For Hawaii nickelback Elijah Palmer, the immediate focus is on Saturday’s important football game against North Dakota State at the Ching Complex.
The long-term vision is whether to return for a fifth UH season or pursue a pro career.
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And then there is the day that has been circled on his calendar for several months. Palmer and his wife, Heleine, are expecting the couple’s first child.
“Our baby boy — Elijah Palmer II — is due Dec. 10,” Palmer said. “We’re beyond blessed.”
When he learned he would be a father, Palmer recalled, “it was an immense amount of joy. I take my last name very seriously. I take my (Christian) faith seriously. And just breaking my generational curses. It’s starting with him as our son.”
Because his father was not part of his upbringing, he was reared by his grandparents. Andrea Moore, a decorated teacher, stressed the importance of education to her grandson. Rocco Moore worked two jobs to pay for his grandson’s tuition to Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas.
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“My biological father wasn’t necessarily there,” Palmer said. “But my grandfather taught me what it was like to work and be the man in the household and get done whatever needs to get done. I’m going to take that same approach.”
Palmer praised his wife, whom he described as a “a woman of God” with a loving and supportive family. Despite growing up in separate states, the long-time friends connected when he joined the Warriors as a freshman and her family moved from California to Oahu in 2023. In the spring semester of his freshman season, Palmer proposed.
“When you know, you know,” Palmer said.
“They’re going to be great parents,” said associate head coach Chris Brown, who has known Palmer for eight years. At Bishop Gorman, Brown was an assistant head coach and strength coordinator while Palmer was a workmanlike defensive back. After joining his alma mater’s coaching staff in 2022, Brown recruited Palmer to the Warriors’ 2023 class.
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“I think it’s really cool he’s going to name his son Elijah II,” Brown said. “If he’s anything like his dad, he’ll be a special guy. The mom is Polynesian (and) with EP’s mindset, I might as well offer him a scholarship when he comes out.”
Palmer is having another impactful season as one of the Mountain West’s top nickelbacks. To expand his skills, Palmer also has studied under safeties coach Nick Locher.
“Just learning every aspect of the game,” Palmer said. “I pride myself in being a versatile (defensive back) and being able to play everywhere.”
Palmer can play middle back, cover the inside receivers and tight ends, and reinforce the tackle box. In the past Saturday’s rout of UTEP, Palmer used his punch technique to force two fumbles. Of his punch, Palmer said, “just being able to stay the course in practice and just repping it.”
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Palmer has played in 44 of 46 games, with 36 starts, in his first four seasons. This year, the NCAA implemented a rule allowing players five years to play five seasons. That provides Palmer the potential to test his pro chances or return to UH for a fifth season. If the NFL Draft were held today, he projects as a late-round selection or undrafted free agent. He said it is too early to ponder a decision.
“I know what I want in this life, what my flesh wants,” he said. “But at the end of the day, I’m spirit driven. Whatever God’s will is for my life, that’s what it will be.”
At the end of Wednesday’s practice, Brown became emotional about the eventual departure, whether it’s in a month or a year.
“I hugged him today,” Brown said. “I got a little choked up. I told him, ‘I’m not ready to let you go just yet.’ … I saw him develop over the years. He’s a special player. And it’s going to be a special day when he’s a dad. I think he’ll continue to grow as a leader when he becomes a father.”
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
