Fox 40 Prospect Challenge (Central): QB Paulsen spending off-season learning from CFL players

Elijah Paulsen started playing football in Grade 8 as a wide receiver and a running back for Killbride Flag Football.

“We had a lot of fun as kids and got familiar with the game,” said Elijah.

Upon starting high school, he tried out as a receiver for the Hayden Huskies in the Halton Secondary School Athletic Association (HSSAA), but ended up being placed as starting slotback and second-string running back.

“I managed to score the most touchdowns a Grade 9 had ever gotten at Dr. Frank J. Hayden during that season,” commented the Husky.

That spring, he also took part in a 7-on-7 team with the Huskies.

This past fall, Elijah was asked to step up into the quarterback position, and he took the role all the way to the Tier 1 Championships in the Halton region.

That season, Elijah got a total of 569 passing yards and 12 passing touchdowns on 21/31 completions.

He also got 672 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns.

The quarterback is also participating in this year’s Fox 40 Prospect Challenge and his goals are to work together with his teammates that continually push him to be the absolute best he can be.

“I also would like to learn new concepts and tips from the coaching staff at FPC,” added Elijah. “Besides the game itself, for me a big part of football [are] the people, the mentorship and camaraderie [that] make it such a great crew to be around.”

During the offseason, his workouts are a good balance of hitting the gym, speed training, plyometric workouts and the Hayden track team.

Currently, the quarterback is participating in a program called Overtime Football that is led by Hamilton Tiger-Cat, Courtney Stephens.

At the camp, Elijah is put through many quarterback drills and lessons.

Stephens also spends a lot of time talking about football as life, mentorship, and gives guidance for collegiate programs.

The real highlight for him at Overtime Football is the on-on-one time he gets with the Roughriders’ quarterback, Brandon Bridge, and Jerimiah Masoli, the Tiger-Cats’ quarterback.

“It’s humbling to learn from these leaders who are great players and [people] I really look up to,” explained Elijah.

Bridge is also his most predominant football role model because, like him, he was born in Toronto and grew up in southern Ontario.

“He has worked hard and he’s made it to the highest level as a Canadian quarterback,” said the Husky.

Elijah loves to play football for a few reasons, the first, is he loves how much of a team sport it is.

“There is nothing better than going to war with your boys standing by your side fighting with you,” continued the quarterback.

Secondly, he loves the physical aspect of it, because in football, boys can be boys while they “hunt for leather and wrestle each other to the ground as hard as they want.”

Lastly, he likes the training and the time that is spent making each other better.

“Whether offseason, or during football practice, we are always raising the bar farther and farther to become the greatest,” said Elijah.

Elijah Paulsen
Position: Quarterback
Height/Weight: 5’10”, 155lbs
Team: Hayden Huskies (HSSAA)
Class: 2019