Elijah Rikard

Photo by: Mac Mayhew '25 - @macmayhew

Photo by: Jack Reeber '23,M'25 - @jackreeber.raw

Position:
Defensive Back
Height:
6-1
Weight:
190
Class:
Redshirt Senior
Hometown:
Detroit, Mich.
High School:
UD Jesuit H.S.
Major:
Sport Management
Twitter:
@elijahrikard3
Instagram:
elijahrikard21

CAREER

In five-year, 40-game, 26-start career at free safety, made 131 career tackles (71 solo) with 1.0 sack, 4.0 tackles for loss, two pass breakups, a fumble recovery, and two interceptions.

2025

As a redshirt senior defensive back, saw action in all 13 games with 10 starts at free safety … listed as the starting free safety on the depth chart … earned preseason Fourth Team All-MAC honors by Athlon Magazine … ranked No. 8 on the team in total tackles with 45 (27 solo), finished with 1.5 tackles for loss for two yards, one interception, and two quarterback hurries … made at least one tackle in all 13 games … finished with four tackles (one solo) 0.5 tackles for loss for one yard in GameAbove Sports Bowl vs. Northwestern (12/26) … made a career-high nine tackles (three solo) in season finale vs. Toledo (11/29) … finished with three tackles and a quarterback hurry at Kent State (11/19) … made four tackles (three solo) vs. Buffalo (11/12) … finished with four tackles (three solo) with 1.0 tackle for loss at Western Michigan (11/1) … totaled two solo tackles at Akron (10/4) … finished with four tackles (two solo) vs. Wagner (9/20) … totaled a career-high tying eight total tackles (six solo) at Michigan (9/13) … finished with three solo tackles and a quarterback hurry at Pittsburgh (9/6).

2024

As a redshirt junior defensive back, saw action in all 12 games … started 10 of 12 games at free safety, including 10 consecutive … listed on the depth chart as the starter at free safety … College Football Network All-MAC honorable mention selection … concluded the season ranked No. 4 on the squad in tackles with 56 (27 solo), added 2.5 tackles for loss for 11 yards, 1.0 sack for eight yards, broke up one pass, and recovered a fumble … made at least two tackles in all 12 games … made four tackles (one solo) vs. Western Michigan (11/19) … made four tackles (one solo), with 0.5 tackles for loss at Toledo (11/12) … finished with six tackles (three solo) vs. Bowling Green (11/5) … registered three tackles (one solo) at Miami (Ohio) (10/26) … made three tackles at Eastern Michigan (10/19) … registered four tackles with a fumble recovery and pass breakup at Eastern Michigan (10/19) … made four tackles (three solo) vs. San Diego State (9/28) … made a career-high eight tackles (five solo) vs. Ball State (9/21) … registered four solo tackles with 1.0 sack/tackle for loss for eight yards at Illinois (9/14) … totaled seven tackles (four solo) with a tackle for loss at Florida International (9/7) … made a then-career-high seven tackles (three solo) in season opener vs. Central Connecticut State (8/29).

2023

As a redshirt sophomore defensive back, saw action in 10 games … started six games at safety … also listed on the depth chart as a safety and cornerback … finished the year with 28 tackles (15 solo) with one interception and one pass breakup … registered a career-high six tackles (two solo) in season finale vs. Toledo (11/24) … made two tackles at Ohio (11/15) … finished with four tackles (three solo) at Western Michigan (11/7) … made three tackles vs. Northern Illinois (10/31) … registered three tackles (three solo) vs. Eastern Michigan (9/30) … made two tackles at South Alabama (9/23) … finished with a then career-high five tackles (one solo) at Notre Dame (9/16) … intercepted pass, broke up a pass, and made one tackle vs. New Hampshire (9/9) … made two tackles in season opener at Michigan State (9/1).

2022

As a redshirt freshman defensive back, played in two games … saw action in 16 plays … saw action at Northern Illinois (11/2) … made two solo tackles vs. Bucknell (9/17).

2021

Redshirted season as a true freshman … appeared in three contests.

HIGH SCHOOL

A 2021 graduate of University of Detroit Jesuit High School … named to the Division 2 Associated Press All-State team .. earned All-Catholic High School League First Team honors in 2020 … earned MHFCA Division 2 All-Region honors … No. 60 on the Detroit News Blue Chip List … named to the 2020 Detroit Free Press All-Area team … had one interception and four pass breakups … did not allow a reception … also caught six passes for two touchdowns … head coach is Matt Lewis …rated a three-star recruit by ON3DB and 247sports and two-star recruit by Rivals … also competed in track and field.

PERSONAL

Born Elijah Rikard on September 6, 2003 … son of Nathan "Nate" Rikard and Ladonna Rikard … selected Central Michigan over offers from Western Illinois, Eastern Illinois, Ball State, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Akron, Bowling Green, Western Michigan, Morgan State, Temple, Kent State, Miami (Ohio) … majors in Sport Management.