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Florida cornerback Kaiir Elam reveals the source of his on-field attitude at NFL Combine

275133747_4796292347117549_592518599057046758_nby: Jonathan Wagner03/05/22j_wags74
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Mary Holt/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.

Florida Gators cornerback Kaiir Elam is at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine, looking to impress scouts and teams across the NFL ahead of the upcoming draft. Elam was asked about the origin of his style of play, and he had an amazing answer, saying that it all started with the way he was raised.

“From where I’m from, I feel like the environment I grew up in was always competing for everything,” Elam said at the NFL Combine. “And it’s a tough environment. It really shows in my football game because I just want to win and beat you no matter what. No matter what the circumstance, no matter who you are in front of me, I feel like I’m trying to dominate you to the best of my abilities. If you get angry, that ain’t my fault. But it’s just how I was raised – to win everything and everything in the aspect of life.”

Elam began his collegiate career in 2019, playing in eight games as a freshman. During that season, he totaled 10 tackles, two interceptions, and four passes defended. In 2020, Elam played in 12 games and totaled 39 tackles, one tackle for loss, two interceptions, 11 passes defended, and one fumble recovery. This past season, he had 20 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, one interception, and five passes defended in ten games.

Where Elam stands in the NFL Draft

ESPN NFL Draft expert Jordan Reid predicted that Elam would be a second round pick in his latest mock draft. Reid had Elam going 46th overall in the second round to the Minnesota Vikings. Six corners went ahead of Elam in Reid’s mock draft. Four went in the first round: Derek Stingley Jr (8th overall), Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner (16th overall), Andrew Booth Jr (21st overall), and Trent McDuffie (27th overall).

Two other corners went in the second round ahead of Elam. Kyler Gordon went 33rd overall with the first pick in the second round, and Roger McCreary went 37th overall.

After the Senior Bowl, ESPN NFL Draft expert Todd McShay listed his top eight corners in the upcoming draft, and Elam cracked his top ten. McShay listed Elam as his eight best corner available in this class.