Elija Lofton

Served as one of team’s top offensive performers at tight end position…Saw action in 15 games and made four starts in sophomore campaign…Ranked fourth on team in receptions (23) and receiving yards (218)…Scored three touchdowns and had long catch of 29 yards…Rushed three times for 11 yards…Started season opener against Notre Dame (Aug. 31) and finished with 15-yard reception…Had three catches totaling 21 yards in win over Bethune-Cookman (Sept. 6)…Saw time against USF (Sept 13)…Notched four catches totaling 43 yards against Florida (Sept. 20)…Posted 21 yards on three catches in win over Florida State (Oct. 4)…Started and had one catch vs. Louisville (Oct. 17)…Had two catches in win over Stanford (Oct. 25)…Finished with 14 yards on two catches in start at SMU (Nov. 1)…Recorded 10-yard catch in win over Syracuse (Nov. 8)…Season-long 29-yard reception against NC State (Nov. 15) ended up in touchdown…Started and logged two catches totaling 22 yards with one touchdown at Virginia Tech (Nov. 22)…Had receiving touchdown for third straight game at Pittsburgh (Nov. 29), scoring on 9-yard catch…Had one catch in College Football Playoff opener against Texas A&M (Dec. 20)…Saw time in Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic vs. Ohio State (Dec. 31)…Had 15-yard catch against Ole Miss (Jan. 8) in VRBO Fiesta Bowl.

Saw action in all 13 games in debut season, playing key role on offense and special teams…Caught nine passes totaling 150 yards with one touchdown…Added two rushes for 30 yards with one touchdown, including long run of 28 yards…Caught two passes totaling 38 yards in season opener against Florida (Aug. 31)…Finished with two catches in win over Florida A&M (Sept. 7)…Had two catches for 51 yards with one touchdown against Ball State (Sept. 14)…Had 17-yard catch in win over USF (Sept. 21)…Caught 24-yard pass in come-from-behind win at Cal (Oct. 5)…Scored touchdown on 2-yard rush in win over Duke (Nov. 2)…Had 17-yard catch in 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl against Iowa State (Dec. 28).

One of nation’s top-ranked tight ends…Four-star prospect by ESPN, 247Sports and Rivals… ranked among top 15 tight ends nationally by both ESPN and 247Sports…Top-rated player in state of Nevada by ESPN and 247 and No. 2 player in state by On3…Member of ESPN300, checking in as No. 208 player in class regardless of position by ESPN…Ranked No. 212 player nationally in 247Sports’ Top 247….Checked in as No. 294 player in 247Sports Composite Rankings…Ranked among top 20 tight ends nationally in On3 Industry Rankings…Selected to Under Armour All-America Game and Polynesian Bowl…Led team to 12-0 record and Nevada Class 5A state championship in final year…Had 29 catches for 594 yards with 10 touchdowns in 2023…Selected to Las Vegas Review-Journal 2023 Nevada Preps All-Southern Nevada First Team…Caught 30 passes for 756 yards and 11 touchdowns during breakout junior season…Finished with 22 receptions for 507 yards with eight touchdowns during sophomore campaign…Chose Miami over offers from Colorado, Texas A&M, Utah and Washington, among others.