We have covered Eli since he was a freshman at Ellsworth High School. We have watched him grow, get very strong, and earn his way into the varsity trenches on both sides of the football culminating in a junior season that saw him put up 22 tackles on defense. These next few months is the final stage for him to show off all the work, development, and experience. Time for him to prove to be someone who can control the interior of the trenches, move quickly and violently, and leave no doubt that he has the tools for a college DL or OL coach to work with and further develop. I’m hoping to see Eli at camps this summer and get that fresh look for myself. Coaches keep an eye out for the big man from Ellsworth this summer.

Stats: 7 Tackles, 4 TFLs, 12+ Pressures

It was a great performance from the massive NT out of Ellsworth in Week 2. Eli was a constant presence in the La Crosse Central backfield thanks to active and very strong hands. Hands that were shedding the block of centers so quickly. Pair the hand fighting with his short area quickness and you get a IDL who is able to take advantage of any angle advantage. Central is not afraid to pound the rock, so it was clear that Eli would need to step up and that he did! The big man is turning himself into a reliable anchor on the Ellsworth defensive front seven.

The offseason weight room dedication came to life for Eli Grand Eli Grand 6'3" | 305 lbs | DL Ellsworth | 2027 State WI at the UWEC Big Man Camp. Eli’s big frame gave him a huge advantage over his opponents. Whenever he wanted, Eli was able to dominate with his power. He was able to successfully bull rush multiple times, showing that not only does he have the overwhelming power but can also drop his pad level so that he can get underneath his foe to easily dig them out of the trenches. While a lot of his success revolved around his size and strength, Eli also showed off some nimble feet that were able to efficiently get him in the right position to win his battles. The ’27 is developing into a difference maker on the interior.

It will be interesting to see if the #1 IDL prospect in the Class of 2027 can carve out a role on the Ellsworth varsity defense. They have Nolan Kummer Nolan Kummer 6'1" | 270 lbs | DL Ellsworth | 2025 State WI returning for another expected strong season. However, Ellsworth doesn’t have a lot of athletes with the size that Eli offers.

Eli can plug up running lanes, eat up space, and hold his ground on the interior so his LBs can run free behind him. While watching Eli at camps this summer it is clear that the big man has some lateral quickness to his game as well. Quickness that will allow him to win one on one battles and create disruption on his own. He is quickly developing hand fighting technique. Pair that with some quickness and his size and you get an athlete who could find himself playing Friday nights this fall. Keep an eye on him!