Biography
THIS YEAR: NAIA All-American running back Elijah Raphael is taking aim at some of Christian Okoye's records as he sets up for the 1997 season . . .A phenomenal back who certainly deserves to be ranked with Okoye among Azusa Pacific's best-ever backs . . . Is quite strong with great speed . . . Doesn't go down easy and yet is built in such a manner that he can run away from his foes . . .Has the potential to become only the third Cougar ever to rush for 2,000 yards in a career . . . Needs less than 1,700 yards to join Okoye as the only 3,000-yard rushers in Cougar history . . . Teams with Hartford to give Azusa Pacific a great backfield . . . Rated a good receiver out of the backfield and will be used more in that manner . . . An entertainer in the theater, but is also quite an entertainer on the field.
1996: After a slow start, put together an outstanding season for which he earned NAIA All-American honorable mention . . . Rushed for 1,326 yards, the third best season total in school history (Okoye had 1,680 and 1,355 as a senior and junior, respectively) . . . Finished the season fifth in the NAIA in rushing (132.6 avg.) and scoring (10.2 avg.) . . . Tallied 6 100-yard rushing games, all in the final 7 games of the season when he averaged 167.9 yards a game . . . His first century-mark game was for 190 yards on 19 carries and 3 TDs vs. Cal Lutheran in the fourth game of the season . . . Eclipsed that mark with 191 yards on 25 carries and 2 TDs vs. Redlands . . . Finished the season with a career-best 211 yards on 29 carries (7.3 avg.) vs. Chapman to become only the fifth Cougar ever to rush for over 200 yards in a game . . . Other 100-yard rushing games were tallied against Occidental (178), Menlo (131) and San Diego (187) . . . Had 98 rushing yards at Chico, otherwise he would have gone over the century figure in the final 7 games . . . Had 16 receptions on the season for 221 yards (13.8 avg.) and 4 TDs . . . Scored 4 TDs vs. Humboldt State, 2 rushing and 2 receiving . . . Also returned 4 kickoffs for 53 yards (13.3 avg.) . . . Noted for his big play skill, recorded 22 runs of 15 yards or more in length.
JUNIOR COLLEGE: Played his 1995 sophomore season at Los Angeles Valley College in Van Nuys, Calif. . . . Rushed for 803 yards on 99 carries (8.1 avg.) for the 11-1 Monarchs who advanced to the national championship game, losing to local rival, Long Beach City, 56-49 . . . Scored 17 TDs and caught 10 passes for 156 yards . . . Averaged 30.8 yards on 17 kickoff returns . . . Did not play during the 1994 campaign.
WASHINGTON STATE: Signed with Washington State out of high school . . . Redshirted the 1992 season, playing mostly on the scout team . . . As a 1993 redshirt freshman started the season as the No. 1 tailback on the depth chart . . . Appeared in the first 7 games (WSU went 5-2 in those games, losing at Michigan and USC) but did not play the final 4 for the for 5-6 Cougars . . . Rushed for 56 yards on 9 carries (6.2 avg.) and caught 3 passes for 18 yards . . . Longest rush from scrimmage was a 32-yard scamper vs. Montana State.
HIGH SCHOOL: Prepped at Kennedy High in Granada Hills, Calif. . . . As 1991 senior, was named Los Angeles Times All-City and All-San Fernando Valley after rushing for a school-record and L.A. city leading 2,070 yards on 312 carries (6.6 avg.) . . . Led the Golden Cougars to an 11-2 record, the city semifinals, the Northwest Valley Conference championship and the No. 1 ranking in the 57-team area . . . Scored 30 TDs, including one on a punt return . . . Rushed for over 200 yards in 4 straight games . . . As a 1990 junior, rushed for 275 yards and had 11 receptions for 220 yards for the 7-5 Golden Cougars . . . Played varsity for 5-7 Kennedy as a 1989 sophomore, rushing for 131 yards on 27 carries . . . Was a standout track performer as well . . . Named team's MVP as a junior . . . Triple jumped over 44 feet, long jumped over 23 feet, and ran a leg on the sprint relay team that won the Sunkist Invitational.
PERSONAL: Born Aug. 8, 1974, in Watertown, Wis., to Granville and Yvonne Raphael . . . Attended the Hamilton Music Academy for a year, performing in the play "Oliver" and in musical theater and choir . . . Enjoys music and plays several instruments . . . His father, Granville, who is of Jamaican descent, is an RTD supervisor and minister and served active duty in Desert Storm as a member of the national reserve.
ELIJAH RAPHAEL ON: (leaving Washington State) "I lost everything important to me. I took it all for granted. Nothing mattered except Elijah and football. I was immature and couldn't deal with not playing. I know now never to take anything for granted. Most people aren't lucky enough to get one sports scholarship. I've received two. I felt Azusa Pacific's offer was God calling me back. God wasn't a priority at WSU. I'm at a great place now, a unique place."
SHEALY ON RAPHAEL: "Elijah has brought to our program and offense the ability on any given play where he touches the ball, it can be a touchdown. As a coach, you are compelled to give him the ball as many times a game as possible on the chance that he can break one anytime."
WHAT OTHERS SAY: "Elijah Raphael is an electrifying player. At time, he made us look silly, even." - Mike Maynard, Redlands coach. "He's a very good player, very fast and very quick. He's also a good guy." -- Marcus Slaten, Azusa Pacific's No. 2 all-time rusher.
