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Published Aug 13, 2022
Elijah Arroyo Primed To Make Big Plays This Season
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Marcus Benjamin  •  CanesCounty
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One of the more impressive players of fall camp thus far has been Elijah Arroyo. The tight end out of Texas projects to be second on the depth chart behind Will Mallory, but the sophomore might already be the most complete tight end on the team. He’s an exceptional blocker and pass catcher of the football and enjoys both aspects of the tight end position.

“I could do it all. I like both,” said Arroyo at media day. “Either or, whatever they make me do.”

Arroyo was a four-star prospect coming out of high school and the no. 10 ranked tight end in the country according to Rivals. In his senior season, he caught 28 passes for 635 yards scoring 12 touchdowns. In 2021, Arroyo had five catches for 86 yards and a touchdown. This season, in Josh Gattis’s offense, Arroyo is primed to have a big year.

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“Our offense, it kind of revolves around the tight ends. I love that. It’s really a performance-based offense. It’s really on me. If I show out in practice or if I’m showing out in the games. They are going to put me in, I’m going to play.”

In the spring, Arroyo had an opportunity at the TE1 position because of an injury to Mallory. In fall camp, he's looked impressive in one-on-ones winning most of his matchups.

“I started off spring because Will got hurt. He’s our tight end room leader he’s kind of our guy, but once he’s gone. Once he’s in the NFL, I think I’ll be able to take over.

The 6’4” 250-pound tight end is working with the coaches to get better with his techniques and staying in good shape for the season. He credits the strength and conditioning program in helping him trim down while still maintaining muscle simultaneously.

“My body mass is less so I have less body fat. I feel stronger, faster, and last year I was coming off of a knee surgery so I wasn’t really 100% going into camp, but I feel good right now. I’m at 8 percent [body fat] right now.”

Arroyo also likes how the workouts are more football-specific.

“Our workouts, pretty much everything we do, you can see how it correlates to football. I see how it helps me on the field rather than doing olympic lifting.

He is also a few steps faster than he was last season.

“I’ve hit in that 21 [mph] range. I don’t think I hit 20 last year.”

His goals are to take advantage of the times he is on the field and show the coaches that he is ready to take the next step in his football career.

“I was able to go with the ones this spring. I did pretty good. I held my own. I was able to be confident in what I do. I feel if I can do it against our defense that I can do it against any defense.”

Arroyo, originally from Miami, got a 305 tattoo in February, the area-code for Miami-Dade County.

“It’s great to be able to come back home and put on for my family, put on for my city. It’s a great thing coming to home games, having my family there, cousins, uncles, grandparents, it’s just a great feeling. I’ve had a 305 number since I was little, ever since I got my first phone. I’ve always had a 305 number, even when I was living in Texas I kept the 305 number. I just felt like it’s a part of me.”

MichiganState
FOOTBALL
Scores / Schedule
footballfootball
8 - 2
Overall Record
2 - 0
Conference Record
Finished
Michigan St.
89
Arrow
Michigan St.
Nebraska
52
Nebraska
Minnesota
72
Minnesota
Michigan St.
90
Arrow
Michigan St.
N. Carolina
91
N. Carolina
Michigan St.
94
Arrow
Michigan St.
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