I absolutely love throwing on Elias Tiah Elias Tiah 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH/DB Cesar Chavez | 2027 State AZ ‘s film. He’s just one of those players who’s genuinely a joy to watch as a scout because he mixes the fun highlight plays — the athletic interceptions, the big hits, the quick reads — with good fundamentals across the board. That’s a pretty rare combination to find at the high school level. He’s not sitting back waiting for things to happen. He closes space fast and always seems to find his way into the action. At around 6’1″ and 190 pounds, he’s built well enough to play around the box, but he moves comfortably enough in space that you can line him up at nickel, let him drop into coverage, or send him downhill as a pressure piece too. That’s what makes him interesting. A lot of high school defenders can hit. Not all of them can move around the field the way Tiah does without looking stiff or out of place once they’re asked to cover. There’s some real flexibility to his game already, and the more Cesar Chavez leans into that this spring, the more valuable he’ll be in the fall.

Elias Tiah Elias Tiah 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH/DB Cesar Chavez | 2027 State AZ might not be the loudest guy on the field, but man, his game speaks volumes. From the jump, he stood out as one of the smoothest-moving defenders I saw all day. It wasn’t just about speed — it was how he moved, how he positioned himself, and how little wasted motion there was. His footwork was super clean, and he flipped his hips effortlessly, covering ground like it was nothing. You could tell he’s a high-IQ player too. He read things well as they developed and reacted fast without biting too early. His ability to track routes while keeping an eye on the quarterback was impressive — always in the right spot, but never panicky or overcommitting. Physically, he’s built like a guy who wants contact, even in a non-padded setting. Thick frame, strong presence, and just looks like he’s ready to fly downhill if given the chance. There’s a calmness to how he plays that makes it easy to trust him on the back end. All-around sharp performance. 

Elias Tiah Elias Tiah 6'0" | 180 lbs | ATH/DB Cesar Chavez | 2027 State AZ was a nightmare for opposing offenses last season — racking up 60 tackles, two and a half sacks, two interceptions, and forcing five fumbles as just a sophomore. That kind of production speaks to how versatile and disruptive he can be. Now making the move to Cesar Chavez, he’s set to be a key part of a defense that’s looking to take a big step forward. At 6’0″, 185 pounds, he’s got a compact, powerful build that fits that outside linebacker role perfectly. But what makes him so intriguing is how well he moves in space. He’s fluid in coverage, reads plays quickly, and has the instincts to get where the ball is going. You watch him enough, and it’s hard not to wonder if he might even be best as a full-time coverage guy. That hybrid skill set — big enough to hold his ground in the box, agile enough to stick with receivers in space — is incredibly valuable. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Cesar Chavez lean into that versatility with more nickel packages this fall, giving him the freedom to roam and make life tough for quarterbacks all over again. 

Tiah is the definition of a hybrid defender. He’s got the speed and ball skills to play in the secondary but brings the physicality and toughness of a linebacker. His team uses him perfectly in that nickel role, and it really lets his full skill set shine. He can cover quick slot receivers, but he also flies downhill and makes plays near the line like an extra linebacker. His sophomore season stat line was wild — 2.5 sacks, 7.5 TFLs, 2 picks, and 5 forced fumbles. That’s production all over the field. He just has a great feel for the game and puts himself in spots to impact every snap. Players like him who know the game and are allowed to play to their strengths usually end up being stars, and he’s definitely someone to keep tabs on.

Tiah is an active defender with good positional versatility to line up in the secondary or in the box. Equally effective in run support as he is in coverage he plays with a downhill and attacking style. Good frame with length at 6’0” 180 lbs. and growth potential to add weight as he develops. He accelerates quickly in the short area with a strong burst to close on the ball. Great awareness to locate the football and break. Brings strong contact as a tackler driving through the POA to wrap up and finish ball carriers to the ground. Plus ball skills, he shows plus coordination and body control to adjust and attack the ball in the air. Good all-around game speed and playmaking ability. Voted First Team All Region 5A Metro finished the season with 60 tackles, 7.5 TFL, five force fumbles and two interceptions. Transferred from Fairfax to Cesar Chavez to play out his junior year.