Notre Dame Football All-Decade Team: Safety

Jalen Elliott (2016-2019)

Elliott is one of a few guys to appear in every game in a Notre Dame uniform from his freshman year to his senior season — starting every game his last two years, and mostly a starter during his sophomore season. He came to South Bend as an uber-talented, but raw safety recruit out of the Virginia High School ranks. While he essentially did everything for his high school team, including start at quarterback, there was a lot to learn to become the player he did at safety.

In 2017 season it was a struggle. Elliott seemed to be in position a lot of the time, but he never made the play and was always seemingly a second late — and Notre Dame fans were understandably frustrated. These sort of images from fans unfortunately followed up the next two seasons, and Elliott was never properly appreciated by a lot of the fan base. I actually tweeted out recently that he was one of the more underrated studs during my lifetime.

In his last two seasons, he led the team in interceptions with 6 total, finishing first on the team in 2018 and second in 2019. He also totaled 116 tackles and had 9 pass breakups during those two seasons. While Gilman received much of the fanfare from a leadership and production standpoint, ask around that locker room, and Elliott was every bit the playmaker and leader Gilman was.

The difference between the two in my opinion, is the NFL upside and pure talent difference. Elliott to me, has a chance to blow up the combine and move up draft boards. He is a dynamic athlete that has measureables that will also standout – not to mention his ballhawking abilities. Don’t be surprised if you hear Elliott’s name earlier than maybe expected come April.