Miami Hurricanes tight end Elijah Arroyo drafted in second round by Seattle Seahawks
Tight end Elijah Arroyo persevered through multiple injury hurdles during his time with the Miami Hurricanes before ending his collegiate career with a breakout season.
He is being rewarded for it with a chance in the NFL.
The Seattle Seahawks selected Arroyo with the 50th overall pick in the second round on Friday.
After playing in all 12 games as a true freshman, catching five passes for 86 yards and a touchdown, Arroyo played in just eight total games in 2022 and 2023 while dealing with injuries.
Arroyo, ranked by ESPN as the No. 3 tight end in the draft class, had a breakout season in 2024, catching 35 passes for 590 yards and seven touchdowns. His 16.9 yards per catch led all tight ends at the Football Bowl Subdivision level this season. His seven touchdown catches were tied for fourth among tight ends. He also threw a touchdown pass to quarterback Cam Ward in Miami’s win against Florida State, becoming the first non-quarterback to have a passing touchdown for the Hurricanes since Duke Johnson on Nov. 10, 2012, against Virginia.
“He gets open, shakes defenders at the top of routes, finds windows in zone looks and uncovers when the quarterback scrambles,” ESPN’s Steve Muench wrote in his pre-draft scouting report of Arroyo. “He catches passes in stride and can pull away when he gets a seam after the catch. Arroyo tracks the deep ball well and makes over the shoulder catches. He extends and catches passes away from his frame. He makes plays over the middle and holds on when taking a big hit. He gets stood up and shed at times, but he’s a competitive in-line blocker. He covers and drives defenders in space.”
Arroyo is the third Hurricanes tight end selected in the NFL Draft in the past five years, joining 2023 fifth-round pick Will Mallory and 2021 fifth-round pick Brevin Jordan.
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