Nobody has generated more buzz this spring than true freshman TE/RB/FB/WR Elija Lofton. The Las Vegas native has played all over the field, making one-handed catches, long runs and other huge plays against the first-team defense. Lofton met with reporters to discuss his first spring at Miami:
His overall impressions of spring: It’s been a blessing to be able to play football, the game I love. I'm just looking up to the big guys like Riley [Williams], Elijah [Arroyo], Cam [McCormick]. They’re teaching me everything. I’m soaking it up, and trying to use it to help me get better every day.
On his mentality: Play fast. Play physical. Just balling. Height, speed don't mean nothing. It's in your heart and what you do as a person. You can do anything you want to do in life. I just go out there, have fun, do what I can and make plays.
On where his mindset came from: My mom. She always pushed me every day to be the best man I can be on and off the field. My mindset really comes from her, because she's a hard-working young lady. She's always with the church. She works with the school district, so she's just busy working hard. I get everything from her.
On his versatility: I just came here to play ball and get on the field. So anything Coach Cristobal needs me to do, I'm just gonna do it. Go at it full speed and do it the best I can.
It's football. You’ve got to be comfortable anywhere. You’ve got to line up and just go play ball. I do whatever I do to help the team be elite.
On his measurables: I’m 6’2, 235-240.
On his inspirations as a player: I pick some game up from Deebo [Samuel], but another guy I look up to is Brevin Jordan. He's like a big brother to me, so I take some of his game and apply it to mine. He always comes back and talks to us.
I’m always texting him and getting advice. [Brevin] told me to go be great, told me to stay disciplined, stay locked in, be humble, and just go make plays and ball out.
On Cam McCormick: He’s really smart with the game. He knows a lot about defense, blocking, routes. I learn a lot [from him] about reading defenses, blocking schemes, alignments, slants, stuff like that.
His overall impressions of spring: It’s been a blessing to be able to play football, the game I love. I'm just looking up to the big guys like Riley [Williams], Elijah [Arroyo], Cam [McCormick]. They’re teaching me everything. I’m soaking it up, and trying to use it to help me get better every day.
On his mentality: Play fast. Play physical. Just balling. Height, speed don't mean nothing. It's in your heart and what you do as a person. You can do anything you want to do in life. I just go out there, have fun, do what I can and make plays.
On where his mindset came from: My mom. She always pushed me every day to be the best man I can be on and off the field. My mindset really comes from her, because she's a hard-working young lady. She's always with the church. She works with the school district, so she's just busy working hard. I get everything from her.
On his versatility: I just came here to play ball and get on the field. So anything Coach Cristobal needs me to do, I'm just gonna do it. Go at it full speed and do it the best I can.
It's football. You’ve got to be comfortable anywhere. You’ve got to line up and just go play ball. I do whatever I do to help the team be elite.
On his measurables: I’m 6’2, 235-240.
On his inspirations as a player: I pick some game up from Deebo [Samuel], but another guy I look up to is Brevin Jordan. He's like a big brother to me, so I take some of his game and apply it to mine. He always comes back and talks to us.
I’m always texting him and getting advice. [Brevin] told me to go be great, told me to stay disciplined, stay locked in, be humble, and just go make plays and ball out.
On Cam McCormick: He’s really smart with the game. He knows a lot about defense, blocking, routes. I learn a lot [from him] about reading defenses, blocking schemes, alignments, slants, stuff like that.
