It’s only year one for defensive back Elijah Grooms in the green and gold for Brockport football, but he has already made an instant impact. Grooms earned Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Week along with being named to the D3 Football Team of the Week for his performance in a 24-0 win over the Morrisville Mustangs.
“I’m blessed, and appreciative that I’m getting recognized for being able to display my talent,” Grooms said. “It’s awesome being recognized across the country and across Empire 8 so it’s a pretty good accolade to have.”
After an injury for Brockport in the first quarter, it was the next man up and Grooms answered the call. He finished with three total tackles (two solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and two interceptions including a 35-yard pick six to put the game away for the Golden Eagles.
“I’m just willing to do whatever it is to help the team win. I’m a big team first guy,” Grooms said. “For me, that’s instilled in me, and I’ve been playing all types of positions on this team. I’ve been all around the defense so for me, wherever they need me, I’m here to win. All of us as a defense and as a team our goal is winning so if that requires me to come off the bench, if that requires me to start, if that requires me to play a different position, then that’s what I’m willing to do for the team.”
This isn’t the first time Grooms played at the collegiate level. Before arriving at Brockport, he played college football for Shasta College in Redding, California. He played 14 games during his tenure with the Knights and totaled 49 tackles (35 solo), an interception, two pass deflections and one tackle for loss. His time at Shasta prepared him for moments like these.
“I learned a lot at my junior college at Shasta,” Grooms said. “I learned how to handle adversity and learned that when things aren’t going your way, keep your head up and still do what you have to do every day in order to be ready to perform at a high level. Adversity is nothing new to me, and everyone knows especially JUCO players you’re going to run into adversity, so for me it’s nothing new to be a part of.”
It can sometimes be hard to have an impact with a team in your first year, especially when you join a defense that’s No. 1 in the nation for DIII and second in all of NCAA football. For Grooms though, it was easy when you have a team around you that you can call a family.
“The players and coaches welcomed me with open arms, this is a family. This is the best situation I could have possibly asked for in terms of coming in and being together as a team,” Grooms said. “I’ve been to other places where it’s been about football, but this is really a family. Some of these guys I’m going to hang with past college, this is a true family and they want what’s best for me.”
Grooms and the Brockport Golden Eagles look to continue their defensive dominance and improve their win streak to six on the road against the Utica Pioneers. Kickoff is scheduled for this Saturday, Nov. 2 at 12 p.m.
