By LEE BRECHEEN, Louisiana Football Magazine
You’ve noticed I use the term “sleeper” a lot, to describe players who might not be on the radar of major college recruiters, but are worth watching and have upside to play somewhere on the next level.
This week I am reminded of one of the very best “sleepers” I’ve ever seen. Cody Ford was in that category when I first saw him at Pineville High School, but he didn’t keep that label. He had the big frame and obvious ability, and he made the most of it. His recruiting took off, he signed with Oklahoma, became an All-American for the Sooners, and went on to be a second-round NFL Draft pick and is a productive offensive tackle with the Cincinnati Bengals. His Pineville Rebels’ jersey was retired last year.
I’m not saying Elias Sellers is that level of player, but since he’s an offensive lineman from Pineville, and yes, a “sleeper,” my memory clicked. With Sellers, his recruiting profile isn’t Power 4, but he is good enough to play college football and is a fun player to watch for those who appreciate really good offensive line play.
I had a chance back in early August to meet Sellers because he was a guest on our TV show. I saw him play in 2023 and was super impressed with his feet, his high effort, and the ability to pull and do things a lot of offensive linemen can’t do in high school.
This kid is a true 6-1 and weighs a strong, quick 290 pounds, and as noted, has great feet and is a really smart football player. In our TV interview, I learned his family moved to Louisiana from California not too many years ago to Pineville.
I think Sellers is a Division I player as a center or guard and would be a steal for many programs.
“Elias is a great student-athlete,” said Pineville O-line coach Marcus Oliver. “Coaching him has been fun, to see him grow has been from when I got here last year. I think he is a college football player and could impact a program as soon as he steps on the campus. He is definitely has a bright future ahead of him.”
Sellers gets it done in the weight room. His bests are a 325-pound bench press, a squat of 600 pounds and he cleans 275. He loves to put in the work.
“Playing at Pineville High School, you’re always going to have the underdog tag. It’s not easy,” he said, “and you have to grind for what you earn here. Nothing about us is pretty, and you’ve got to be willing to give it your all, good, bad and ugly.
“When I was first introduced to my offensive line coach Oliver, it was very down to basics. I came to practice and did the typical drills and walk-throughs a lineman does. As we went along, we started to bond, and now it’s a brotherhood,” said Sellers.
“It is made clear that the team starts with the offensive line. I couldn’t ask for anyone else than coach Oliver,” he said.
Looking to the future, he’s got some opportunities and hopes for more. He’s doing all he can to earn them.
“I currently have three offers: Louisiana Christian here in Pineville, Bethel University, and Minnesota North College Vermillion. I will say recruiting is not an easy process at all. If you want to be known, you have to sacrifice a lot of your time into your sport, and even more, all in all, you have to live, breathe, sleep, and eat football if this is what you want,” he told me.
He’s made that commitment, and I think he’ll earn what he’s aiming for – an opportunity to prove himself at the next level in 2025-26 and beyond.
Contact Lee at lbrecheen@aol.com
Lee Brecheen has been covering high school football and recruiting in Louisiana since the early ‘90s. He is owner of Louisiana Football Magazine and can be followed on X @LeeBrecheen. He hosts a YouTube show, The Sports Scouting Report with Lee Brecheen. Previews of all state high schools are available on lafootballmagazine.com.