Wagner was the only Division I-A coach to offer a scholarship to the teen from Snellville, Ga., a town outside of Atlanta. Wagner's staff included two assistants from Georgia, who invited Elam on a recruiting trip to Hawaii. Ever since high school, a lot of people have tried to tear me down. I remember a kicking coach, and different recruiters, saying I was not good enough to be a Division I kicker. I always used that as motivation to prove them wrong.
History provides further incentive.
Elam would be the rare NFL kicker who resembles an NFL safety. I want to let everybody know that kickers are athletes, too.