start of 2019, Rutgers made a big splash in the recruiting game by giving St. Joseph’s defensive player Elijuwan Mack an offer for their recruiting class of 2020. Mack has yet to be rated by either Rivals.com or 247 Sports, but he is projected to be one of New Jersey’s top football prospects after the 2019 football season. Let’s break down what makes Mack such an intriguing prospect, and why Rutgers fans should be excited.
The Breakdown
At 6’0, 180 pounds, Mack is the latest example of football’s evolution on the defensive side. On a depth chart, Mack is officially marked as a safety, but he has been used as an extra linebacker role to offer better support against the run and more pressure towards opposing quarterbacks in passing situations.
Looking through his Hudl.com tape, Mack is easily the best and most versatile player on the field. You can line him up anywhere; whether on the outside as a corner, down the middle as a safety, in the slot as the nickel back, and even at strongside outside linebacker.
As a defensive back, Mack possesses amazing spatial awareness. While eying down opposing quarterbacks, Elijuwan can still feel where the receiver is going to go, even getting there before the quarterback throws the ball. In terms of playing the ball, Mack has only two interceptions this season but has had more than his fair share of chances to reel in the rock. He’s fast and can keep up with opposing receivers, but he has a bit of a temper. On his video, he knocks down receivers who are not involved on the play, and even when his spot is targeted, he’ll touch the receiver before the ball even gets there. He needs to curb the temper a bit, or risk getting penalized.
As a linebacker, Mack usually lines up on the strong side. Despite being only 6’0 and less than 200 pounds, he can still overpower an offensive lineman. Granted, the opposing lineman he’s faced have been somewhat undersized, but his speed off the line of scrimmage and long reach make him near untouchable. If he can learn a few finesse moves (swim moves, spins, rips, etc.), there’s no stopping him. His tackling technique is also something to marvel at. Mack doesn’t just extend the one arm to make a play, he really goes for the kill. I’ve seen him drag players down by the shirt, pull them back by their legs, and manipulate a ball carrier’s momentum against them.
Simply put, Mack is a raw talent as a linebacker & a rising star as a defensive back. Pro comparisons can range from Deone Bucannon, Tyrann Mathieu, & Darron Lee.
Playing through the pain
Part of what makes a player like Mack so great isn’t just the physical aspects, but also the mental & emotional ones. In an article by Scarlet Nation’s Blain Bradley, Mack lost his father to illness during the 2018 season. After taking personal leave, Mack came back and played is heart out against St. Peter’s prep, notching an interception that garnered St. Joseph a 24-21 win.
Performances like these come once in a blue moon. We saw it with Packers quarterback Brett Favre (father), Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith (Brother), & Celtics point guard Isaiah Thomas (sister). Greatness is hard to achieve. It’s even harder when it comes after a devastating loss.
RU through & through
Mack is a Jersey kid through & through. And it appears that he wants to stay that way, as Scarlet Nation reported that Mack said he was “…“blessed to get an offer from [his] home state school,” but has also received attention from Temple, UMass, Boston College, & East Carolina. Rutgers has had a hard time keeping in-state recruits…. In state. Mack is too valuable of a player to lose, so Chris Ash should be investing as much time as possible in finding ways to keep Mack in the Garden State.
-By: Juan Pablo Guarin-Camargo