Taft HS coach wants 4-star Miami commit Elias Rudolph to ‘dominate’ senior season

Cincinnati (Ohio) Taft 2024 Miami commit four-star EDGE Elias Rudolph made a name for himself en route to becoming a top-350 prospect, the No. 24 EDGE in the On3 Industry Ranking and the No. 11 overall prospect in the state.

With the season underway (Taft won game 1, 40-18), Taft head coach Tyler Williams wants to see even more from the 6-foot-3, 200-pound pass rusher.

Williams has no misgivings about Rudolph’s physical gifts — his length, bend, speed and ferocity at the line of scrimmage — but he wants the four-star recruit to become the “ultimate leader of our team” in his final four months before he early enrolls at Miami this January. This season marks Rudolph’s third year starting for Taft after helping the Senators to 21 combined wins in the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

“We’re looking for him to dominate this year,” Williams said. “If he continues to dominate, I think that will help accelerate our team’s success also. He will be that leader that he’s always (been). He’s that vocal leader. He leads with his performance also. He definitely leads off the field with our younger guys, showing them the ropes.”

Rudolph plays with a chip on his shoulder Williams said helped him reach the level he’s at today. Williams said Rudolph has always been “determined to prove people wrong and prove himself right” with relentless effort on the field and during the offseason, committed to doing “whatever he has to do to become a better player.”

“He was one of the first kids I met when I got to Taft, and his grind has remained the same,” Williams said. “He’s always had that mindset of, ‘I’m gonna make it. I’m gonna do whatever I can to make my team better and myself better,’ and he hasn’t let up yet. He’s a special kid. He’s very gifted. His grind and his commitment is definitely what separates him.”

Williams said Rudolph’s film study and ability to absorb and understand tape has grown exponentially during his high school years. Instead of scanning game and practice videos for his own highlights, Rudolph has learned to understand his opponents, learn his own strengths and weaknesses and correct practice mistakes at a new level, which Williams believes will help him at the college level.

And if he learns to consistently dominate, he could position himself for major college success.

“I think the biggest stride for him (to make his senior year) is he has to be even more consistent with dominating the game,” Williams said. “It should be, ‘Hey, Elias Rudolph is on the left side; nothing happens on the left side.’ I have to see that domination from him. This young man should be able to shut down an entire side by himself.”

CaneSport’s Take

Flipping Rudolph from Michigan was a major recruiting win for the Hurricanes, and he’s developed tremendous value for Miami’s staff given the need at his position in the 2024 class. His senior season will be carefully watched as he looks to boost his recruit ranking.

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