MLive is spending the summer checking in on the top 2022 football recruits in Michigan. Each weekday, MLive will feature a new athlete to focus on. Today provides a look into versatile Grand Blanc senior Elijah Jackson-Anderson.
BIO
Height: 5-10
Weight: 185
Position: Running back/slot receiver
Secondary position: Defensive back, special teams
Year: 2022
Rated: Three stars, according to 247sports.com, which ranks him as the 34th-best player in Michigan
Recruitment: Committed to Eastern Michigan after receiving 10 offers
2020 stats: 19 receptions for 279 yards and eight TDs, rushed 41 times for 336 yards and six TDs, team-leading 10.5 sacks, caused three fumbles.
It doesn’t matter where Elijah Jackson-Anderson lines up on the football field, he always finds a way to excel.
Jackson-Anderson played a variety of positions for Grand Blanc last season and was outstanding at all of them.
He defines versatility.
On offense, Jackson-Anderson is a threat as a running back or slot receiver. Defensively, he played in the backfield when Grand Blanc was running its nickel defense and despite only playing parttime, he led the Bobcats in sacks.
He even plays on special teams, returning kicks and punts.
“I spoke with his dad going into his junior year,” said Grand Blanc coach Clint Alexander. “I said, ‘OK, you’re son it a college player but I’m not sure where.’ We can play him all over and get him (college) looks.”
They did and he did.
Jackson-Anderson had offers from 10 schools before committing to Eastern Michigan. He chose EMU over a group of schools that included Western Michigan, Central Michigan, Iowa State, Kent State and Miami (Ohio).
Where he plays in college remains to be seen but if it’s up to Jackson-Anderson, he’d prefer to be on the offensive side of the ball. But when it comes right down to it, he just wants to be on the field.
“I just love playing the game,” he said. “I can’t really say I have a favorite position. It would be really hard for me to pick one. Most likely I’d probably (prefer to) be playing offense – running back/slot receiver/hybrid.”
What about defense?
If Alexander were a college coach trying to find a position for Jackson-Anderson, he’d most likely look at the defensive side first. Then again …
“He led our team in sacks as a nickel back but he also led our team in touchdowns as an offensive player,” Alexander said. “He’s also an outstanding special teams player. He’s an old-school player
“Depends on what I’m running. I love him as that Viper (on defense) because they’re really hard to find but man is he a heck of a running back/slot player.
“He’s so explosive. He’s full speed in his first step, which is rare. There’s a lot of fast guys but he’s top speed out of his stance. His closing time on defense is ridiculous.”
Humble and tough
As talented as he is on both sides of the ball, Jackson-Anderson’s best attribute might be his attitude.
“It’s rare that your best player is your most humble kid,” Alexander said. “He is by far our most humble and team-oriented guy.”
Jackson-Anderson might be the Bobcats toughest player.
Last year, on his way to a game in Davison, Jackson-Anderson was involved in an accident on the expressway. A driver next to him decided the switch lanes, Jackson-Anderson had to swerve to avoid a collision and his car flipped onto its roof and slid 30 feet upside down on I-475 before stopping.
When Alexander walked into the locker room before the game, he found many of his players in tears because they thought Jackson-Anderson was dead.
Not hardly.
Shortly before kickoff, Jackson-Anderson strolled into the locker room with a bandage covering the 15 stitches he received in his forearm at a local hospital. Then he went out and scored a touchdown on a 24-yard run.
“I don’t know if all the colleges know,” he said. “The only school that said something was CMU when they offered. I don’t really bring it up. My arm is good. I’m thankful to God.”
MORE:
The amazing story of blessed Grand Blanc player
Elijah Jackson-Anderson makes college choice
2020 Flint-area Dream Team offense
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August 12, 2021 at 01:38AM
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Top recruits: Grand Blanc’s Elijah Jackson-Anderson can do it all on the football field - MLive.com
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