(Tucson, AZ) The Tucson Sugar Skulls have signed former NFL first round pick, defensive back Matt Elam for the 2021 Indoor Football League season.
DB Matt Elam (6′, 205, University of Florida) joins the Tucson Sugar Skulls for his first season in the IFL, but his sixth year playing professional football. Elam was drafted with the 32nd overall pick by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He went on to play 41 games over three seasons for the Ravens, totaling 131 tackles, one forced fumble and one interception. Since departing from the NFL, Elam has gone on to play in the CFL (Saskatchewan, 2018) and the XFL (DC, 2020).
Prior to his professional career, Elam starred for three years at Florida, playing in 39 games. Starting all 26 games during his sophomore and junior years, Elam compiled 176 tackles with 23.5 tackles-for-loss, 13 passes defended, six interceptions and three forced fumbles across his career for the Gators. After his final season at Florida, Elam was named a first-team All American and first-team All-SEC selection.
The Palm Beach Gardens, Florida native attended William T. Dwyer High School, where he played defensive back, linebacker, running back and wide receiver for the school’s varsity football team. Elam was named Gatorade Florida Football Player of the Year and “Mr. Football” after a senior year that included 1,883 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns offensively, with 53 tackles, 16.5 tackles-for-loss and four forced fumbled defensively.
Press Release courtesy of the Tucson Sugar Skulls – Steve Cusumano
