PATERSON – In keeping with a National Signing Day tradition, Eastside Football’s Elijah Carroll and his proud parents sat at a table with three hats, each bearing the logos of universities that had made offers to the star returner for next year – Alvernia College, East Stroudsburg, and Pace.
After Carroll made some welcoming remarks to the group of supporters in the Eastside gymnasium, he put the East Stroudsburg University (ESU) hat on his head. Almost on cue, his mother, Monesia Jones, and his father, Rufus Carroll, unzipped their jackets to reveal their East Stroudsburg t-shirts. His grandparents, Henry and Victoria Rollins, were close by watching proudly.
“Throughout my years of existence on this earth, it has been my dream to get to choose the college of my choice – not to only play sports but to get a top-rated education as well,” said Carroll.
Before he signed his letter of commitment to ESU Carroll thanked the many people who helped him achieve his dream, including his coaches, his family, and his Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, his teachers, and his mentors.
He also thanked his teammates and wished them well.
“I hope to see more of you in the same position,” he said.
Carroll has delivered many thrilling plays during the 2022 football season, including running Piscataway’s opening kickoff back 90 yards for a touchdown only seconds into the opening game of the playoffs – the first Eastside home playoff game in many years. Carroll’s prowess on the field landed him on the first teams for All Passaic County and All Liberty League. His community service off of the field helped him garner the Super Football Conference’s Young Man of the Year Award.
Carroll’s work ethic has helped him score in the classroom as well. He currently has a 3.84 grade point average and has been on the honor roll for the first and second marking periods at International High School, where he is taking a mix of honors and International Baccalaureate classes.
“He has worked since he was 8 years old for this time to come,” said Carroll’s mother, Monesia Jones.
His father, Rufus Carroll, who played running back and outside linebacker for Eastside before he graduated in 1999, beamed with pride in his son.
“It’s a very special day,” he said.
Eastside Head Football Coach James Magazine said he has known Elijah Carroll since he was five years old.
“He’s just tough – hard as nails,” Magazine said. Acknowledging Carroll’s parents, the coach said, “They did a great job of raising this young man.”
Superintendent of Schools Eileen Shafer came to offer her congratulations to Carroll and his family.
“Elijah Carroll is the perfect example of a student-athlete,” Shafer said. “He does his absolute best whether he is in the classroom or on the football field. I congratulate him, his parents and his grandparents. And I want to thank all of the coaches, his athletic supervisor, the teachers, the principals, and the administrators who helped Elijah achieve his dream of getting into the college of his choice.”
Elijah Carroll, center, surrounded by his parents, coaches, school, and district officials after he selected the East Stroudsburg University hat.
Elijah Carroll signs his letter of commitment as his mother Monesia Jones, and his father, Rufus Carroll, look on.
From left, Assistant Superintendent David Cozart, Elijah Carroll, and Superintendent Eileen Shafer.
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