Tulane's Lynaris Elpheage to Enter NFL Draft
Jan 14, 2003 | Football
Jan. 14, 2003
NEW ORLEANS - Tulane cornerback/return specialist Lynaris Elpheage, the MVP of the ConAgra Foods Hawai'i Bowl, will forgo his senior season with the Green Wave and make himself available for the NFL Draft, the New Orleans native and Carver High product said Monday.
"Due to my personal situation, I feel it is time for me to make the move to the next level, and so I have decided to declare for the NFL Draft," Elpheage said. "During the past three years, I have been fortunate to be coached by Coach Scelfo and his staff. It was an honor to represent Tulane University."
Elpheage, a first team All-Conference USA and second-team All-American (by CNNSI.com and CollegeFootballNews.com) in 2002, intercepted eight passes and knocked down 21 as a junior to rank second in the country in both interceptions and passes defended. He also ranked fifth in NCAA Division I-A in punt returns with a 16.5-yard average and was one of the Top 20 kickoff return men in the nation with an average of 25.2 yards per kickoff return.
Versus Southern Miss on the first offensive play of his career, the 5-9, 170-pound player scored on a 16-yard rush on an end-around. He scored four touchdowns on the season, including one each via punt return (60 yards vs. Hawai'i), kickoff return (52 yards vs. Houston), interception return (62 yards vs. UL-Monroe) and rush. He also set up a Gerald Brobbey punt return TD with a lateral versus UAB. During his 36-game career, Elpheage scored seven TDs and set or tied four school records. He finished his career second all-time at Tulane and in Conference USA with 14 interceptions, made 171 tackles and broke up a school-record 48 passes.
Elpheage ignited Tulane in the ConAgra Foods Hawai'i Bowl with a 60-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter to record Tulane's first touchdown of the game. One series later, he returned a Hawai'i punt 56 yards to the 17-yard line to set up the Green Wave's go-ahead touchdown. He finished the game with four punt returns for 143 yards, two kickoff returns for 57 yards, six tackles and a pass break-up.
"Lynaris has meant a great deal to our team, Tulane University and the City of New Orleans," said Tulane Head Coach Chris Scelfo. "He had an opportunity to stay home and play college football and he's accomplished a tremendous amount for our program. Now it's time for him to take his game to the next level and I'm really happy for him. I know he's going to be an outstanding player at the next level. He's meant a lot to all of us and we appreciate his efforts for Tulane University."
-- Roll Wave --
