The Oklahoman's Super 30: How Elijah Green has thrived at Classen SAS despite adversity
Elijah Green’s football career at Classen SAS has been filled with changes.
As Green prepares to enter his senior season, he’s being led by his fourth head coach.
Along with that, the Comets have struggled during his three years at the school, winning just three games.
But none of that has stopped Green from making a name for himself and becoming a top prospect.
His talent is simply too grand to be overlooked.
With colleges around the country showing interest in the receiver and defensive back, Green comes in at No. 16 on The Oklahoman’s Super 30 list of the state’s top recruits in the 2024 class.
The 6-foot-2, 184-pounder recently released his top five list of schools, and it includes Missouri, Sam Houston State, Texas Tech, Tulsa and the University of Texas at San Antonio.
More: The Oklahoman's Super 30: How TCU camp 'opened everything' for Del City's LaDainian Fields
Green’s high school football career has had some obstacles, but he’s looking forward to finishing it on a positive note before moving on to his next chapter.
“It’s been a tough journey, for sure, because of the coaching changes,” Green said. “But it’s been a learning experience.”
Although the Classen SAS football program has struggled, Green has had his share of success as a Comet.
A three-sport athlete, he competes in football, basketball and track.
In May, he claimed the Class 4A title in the 400-meter dash with a time of 48.72 seconds.
Travis Burdine has been Green’s track coach and is now the head man of the football program. The coach has been nothing but impressed with Green.
“I’ve known him since eighth-grade year,” Burdine said. “Been his track coach ever since. This is my first year being his head football coach. So I’ve seen him develop from a middle-schooler to a high-schooler to basically like what y'all are here for, more of like a top recruit. We’ve also seen him start to be more of a man.”
Green will be a four-year starter and has played several positions, including quarterback, receiver, cornerback and safety.
He’s being recruited by some as a receiver. Others are interested in him as a defensive back.
His speed has always been there and set him apart.
“Even though he is great in track, we had to transition him from track speed to field speed,” Burdine said. “That’s two different things. Yeah, we can be fast on the track, but on the football field we got to be quick. That’s what we had to work on — his quickness and agility and better footwork on the field.”
More: The Oklahoman’s Super 30: Josh Aisosa grows from novice to D-I recruit at Edmond Santa Fe
Green has a strong work ethic and is constantly working on trying to improve.
He has great character and is as respectful as anyone could be.
He’s also proud to be at Classen SAS.
Green could have easily transferred to a school with a more successful football program, but he didn’t want to do that.
“These are my brothers, and I feel like that I’ve been showing them the way and leading how I should,” Green said. “And I can’t just throw that away by just going somewhere else. I could, but it just wouldn’t sit right with me.
"I feel like I just need to finish what I started.”
More: The Oklahoman’s Super 30: MJ Graham's energy carries through multiple sports at Westmoore
The Oklahoman’s 2024 Super 30
Name: Elijah Green
School: Classen SAS
Super 30 ranking: No. 16
Ht.: 6-foot-2 | Wt.: 184 pounds
Position: Wide receiver and defensive back
Recruited by: Air Force, Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Army, Missouri, Navy, Sam Houston State, Texas Tech, Tulsa, University of Texas at San Antonio
About the series
The Oklahoman’s Super 30 feature series will spotlight each high school football player on the Super 30 recruit rankings for the 2024 class. The series continued Monday with Nos. 17 and 16, Poteau star Dax Collins and Classen SAS standout Elijah Green. See No. 15 on the list in Tuesday's print edition. Here are the last five players featured.
No. 20: Micho Lavine, LB, Millwood
No. 19: Josh Aisosa, OL, Edmond Santa Fe
No. 18: LaDainian Fields, WR/DB, Del City
No. 17: Dax Collins, DB, Poteau
No. 16: Elijah Green, WR/DB, Classen SAS
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma HS football: Elijah Green, Classen SAS recruiting profile
