Meet Elijah Spencer, Charlotte 49ers emerging WR and the C-USA freshman of the year
From an undefeated high school career at Dutch Fork in Irmo, South Carolina, to C-USA’s Freshman of the Year, Elijah Spencer is making a name for himself in the Queen City.
Spencer became the first 49er to win the award, tying for the team-high with six touchdowns on 28 catches for 381 yards. According to Pro Football Focus, he was thrown just 29 catchable passes on the season, accounting for just one drop in a crowded receiver room with veterans Victor Tucker, Cameron Dollar and another breakout star, Grant DuBose, in the mix.
The recognition was rejuvenating, and it’s just made the young wideout hungry for more.
“Oh man, it felt like a sigh of relief,” Spencer told the Observer on Thursday. “With all of the work that I put in over the summer coming in and how much I’ve grown so far being on my own, it’s great to know that it came to something. I didn’t know what it was going to be, but to get recognized at this level is amazing. I’m thankful for that, but I’m never satisfied.”
Spencer delivered on Charlotte’s biggest stages and in the biggest moments in his true freshman season, reeling in a touchdown in Champaign against Power Five opponent Illinois and keeping the 49ers alive with back-to-back, season-saving touchdowns against Rice.
He went on to score touchdowns in three consecutive games, establishing himself as a permanent starter and answering the bell when Tucker was sidelined with a concussion late in the season.
With Dollar and Tucker stating their intentions to move on from the program, Spencer’s work is cut out for him. The offseason work has already started, knowing the opportunity to become the No. 1 target is for the taking.
The Observer spoke with Spencer following the announcement.
Hunter Bailey: Reflect on the highs and lows of your freshman season at Charlotte.
Elijah Spencer: Coming in, it was everything that I expected. I even got to a place where I could even maximize my game more, which I don’t think I reached that potential. Which frustrates me, but also lets me know there’s more to work on. But I got that hunger back. It just opened my eyes. Just playing college football has shown me that this isn’t the final destination. I can keep going.
HB: Having not lost a game in high school at Dutch Fork, how did you respond as an individual and as a teammate when adversity hit this past season?
ES: I had to look inside and see personally what I was doing wrong that could negatively affect the team. I had to fix some habits. After I started working on myself, that’s when I could start being a teammate and helping others. During practice, I try to intensify our receiver room and bring the juice. I like to compete so I’ll throw some shots at people every now and then to get the juices flowing. I know from experience, and my teammates know that what you do in practice translates to the game. I wanted to be 100% in practice first.
HB: What’s it like playing for Will Healy?
ES: Coming out of high school I wanted to play for somebody with a different coaching style to see the other side of the spectrum. Going from a hard-nosed old man head coach to playing for a young energetic head coach is different. He’s helped me grow a lot one on one, which has been great. Just the fact that he’s here, I know he can do great things with the people and the place that we’re in. I’m really excited to see what’s to come for coach Healy.
HB: Tell me about your relationship with the receivers coach Perry Parks
ES: Coach Parks, he’s from the crib. He lives almost down the road from me back in Irmo, South Carolina. He coached at Ridgeview. Once I heard he got the job I was excited. I knew that that was a relationship that I had to build from the ground up, and I could get off on the right foot with him. He’s a great dude. I’m thankful for him, his background and what he brings to the table.
HB: You talked about the off-season work. Moving to this off-season, what are some aspects of your game that you’ll work on the most?
ES: My main focus is mobility. But when it comes to the offseason, I’m training everything. Going back to the basics of stance of start. I want to get all of the little details right to up my game even more. But to take it to the next level, I’m going to work my mobility and speed so I can maximize that. Once all my game comes together, that’s when it’s really going to be scary.
HB: Who was the toughest defensive back you matched up against in your freshman season?
ES: Honestly there are no names that come to the top of my head. I feel like every game, the defense will put up a fight, but once you start getting the leg up each play, then it just all goes your way. I feel like none can compete for the whole game. But when it comes to competing at practice, Trey Creamer always gives me the toughest talks. I give that to Trey for sure.
HB: What gets you locked in for a game? What’s your pre-game routine?
ES: I’m a big routine guy. Once I complete my routine, I don’t have to worry about anything else. I can just play. On game day, I always have to listen to my Lil Wayne or throwbacks. That gets me in my groove. Everybody knows all the words to Lil Baby and people like that, but I know all the words to Biggie and Jay Z. That’s my go-to. I got my headphones in. I got to hit the hot tub stretch before, then the pre-game throws with (quarterback) Trexler Ivey. That’s my go-to.
HB: Going back to the season, what was your favorite moment of the year?
ES: I gotta say the Rice game in overtime. It was crazy because I had just scored the fourth quarter. Come overtime, we get the ball first and I’m over there drinking water on the bench. They already called the play so I came sprinting from the bench. I got the play real quick and it was like I was processing it. We lined up and we knew we got what we liked pre-snap. I just had to make the play and I made it. It just all came full circle and it was great.
HB: Talk about your relationship with Jairus Mack, Grant DuBose and some of the others in the receiver room.
ES: Coming in, me and NoNo (Mack) communicated sometimes but we didn’t really know about each other’s game. Over the summer we built that relationship on and off the field. That’s somebody I can rely on. I can rely on him to critique me, and I can also critique him so we can better ourselves together. With DuBose, he’s just a monster. He’s a great person to compete with. An amazing person to be around because he’s always energetic and brings light to the room, along with Tucker and Dollar. Cam has been a great role model so far. He’s helped me a lot along the way, whether it’s outside the facility or on the football field. He’s going to be 100 with you no matter what.
HB: With all of the talent in the receiving room, do you ever battle over who gets to run a route?
ES: It’s crazy you say that, because in the Old Dominion game on the drive that I caught the touchdown — we had gotten a play call that the outside guys like. Me and Grant were going back and forth about who was going to get the ball. I ended up being open though so it worked out. But we do that every now and then, me and Grant will look at each other and know what’s coming.
HB: What are your goals for next season?
ES: We just want to improve. We want the team to come together more, which I believe will show on the field. As for myself, I just want to feel more comfortable on the field. With that comes a great level of work and execution, which I know how to do I believe. The hard work will pay off and everything will be laid out on the field next year. I don’t have any specific goals set, I just know to go as hard as I can.