Athlete Q&A: All-American Elijah Paige Gears Up for the Season

All-American. Leader. Trojan through and through. These are all adjectives that describe redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Elijah Paige. As he continues to prep for another big season, House of Victory chatted with him to get the inside scoop on how it's going and what his mindset is heading into the season. It's hard not to root for Elijah, and after reading this Q&A it will be impossible for Trojan fans. 

House of Victory: First of all, tell us how you’re getting ready for your redshirt sophomore season. 

Elijah Paige: Right now, since we’re in the summer, it’s a lot of working out with Coach Tru. Summer conditioning, summer lifting, summer workouts in general. I’m working on my technique everyday so I can be the most consistent player I can be when the fall comes. I want to be the most consistent guy I can be for our team - someone the whole team and Coach Riley can depend on. It’s all building to just wanting to win some championships. I know that’s a broad goal, but I just want to win. It’s something that I’m putting a lot of emphasis on. 

HOV: Coming off of such a highly successful freshman year, do you feel like it’s still just the beginning for you? 

EP: I think it’s a great advantage to have played so much last year - I got a lot of the freshman mistakes out last year. I’ve already gotten to play in some crazy environments, loud environments and that’s such a big thing being a young guy playing college football. It’s a great thing that I’ve gone through and I don’t have to get ready for it because I’ve already done it. I’m focused on growing from the moments that weren’t so great last year. There were things that I messed up and mistakes I made that I don’t want to repeat. I definitely want to just build off of last year. 

HOV: You had a really successful redshirt freshman year - Freshman All-American and All-Big Ten Honorable Mention. What do those accolades mean to you? 

EP: It’s just a reminder to keep going. It’s great to get those accolades, but they don’t mean much if you don’t keep working toward the bigger things. I’m blessed to have been recognized with both of those honors, it’s awesome, but it’s just a reminder to keep going, a reminder that my dreams are right there I just have to keep going.

HOV: You’ve mentioned that you want to take on more of a leadership role this season. How are you preparing for that and what does that increased role look like for you?

EP: It starts with the offensive line. Making sure that I’m right and making sure my group is right and then that becomes a team thing for sure. Making sure that we’re all doing everything that we need to do and that carries on to a point where the o-line can lead by example. I think just over the years there were other guys, Justin Dedich, Jonah Monheim, who watching those guys lead just prepared me a lot. Those were two great leaders and they just showed me what to do, what not to do, and generally just how to lead and prepare. Those two guys really helped prepare me.

HOV: What’s something you think people don’t understand about being an offensive lineman?

EP: Everything an offensive lineman does is for the team. It’s a tough position. It’s a very selfless position. There’s accolades, but there’s not big, flashy stats that you're going to get every game. All five guys have to be on the same page or else the offense can't run. If one guy is doing something on his own or out of sync, it doesn’t work. O-line is one of the only positions in sports where if all five of you aren’t on the same page, communicating, it’s going to affect everything. The things that we do affect the quarterback and the whole offense, and so it's a big responsibility.

HOV: Do you have any o-linemen mentors or role models who have influenced you or that you model your game after?

EP: A big mentor in my life has been Jonah Monheim since I got here in 2023. He took me under his wing and showed me how to do things on and off the field. He moved to left tackle my freshman year so I was sitting behind him and learning from him. I’d try to replicate what he did and implement it into my game, but his example was even more impactful off the field. The way he practices, the way he studies film, the way he gets ready for a game. I find myself doing a lot of things on a daily basis that I learned from Jonah. 

HOV: We’ve heard about these o-line BBQs - what’s your involvement with those been this offseason?

EP: I’ve been to all of them! They’re great for our team! First it was the o-line BBQ and it was only o-line. Over the summer it kept growing and it turned into the whole team. We’ll have 60-80 guys now and it’s just great. Tobias is on the grill every time, he’s the guy who grills and we’re just hanging out having burgers and hot dogs. It's just a great opportunity for all of us to spend some time together outside of football and bond because those little things make a difference in the fall.

HOV: What does it mean to you to be a Trojan?

EP: It means everything to me. Truly it does. The history, not only in football but also the school. The history that this place has is second to none. No matter where you go in the country, if you have an SC shirt or hat on, it means something and there’s always someone who’s saying something to you. The guys on the team, the staff, everyone you come into contact with during your time here are going to care about you, just like you’re going to care about the future Trojans. It’s a family. A lot of places say that, but at SC it really means that. 

Quick Hits: 

• Favorite NFL player: Maxx Crosby

• Favorite NFL team: Pittsburgh Steelers

• Favorite LA activity: Going to the beach - Manhattan Beach is probably my go-to spot.

• Dream vacation: Hawaii or really any tropical island destination - I want to go to an island and just get away.

• If you weren’t a football player you’d want to be…: Basketball player - I actually grew up playing basketball.

• Dream golf foursome: Lake McRee, Tobias Raymond, Kilian O'Connor and me. Lake is probably winning though.