Even though rookie linebacker Keyshaun Elliott has never experienced an NFL training camp, the Chicago Bears' fifth-round draft pick welcomes all the challenges he will face this summer.
Keyshaun Elliott is no stranger to adversity when it comes to navigating training camp.
The Chicago Bears' fifth-round draft pick played his college ball at New Mexico for two seasons before finishing his career at Arizona State. It's not uncommon for temperatures to reach triple digits in late July and throughout August throughout training camp.
Elliott will likely not experience that type of heat at Halas Hall over the course of the summer, but head coach Ben Johnson brings a different level of intensity that will push the rookie to his limits.
The 6-foot-1, 233-pound linebacker welcomes the challenge.
"Obviously, you know, I know coach Ben Johnson is, you know, hard nose blue colored guy like I said," Elliott said, via Bears Weekly with Jeff Joniak. "So you know, I'm expecting all of it when it comes to, you know, effort, physicality and how much we go when it comes to training camp. But, you know, that's what's going to separate people in this league is, you know, how much how much time you're putting in in the offseason. The offseason, you know, wins you the championships and super bowls, so, you know, just hearing that from older guys, you know, just makes me want to get going right now let's do it. Let's put on the pads, and let's roll."
Elliott highlighted that his unmatched work ethic is what sets him apart. During fall camp of his junior year, he revealed to Joniak that he slept only three to four hours a night, all to learn a brank new playbook.
While the rookie has learned the importance of proper sleep for his health, Elliott might be facing more restless nights. On top of his special teams duties, he now has to master an entirely new defensive playbook.
He will also have his moments to go against quarterback Caleb Williams in training camp, someone Elliott already views as "a damn good quarterback."
"He makes unbelievable throws and just, you know, [He's] a great player," Elliott said of Williams. "Everything you see on the internet is true and just shoutout to his, you know, what he does in the offseason, how much work he puts in the game."
Elliott embraces challenges. It's a defining trait for the rookie, and landing on Johnson's team couldn't have been a more ideal fit for the former Sun Devil.
"This is a blue-collar football team, something, you know, that I was blessed to be a part of my first two years of college and my last two years of college," Elliott said. "You know, we're fully driven by, you know, how much work can we put in and what can we get out of it? So, I mean, that's what I'm used to and what I love about the game. It takes a lot. You have to have a really good process, but at the end of the day, it's worth it."
