Lofton is all the talk of spring

Freshman tight end getting praise from coaches, players

CORAL GABLES — Elija Lofton is new to Miami’s Coral Gables campus, but he has a long-running relationship with a former Hurricane.

Lofton is close with former UM tight end and current Houston Texan Brevin Jordan, who also attended powerhouse Las Vegas high school Bishop Gorman High.

“He always comes back and talks to me,” Lofton said. “I’m always texting him, getting advice and stuff. … He told me to go be great. Told me to stay disciplined, stay locked in, be humble and just go make plays and ball out.”

If Lofton’s career plays out similarly to Jordan’s, Lofton will be in the NFL in just a few years.

“He’s like a big brother to me,” Lofton said. “So I use some of his game and apply it to mine.”

Lofton, a four-star prospect and the No. 16 tight end in the 2024 class (according to 247Sports’ composite rankings), has quickly made a name for himself after enrolling early at Miami. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound freshman has made dazzling plays in his first few weeks of practice, earning praise from coaches and teammates alike.

“He’s doing everything well,” sophomore tight end Riley Williams said. “He’s out there not only just tight end. He’s playing running back, he’s playing slot. They’re using him all around the field because he’s an all-around guy. He can make those plays. We like to think of him as like a little Deebo Samuel. He’s able to do everything.”

“He’s doing a really good job,” veteran tight end Cam McCormick said. “He’s elevation everybody in this room, and he needs to keep building us up to a high standard because he’s going to play a big role in this offense this year.”

Lofton has been soaking up what he can learn from the older tight ends in the room like McCormick, Williams and Elijah Arroyo. He said the veterans have helped him learn the playbook and showed him how to be physical.

“It’s been a blessing to be able to play football, the game I love,” Lofton said. “Now I’m just looking up to the big guys like Riley, Elijah. Cam is teaching me everything. We’re soaking it up and trying to use it to help me get better every day.”

The Hurricanes have tried Lofton out at a few different spots on the field. In addition to playing tight end, he could also move out to play slot wide receiver or move into the backfield as an H-back. Regardless of where the coaches put him, Lofton feels comfortable.

“I just came here to play ball,” Lofton said. “I came to get on the field, so anything coach (Mario) Cristobal, coach (Cody) Woodiel, any coach needs me to do something, I’m just going to do it, try it, go at it full speed and just do it the best I can.”

That attitude has endeared him to the staff; Cristobal said he is “pretty fired up” about Lofton’s potential and the work he has put in, comparing the freshman tight end to breakout first-year players from last year.

“We talked a lot about Rueben Bain last year, early on, and Francis (Mauigoa), and when you start talking about Elija, you feel a little bit the same way,” Cristobal said.

So far, the biggest adjustment for Lofton in college has been being away from home, but that has not kept him from showing his skills on the field.

“Just being away from my family, that’s really what it is,” Lofton said. “I’m adjusting to it. I’m happy to be here and I’m just working.”