| Lou Eliades |
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With three all-conference starters from the offensive line having graduated, preseason camp and the season will provide numerous players an opportunity to become major contributors. Lou Eliades is ready to put two seasons of hard work as a reserve on the line this fall when he battles for a starting assignment, emerging as the top candidate at right guard following spring drills. Having missed the second half of the 2007 season with a stress fracture in his left foot, Eliades has become a contributor in the success of the Penn State offensive line and special teams and will look to take a bigger role in 2009. He saw action in every game last year, serving as the top reserve at right tackle to Dennis Landolt. A first-team all-state selection at Ocean Township HS, Eliades has great physical attributes. He has good size and skills and should have an opportunity to make a substantial impact for the offense this season. Eliades is one of nine returning Nittany Lions from New Jersey.
2008 Junior Season
Eliades saw action in all 13 games on offense and special teams, serving as the primary reserve to right tackle Dennis Landolt. He played on 197 snaps, including a season-high 31 against Southern California in the Rose Bowl, moving into the first unit when Landolt suffered a sprained knee. Eliades also was on the field for 29 snaps against Coastal Carolina and 26 in the win at Syracuse.
2007 Sophomore Season
Eliades made his collegiate debut against Florida International and played in every game from Buffalo through the 38-7 win over No. 19 Wisconsin. But, he suffered a stress fracture in his left foot that required surgery, ending his season. In six games, he saw action on 68 snaps, led by 29 against Florida International.
2006 Freshman Season
Redshirt season.
High School
Eliades was a member of the football and track and field teams at Ocean Township HS. During his senior year, he served as captain of both teams. Eliades anchored an offensive line that cleared the path for 3,000 yards of rushing offense during his senior season, helping him earn first-team All-New Jersey honors from the Newark Star-Ledger. Eliades received all-county honors as a junior and senior and was ranked among the Top 40 offensive linemen in the nation by Scout.com. He was instrumental in helping his team win the Group III Central Jersey state championship. In the summer of 2006, he joined future Penn State teammates Brett Brackett and Cedric Jeffries in helping New Jersey to a big Governor's Bowl victory over New York.
Personal
Full name is Elias N. Eliades. He is the son of Nick and Linda Eliades and one of five children, with three sisters and one brother. He is a kinesiology major and is interested in a career as a strength trainer. Born August 14, 1987.
