Counting Down the Lions: #17
In joining Charlie’s Top PSU moments, we’ve added another daily countdown feature here at NittanyWhiteOut. We’ll be measuring up the 50 most important players to Penn State’s success in the 2009 season. You may have noticed that we’ve slacked off a little lately, but expect a few double doses of Counting Down the Lions until we’re all caught up.
Checking in at #17 is one of the players who will be asked to anchor Penn State’s offensive line in 2009, the other starting guard: Lou Eliades
Number: 77
Position: Offensive Guard
Class: Redshirt Junior
Height: 6’4
Weight: 310
Hometown: Ocean, N.J.
How’d He Get Here: Just like his probable partner at right guard, Johnnie Troutman, Eliades hails from the state of New Jersey. Unlike Troutman, however, Eliades’s career path was on the offensive line from the beginning. As a junior, Eliades was named to the all-county team, and as a senior, was named All-State after leading his team to a group championship, and played in that year’s Governor’s Bowl–the game that pits the top high school talent in New Jersey against their counterparts in New York. As a recruit, Eliades received similar recognition, as both Scout and Rivals listed Eliades as a four-star prospect. Though he held offers from schools as storied and diverse as Miami, Notre Dame, Tennessee, and Virginia Tech, Eliades chose the Nittany Lions, committing to the Lions in December of 2005.
2008 Results: Eliades, who has practiced at both left guard and right tackle for the Lions, didn’t see much playing time behind Rich Ohrnberger and Dennis Landolt, who held down those positions last year. However, he did see playing time in all 13 of Penn State’s games in 2008, and was perhaps the top offensive line backup on the team, along with Mike Lucian. In the Rose Bowl game, Eliades played extensively after Landolt suffered an injury.
What to Expect in 2009: Of the three positions along the offensive line that were considered “unsettled” heading into the 2009 season–both guard spots and right tackle–it would seem that Eliades was the only sure bet to start. So far, that hasn’t changed much. He’s been practicing with the first team since the spring, and has been virtually penciled in as the starter come September 5th. A massive player, Eliades has the talent to go along with his frame, and should prove one of the steadier pieces along the offensive line all season for the Lions, even if he is making the shift from tackle to guard.
Random Facts: In addition to serving as the captain for his high school football team, Eliades was also a captain of the track and field team at Ocean Township high school.
The Final Word: This isn’t Eliades’ first go-round in a competition to start at guard for the Nittany Lions. In 2007, as a redshirt freshman, he battled Rich Ohrnberger for the gig, and very nearly won the job, as he practiced with the first team throught spring and summer practice. Now, it would seem, Eliades doesn’t have a future first-day NFL Draft pick to steal the job from him. He’s seen the field as much as any other lineman on the team not named Wisniewski or Landolt, having seen a good number of snaps in 2007 before breaking his foot. I’d be more than surprised if Eliades doesn’t prove himself a more than capable guard, and fully expect him to be a bright spot on the offensive line in 2009.
Releated Posts:
- Counting Down the Lions: #6
- Counting Down the Lions: #4
- Counting Down the Lions: #3
- Counting Down the Lions: #5
