UM’s Elijah Arroyo has steadily climbed draft boards. What he needs to do at the NFL Combine
Elijah Arroyo doesn’t want to curse.
As the hot Miami sun beams down on the field at Bommarito Performance Systems, the 21-year-old tries to stay humble as he attempts to discuss his NFL future, his thick, gold Cuban chain glistening around his neck. Make no mistake: Arroyo will be drafted. That, after all, is why he chose to train at Bommarito, one of the top performance facilities in the country. And while his sole year of production and medical history will give some evaluators pause, Arroyo isn’t too worried about that; he knows exactly what needs to be proved.
“I don’t want to cuss,” the former University of Miami Hurricane said when asked what he wants to show evaluators, “but can’t nobody f*** with me.”
The next week will be crucial for Arroyo. One of the top tight end prospects of the 2025 class, Arroyo will have yet another chance to improve his draft stock at the NFL Combine, which runs from Feb. 27-Mar 2, 2025. The most important thing he can do? Have a clean bill of health, according to NFL Draft Analyst Tony Pauline.
“Medicals and the interviews are the most important aspects of the combines,” Pauline explained, adding that the evaluations might differ from team to team. “What they usually look at is he going to be healthy? Is he going to make it to a second contract? And if they determine that ‘Yeah, no problem – he’s fine,’ then he’s probably going to go early second round.”
The importance of Arroyo’s medical records stems from an injury-riddled collegiate career. Prior to his breakout senior season in 2024, the tight end played only six games between his sophomore and junior seasons due to a torn ACL. Arroyo, however, has emphasized his improved ability to take care of himself in interviews since the Senior Bowl.
“I’m learning a lot as far as how to be a pro and how to take care of my body, learning the science behind everything and why I’m doing what I’m doing,” Arroyo said of his time at Bommarito. “I feel like Pete and the staff has been really helping me out with that.”
Among all Hurricane pass-catchers, Arroyo finished fourth in receiving yards (590), fifth in catches (35) and third in touchdown receptions (seven) in 2024. He also led the team in yards per catch at 16.9. Arroyo followed up his exceptional senior season with a dominant performance at the Senior Bowl. Listed at 6 foot 4 inches tall and 247-pounds, his size was already well-documented yet it was his speed and mobility that turned a lot of heads in Mobile, Ala.
“He has first round traits,” NFL Draft Analyst Todd McShay said of Arroyo during the Senior Bowl. “He’s not a first rounder but when you look at him on the field, he looks like an All-Pro, tight end. He’s athletic. He gets in and out of breaks. He’s the most athletic tight end here. Period.”
Added Pauline: “He looks like a big receiver on the field. He’s fast. He’s athletic. He can get down the field and he catches the ball like a receiver.”
The list of praise goes on and on.
“It’s hard not to fall in love with Arroyo getting off the bus, and he backs it up with his play,” CBS’ Ryan Wilson wrote after the Senior Bowl. Wilson also noted that Arroyo is a “long strider who is comfortable inline or in the slot, and can stress defenses between the numbers because of his athleticism. He has an enormous catch radius, soft hands and explodes out of his breaks.”
Only time will tell whether Arroyo ends up. As of Sunday, Bleacher Report ranks Arroyo as the 32 best prospect while The Athletic and ESPN have him at 66 and 128, respectively. The rankings, however, are out of his control; all he’s focused on is the work.
From Jeremy Shockey to Greg Olsen to David Njoku, UM has produced its fair share of elite tight ends. Now, Arroyo wants to continue that legacy. His first chance to do so comes Tuesday in Indianapolis where his plans are rather simple.
“Really just do everything to the best of my ability,” Arroyo concluded.
This story was originally published February 23, 2025 at 5:50 PM.
