Cardinal Coach's Corner: Elijah Molden

The state of Oregon has been a strong recruiting area for Stanford in recent years, with highly-regarded recruits like Cameron Scarlett and Joey Alfieri making the move down the Pacific Coast to Stanford. In the 2017 class, the Cardinal have zeroed in another Portland native, with Elijah Molden emerging as a priority recruit.

According to West Linn head coach Chris Miller, there are a multitude of reasons for Molden’s interest in the Cardinal.

“Stanford’s rich history and tradition,” Miller explained about what stands out. “Then, the fact that an education and degree from Stanford sets up your future. They (Molden’s family) were impressed with David Shaw and his staff on their visit.”

One thing the Cardinal will have to overcome in this recruitment is the fact that Molden is an Oregon legacy, with his father having played for the Ducks.

“Elijah has grown up a Duck fan,” said the West Linn head coach. “He takes pride in the fact his dad played there. I’m sure he has seen himself following in his father’s footsteps.”

With Elijah emerging as an elite recruit, appearing in the Rivals 250, it’s no surprise that his coach has nothing but positive things to say about the impact he makes.

“He has great instincts as a corner," Miller said. "He has great anticipation and he will deliver a blow. He just ran a 4.52 40, so he has got the needed speed for a corner. Plus, he is an excellent student and a tremendous young man!”

As the West Linn star approaches his final season, there is no doubt that Miller has high expectations for what he can bring to the table.

“Elijah doesn’t get much action playing at corner,” the West Linn head coach said. “Teams don’t throw at him much. Plus, our league is a heavy run league. He loves to play RB, as it provides him with some excitement. He’s an explosive RB and he is dynamic with the rock. He is also an excellent pass catcher out of the backfield. My goal for him is to stay 100 percent healthy throughout our 14-game season.