MOBILE, Ala. — There are the gold helmets, so you realize that man performed at Notre Dame. There are the distinct maize-and-blue Michigan, the crimson Alabama, the crimson with the “G” signifying Georgia. All the same old and recognizable helmets worn by prospects at this week’s Senior Bowl.
Then there’s the tall child, the tallest of the seven quarterbacks. He’s carrying a white helmet, overseas to American faculty soccer eyes as a result of it’s overseas. It marks Taylor Elgersma as one of the crucial intriguing gamers right here. And it’s groundbreaking for this all-star recreation.
Canada has exported loads of gamers to American faculties. Amongst current standouts are Kurtis Rourke, who quarterbacked Indiana to a School Soccer Playoff bid in 2024. Stanford receiver Elic Ayomanor was the ACC’s sixth-leading receiver final season. John Metchie starred at receiver for Alabama from 2019-21.
However all of them performed at American faculties. Elgersma attended the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in Waterloo, Ontario. He’s solely the second Senior Bowl participant from a Canadian faculty, and the primary quarterback, taking part in in a recreation that final 12 months included Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix and this 12 months has Riley Leonard, Dillon Gabriel, Jaxson Dart and Jalen Milroe. All family faculty soccer names, and into this walks Elgersma, taking part in 11-man soccer for the very first time.
They play 12-man soccer in Canada. And Elgersma didn’t even play that till a 12 months into highschool.
“He’s not coming in right here with unrealistic expectations. He is aware of he’s an unknown commodity,” stated Laurier offensive coordinator Todd Galloway, who’s in Cellular with Elgersma this week. “Speaking with scouts and coaches he’s actually simply telling them he hopes they take an opportunity on his upside.”
Elgersma, like many a Canadian, grew up taking part in hockey. There being appreciable competitors in hockey, finally Elgersma made a diversion. Or, as he put it, utilizing his residence terminology: “I solely acquired to soccer in Grade 10, and began taking part in quarterback.”
The potential was evident, and by the top of Grade 12 he was prepared to remain an additional 12 months to showcase himself for American faculties, and do the Division I camp circuit. That’s what Rourke, Metchie and others had achieved to get observed. However Elgersma’s plans had been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and he caught along with his dedication to Laurier.
The Golden Hawks have been an influence in U Sports activities, the Canadian faculty athletics physique that at present includes 58 colleges. Elgersma turned the starter his sophomore season, and as a senior guided the workforce to an 8-0 regular-season file. The Golden Hawks made it to the championship recreation, the place they misplaced.
Then it turned time for Elgersma to pursue the NFL. He had already began final 12 months, when he educated at QB Nation, a Cellular-based outlet the place many NFL and faculty quarterbacks have labored. One in every of Elgersma’s coaches was impressed sufficient to advocate him to Jim Nagy, the Senior Bowl’s govt director.
This month has been a crash course within the American recreation for Elgersma, who was not solely used to 12-man soccer however larger fields, limitless pre-snap movement, and naturally a special stage of pace, measurement and talent. He did two different, smaller all-star occasions: The School Gridiron Showcase recreation on Jan. 12 in Fort Price, Texas, and the Tropical Bowl, performed on Jan. 19 in Daytona Seashore, Fla. This week has been the largest and most high-profile take a look at, with NFL scouts watching all of his throws.
“That is my first time taking 11-on-11 snaps. It’s thrilling for me to get that chance,” he stated. “I believe I’ve the body, I’ve the dimensions for this stage, I’ve the arm expertise. So what it’s all about for me is cleansing up my mechanics, cleansing up my footwork, persevering with to enhance and getting used to this American recreation.”
The early buzz from scouts: Elgersma’s inexperience exhibits. However he had an excellent apply on Wednesday, which is a optimistic signal. That’s what NFL groups might be on the lookout for, and it’s what Elgersma confirmed in Canada. The extra he discovered the sport, the higher he acquired.
“He’s the quickest research and the brightest quarterback I’ve ever had the privilege of teaching,” Galloway stated. “His path yearly of getting higher yearly has been exponential. It’s been nice to see. … It’s form of been a meteoric rise. A tall, big-armed man however he had a variety of work to do, and it’s been enjoyable to be on that journey to see how a lot better he acquired yearly.”
The one different participant to get a Senior Bowl invite out of a Canadian faculty was Jordan Herdman-Reed, a linebacker from Simon Fraser, in 2017. He went undrafted and has by no means performed within the NFL, although he has had a protracted profession within the Canadian Soccer League.
However the Senior Bowl’s success in producing quarterbacks is powerful: Solely two didn’t not less than signal as undrafted free brokers that 12 months. Elgersma not less than seems to be the half: 6 ft 5 inches and 213 kilos, towering over Gabriel, one in all his teammates this week. The Canadian was correct in passes to the aspect and over the center throughout Wednesday’s apply, hitting Michigan’s Donovan Edwards on a wheel route and Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon on a brief out. (Although he did additionally throw a ball proper at a linebacker in a 7-on-7 drill.)
Mike Kafka, the New York Giants offensive coordinator who’s teaching the Senior Bowl’s “Nationwide” workforce this week, appeared to sense Elgersma was overthinking it. He got here as much as him Wednesday and instructed him, “Simply play free.” Elgersma already knew he wanted to keep away from overthinking, however perhaps it wanted to be reiterated.
“I acquired the invite right here for a motive. I do know I can throw the ball with these guys,” Elgersma stated. “It’s nearly specializing in getting the little issues proper.”
One in every of Elgersma’s teammates on the Nationwide workforce, Iowa State receiver Jayden Higgins, stated he hasn’t seen any moments of confusion from the Canadian.
“He’s picked up the playbook pretty much as good as anybody else,” he stated. “He know what he’s doing on the market.”
As for his taking part in potential, the primary impression Higgins had: “He throws fairly exhausting. He throws with a variety of zip on the ball. I believe it’s superior {that a} child like that may come down right here and exhibit his talent set.”
(Photograph: Michael Chisholm / Getty Photographs)
