USC Trojans starting left tackle Elijah Paige was named to the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award watch list. The award is given to the most outstanding freshman player (true freshman or redshirt freshman) in college football.
Paige is a redshirt freshman who played in five games in 2023 last season, starting in one versus Louisville.
He was a important standout and key piece in the Holiday Bowl win against Louisville, protecting Miller Moss’ blind side. He enters 2024 as one of the most important pieces on USC’s roster. He needs to have a big year in order for USC to have a big year.
Paige went viral this off-season when ESPN’s Pat McAfee had this to say about the four-star recruit: “This has to be an AI edit.. is that an 8’ tall man?” McAfee posted that quote on X.
Paige is listed as 6-foot-8 and 320 pounds at only 19 years of age.
The Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award has been presented to the college freshman player of the year since 2018, and is named in honor of Shaun Alexander, a former Alabama standout and the 2005 NFL MVP with the Seattle Seahawks. Past winners include Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) in 2018, Kenneth Gainwell (Memphis) in 2019, Will Anderson Jr. (Alabama) in 2020, Brock Bowers (Georgia) in 2021, Drake Maye (North Carolina) in 2022 and Caleb Downs (Alabama) in 2023.
Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, Ducks Wire, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.