Elijawah Tolbert

Class:
Redshirt Senior
Height:
6-1
Weight:
232
Position:
LB
Hometown:
Chicago, Ill.
High School:
Hillcrest HS
Prev School:
Eastern Illinois

2025 (R-Sr. – Montana): Transferred to Montana in time for winter conditioning with one season left to play.

2024 (Sr. - EIU): Participated in spring 2024 football practice at Missouri State before transferring back to EIU program in summer of 2024... Played in opening four games of the season before taking redshirt season under NCAA participation rules... Made three starts in those four games... had 38 tackles with three tackles for loss... Season high 12 tackles with nine solo stops in season opener at Illinois with 1.5 tackles for loss... Had ten tackles at Illinois State with a tackle for loss... Had a half sack against Indiana State along with an interception... Ended EIU career with 200 tackles and 16.5 tackles for loss.

2023 (Jr. - EIU):
• First Team All-OVC/Big South
• FCS National Defensive Player of the Week (8/31)
Started all 11 games at linebacker during the 2023 season... Named first team All-Big South-OVC Football Association at linebacker... Led team in tackles for the season finishing with 87 tackles which ranked fourth in the Big South-OVC... Named FCS National Defensive Player of the Week following opening week shutout win over Indiana State after making 11 tackles (seven solo) with a forced fumble and interception... Part of a defensive unit that ranked second in the FCS in turnovers gained for the season... Had 11 tackles at Bowling Green and against Tennessee State... Made a season high 12 tackles at Northwestern State... Had 46 solo tackles matching a high of seven solo stops in win over Tennessee State... Tied for second on team with seven tackles for loss... Had two tackles for loss at Lindenwood with 1.5 TFL at Southeast Missouri... Had a forced fumble against UT Martin.

2022 (So. - EIU):
• First Team All-OVC
• OVC Defensive Player of the Week (9/25)
Played in all 11 games making ten starts at linebacker... Finished season ranked third on team in tackles with 70 including 32 solo tackles... Named OVC Defensive Player of the Week on Sept. 25 following OVC opening win at Murray State which included six tackles (three solo), two interceptions and three pass break-ups... Finished season tied for team lead with three interceptions adding one at Illinois State... Had 6.5 tackles for loss with a high of two against Lindenwood... Ended season with 1.5 tackles for loss at nationally ranked UT Martin... Posted a season high 11 tackles in season opener at Northern Illinois... Had eight tackles against Lindenwood.

2021 (Fr. - EIU): Appeared in seven games during the 2021 season... Saw time on special teams unit and as a reserve linebacker... Finished season with five tackles, three solo stops... Had two solo stops in first collegiate action at SEC member South Carolina... Had two tackles against Tennessee State... Had one tackle at Southeast Missouri.

High School: Played football for coach Dontrell Jackson at Thornton Township HS… Did not have a fall senior season due to State of Illinois COVID019 restrictions… As a junior helped team post an 8-3 record advancing to the second round of the IHSA Class 7A State playoffs… Played linebacker and wide receiver… Earned second team All-Area honors and first team All-Southland Athletic Conference honors… Finished season with 122 tackles including 15 tackles for loss and nine sacks… Played spring 2021 football in Illinois at Hillcrest HS during shortened season