Kentucky Football Countdown: No. 69 Matt Elam

This afternoon’s Kentucky football countdown brings us to a familiar face for the BBN. We’re now just 69 days out from the state of UK’s 2022 season, so let’s talk about the most popular player to wear that number during the Mark Stoops era. Kentucky native Matt Elam was a key part of Stoops’ jumpstart with the program.

About Matt Elam

Elam was born right down the road in Elizabethtown and played his high school ball at John Hardin. He quickly set himself apart from his counterparts there. He lettered all four years and played every offensive and defensive line position at some point in his career. With his help, the Bulldogs made it to the semifinals of the 5A state playoffs his sophomore, junior and senior seasons.

By that senior season, he was highly sought-after by several big-name schools — and for good reason. He totaled 85 tackles and four sacks his last year at John Hardin, earning him the Paul Hornung Award for Kentucky Player of the Year. He was first-team all-state and selected to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. This long list of accomplishments put him as the No. 2 overall prospect in Kentucky and a top 250 recruit in the nation, according to the On3 Consensus.

Elam had scholarship offers from Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Tennessee and several other impressive programs. In the end, though, he took a gamble on Stoops and the Wildcats and decided to help kick start a new era of Kentucky football.

However, once in Lexington, he did face criticism from time to time. He recorded 11 tackles in 2014, 23 in 2015, nine in 2016 and eight during his final season in 2017. Many felt that was not enough considering his high school success and the excitement surrounding his recruitment. Elam was invited to participate in the Ravens’ rookie mini-camp after graduation but never snagged a spot on the roster.

Regardless of all that, Elam was an important get for Stoops. He was one of the first big-name recruits for the then-new head coach, and helped change the perception of the program around the nation. Seeing a five-star defensive tackle pick Kentucky over ‘Bama was not something that happened every day, after all.

Only 69 days until football season, y’all. Hang in there.