Elphick Looks to Close out Collegiate Career on High Note

Kyle Elphick is challenging himself to have as a better year as a senior like he did during his stellar sophomore season.

The 2023 graduate of Fellowship Christian School begins football camp at NCAA Division I FCS Stetson University at the beginning of August. The Hatters kick off the season at South Dakota State on Aug. 29 at 7 p.m.

“I am excited for my senior year,” Elphick said. “I graduate in December, and I am ready to excel on the field. I would love to get into the 100-tackle range again. As a senior, I really want us to win more games, win the conference championship and get into the playoffs. Those would be firsts for us. We brought football back [to Stetson] in 2013, and that would be our best season in the modern era.”

The Hatters finished 3-8 last season, including a 2-6 mark in Pioneer League contests. Stetson was 2-9 and winless in seven conference games in Elphick’s sophomore year.

Statistically, the 2024 season was Elphick’s best. The 6-foot-2, 230-pound inside linebacker led the Hatters defensive unit with 44 solo tackles, 58 assists, 102 total stops, nine tackles for a loss and 5.5 sacks in 11 games.

As a junior, Elphick played in a career-high 12 games and ranked third on the team with 33 assisted tackles and 58 overall stops. His 5½ tackles for a loss ranked second on the Hatters. He shared third on the team with 1½ sacks and was tied for fourth on the team with 25 solo stops.

As a freshman, Elphick helped the Hatters finish 3-8 overall and 1-7 in conference games. He finished with three solo tackles, six assists, nine total stops and 0.5 tackles for a loss in 2023.

Through his first three years at the DeLand, Fla., school, Elphick has seen improvements personally and as a team.

“Obviously, my sophomore year was outstanding,” said Elphick, who noted the team won the same number of games in his junior and senior years. “My junior year was not quite as good. We had a good season, and the whole team played welI. We had a new coaching staff and are starting to get a new identity. We won more games against Division I opponents last season. Coach Michael Jasper played in the NFL. He’s doing a great job as our coach.”

A 2023 graduate of Fellowship Christian School, Elphick has watched several teammates reach college football at the Division I, II and III levels and is grateful for his time on the field for the Paladins, especially football and lacrosse. He also played lacrosse under coach Lou Corsetti, the team’s director of boys’ lacrosse.

“I played for three great Fellowship football coaches – Al Morrell, Tim McFarlin and John Thompson,” he said. “Coach Thompson taught us how to be professional as players and coach Lou showed us how to do life and be a better person. They all always gave back to us. I loved my Fellowship experience. We’re small, but you were always around such great athletes at FCS. And good people, great coaches, great teachers and great leadership.”

With his sister – Lily Kate Elphick – playing NCAA Division soccer at the University of Georgia, the Elphick family has a pretty busy travel schedule during the fall soccer and football season.

“My parents and family are all over the place,” Elphick said. “They are all coming to see both of us play. I follow her and watch most of her games on my phone. It’s so awesome to get her [game streams].”

Elphick, a business major with a sports business minor, has enjoyed his Stetson experience.

“It’s been a cool experience,” he said. “The Stetson business school professors all have real world experience and have a lot of connections. The small class sizes are great. The intimate setting helps you get real relationships with your professors.”

(Photos courtesy of gohatters.com)