Having played in every game the past two years, Lou Eliades quietly goes about his business as a hard-working, focused member of the of fensive line. He assumed control of the right guard posi- tion during the 2009 preseason and made significant strides as the season progressed, star ting ever y game. But, prior to the star t of spring drills, the coaching staf f shifted Eliades to right tackle, where he played in 2008, as they experimented with finding the most productive and cohesive quin- tet for the upcoming season. A first-team all-state selection at Ocean Township HS, Eliades has great physical attributes and has made substantial progress while gaining extensive experience. He has good size, skills and strength and a tenacious demeanor on the field. With the graduation of tackles Dennis Landolt and Ako Poti, Eliades joins Stefen Wisniewski as the Nittany Lions[apos] most experienced O-Linemen. He was on schedule to graduate in August. The durable and ef fective Eliades is one of nine retur ning Nittany Lions from New Jersey.
|
2009 Senior Season
Joining center Stefen Wisniewski and left tackle Dennis Landolt as a starter in every game,
Eliades made very good progress in his first season as a starter, gaining significant experience. He
was instrumental in providing protection for quarterback Daryll Clark and running lanes for Evan
Royster, helping them eclipse 3,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards, respectively. Eliades[apos]
development helped stabilize and improve the line of an offense that ranked No. 2 in the Big Ten,
averaging 406.9 yards per game. Penn State was No. 5 in scoring (28.8 ppg) and was the only Big
Ten team ranked in the top five of the conference[apos]s four primary offensive statistical categories: total,
scoring, rushing (169.8 ypg) and passing offense (237.2 ypg). Behind the protection of Eliades and
his linemates, Clark finished No. 2 in the Big Ten in passing efficiency and with a school season-
record 24 touchdown passes. Penn State finished third in the Big Ten in fewest sacks allowed.
Eliades played on 842 snaps, the fifth-highest total on the team, led by 86 in the wins over Minnesota
and LSU. The Nittany Lions started the season with a bang, throwing for a season-high 379 yards,
a career-best for Clark, in the 31-7 win over Akron. At Illinois, Penn State rolled up 338 rushing yards,
getting 100-yard games from Stephfon Green (120) and Royster (105) and 83 yards from Clark. The
20-0 win over Minnesota capped a three-week stretch in which Eliades and the offensive line did not
allow a sack. Clark continued to receive excellent protection from his line against Michigan, when he
tied a career-high by tossing four touchdown passes in the 35-10 win. In the victory at Northwestern,
the Lions[apos] fifth straight, the offense gained 301 yards in the second half and 437 for the game, aver-
aging 7.5 yards per play. In the 31-20 Senior Day win over Indiana, Eliades and the O-Line did not
allow a sack and helped Penn State gain 181 rushing yards and 194 passing yards. In the 42-14
defeat of Michigan State, Eliades helped Penn State deliver one of its most dominating offensive
efforts of the season. The Nittany Lions amassed 512 yards of total offense, their fourth game of
500 or more yards, and had a season-high 10 plays of 20 yards or more from scrimmage, with four
going for touchdowns..
2008 Junior Season
Eliades saw action in all 13 games on offense and special teams, serving as the primary reserve to right tackle Dennis Landolt. He played on 197 snaps, including a season-high 31 against Southern California in the Rose Bowl, moving into the first unit when Landolt suffered a sprained knee. Eliades also was on the field for 29 snaps against Coastal Carolina and 26 in the win at Syracuse.
2007 Sophomore Season
Eliades made his collegiate debut against Florida International and played in every game from Buffalo through the 38-7 win over No. 19 Wisconsin. But, he suffered a stress fracture in his left foot that required surgery, ending his season. In six games, he saw action on 68 snaps, led by 29 against Florida International.
2006 Freshman Season
Redshirt season.
High School
Eliades was a member of the football and track and field teams at Ocean Township HS. During his senior year, he served as captain of both teams. Eliades anchored an offensive line that cleared the path for 3,000 yards of rushing offense during his senior season, helping him earn first-team All-New Jersey honors from the Newark Star-Ledger. Eliades received all-county honors as a junior and senior and was ranked among the Top 40 offensive linemen in the nation by Scout.com. He was instrumental in helping his team win the Group III Central Jersey state championship. In the summer of 2006, he joined future Penn State teammates Brett Brackett and Cedric Jeffries in helping New Jersey to a big Governor[apos]s Bowl victory over New York.
Personal
Full name is Elias N. Eliades. He is the son of Nick and Linda Eliades and one of five children, with three sisters and one brother. He is a kinesiology major and is interested in a career as a strength trainer. Born August 14, 1987.