Elijah Zeise

Photo by: Jeffrey Gamza/Pitt Athletics

Position:
LB
Class:
Redshirt Sophomore
Height:
6-2
Weight:
225
Hometown:
Pittsburgh, PA
High School:
North Allegheny

2018: Played in all 14 games, starting 12 at Money linebacker…totaled 48 tackles, four TFLs, one sack, two pass breakups and two forced fumbles…had a season-high five tackles in four different games (Georgia Tech, Duke, Virginia and Virginia Tech)…had a 16-yard sack in the Panthers’ 23-13 win at Virginia.

2017: Played in all 12 games, starting 11 at Money linebacker…lone missed starting assignment was at Syracuse, when Pitt opened the game in a nickel package…totaled 49 tackles, five TFLs and three pass breakups…had a career-high eight tackles in Pitt’s 31-14 win over Virginia...had a career-high two TFLs for losses totaling 10 yards against North Carolina…had two key pass breakups in Pitt’s 24-14 win over No. 2 Miami.

2016: Transitioned to defense during spring drills and was an opening-day starter at Star linebacker...suffered an injury in that initial game against Villanova and missed the balance of the regular season...returned for the Pinstripe Bowl against Northwestern, seeing special teams duty...lone tackle on the season came on the kickoff coverage unit in the bowl game.

2015: Played in all 13 games as a reserve wide receiver and on special teams in his first active season…totaled five catches for 54 yards (10.8 avg.)…had a season-high two catches (for 11 yards) against Youngstown State…had a season-long reception of 17 yards against Miami…also had a 16-yard catch against Louisville.

2014: Redshirted as a true freshman.

HIGH SCHOOL: A big-play wide receiver and shutdown cornerback at Pennsylvania Class AAAA power North Allegheny...selected All-State Class AAAA by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers...Pennsylvania Football News first team All-Class AAAA...Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Fabulous 22"...Pittsburgh Tribune-Review "Terrific 25"...three-time All-Northern Eight...selected to play in the Big 33 Football Classic (Pennsylvania vs. Maryland)...averaged 19.4 yards per catch as a senior, totaling 49 receptions for 952 yards and 10 touchdowns...as a junior, averaged an incredible 29.4 yards per catch with 23 receptions for 677 yards and four TDs...had eight interceptions over his final two seasons...as a three-year varsity starter, helped the Tigers to a combined 37-5 (.881) record, two WPIAL Class AAAA championships and a PIAA state title...his junior year, North Allegheny went 16-0 en route to the state championship...rated the No. 10 overall prospect in Pennsylvania by 247Sports, No. 19 by Scout and No. 21 by Rivals...rated one of the nation's top 40 "athletes" by 247Sports...played under Coach Art Walker...also named first team All-Section 3 in basketball...2014 North Allegheny Male Athlete of the Year...named an Esmark All-American for outstanding athletic, academic and community service achievements...Scholar-Athlete honoree.

PERSONAL: Elijah James Zeise, born 11/28/95, is the son of Paul Zeise and Denita Zeise and the stepson of LeeAnn Zeise...has four brothers and one sister...father played basketball and soccer at Point Park University...stepmother played softball at Duquesne University...grandfather, Ed Smith, played basketball at Canisius College...has two siblings who play college basketball…his brother, Isaiah, plays at Pitt-Greensburg, while his sister, Hailey, plays at Stony Brook…accounting and finance major…recipient of Pitt's Fred Koloc Award for excellence in writing composition.