College

Elijah Haven and his parents welcomed all opportunities from coast to coast the past few years to meet coaches, visit campuses and learn more about a growing list of college options available.

The recruiting process quickly grew higher profile than the humble, easygoing Elijah’s personality might tip off to individuals unfamiliar with his record-shattering performances and sky-high potential — at this point a rarity among sports fans around Louisiana or college football fans around the southeast.

But the family’s meticulous information-gathering and -documenting throughout their travels and conversations and the help of a few notable falling dominoes around the country have left the 6-foot-5, 220-pound five-star prospect as calm, cool and collected as ever as he prepares to announce a commitment decision between SEC rivals Alabama and Georgia.

“I just think we’ve taken our time with this process, and we’ve been able to see what schools we want to continue to build a relationship and what schools are for us,” he said. “And, so, I think this has been the best time in that process to where we’ve narrowed it down to two, and so Saturday just seemed perfect and we’re excited to get the decision done.”

Haven has been one of the top-tier of prospects in Louisiana vs. All Y’all’s and Prep Redzone Louisiana’s statewide rankings from even prior to ninth grade and has garnered national media recognition for about two years, including now being listed as the top quarterback and No. 12 overall prospect in the Rivals Industry Ranking average.

And with a pair of prolific seasons in their own rights already under his belt, his junior campaign this fall marked his best yet with nearly 4,800 total yards state-records for passing touchdowns (62) and total touchdowns (73) to help lead his Tigers’ first state championship since 2004.

“It’s always surreal,” he said of the fanfare and media attention that have followed. “I’m just super thankful and blessed obviously, but it’s definitely surreal that a decision like this can have that type of impact. But it just makes me more excited to see what the future holds.”

The Havens created spreadsheets organizing details on colleges such as distances from Baton Rouge, academic programs, offensive schemes, coaching staffs’ stability and consistency and quarterbacks coaches and their track records of developing successful players at the position.

A picture was already coming into some clarity by the end of last school year to be able to whittle down the list and zero into more detail on the options that appeared to check the most boxes.

And a fall of historic coaching changes only expedited the process as a few top contenders in his recruitment shook up their leadership.

“They wanted to find a staff that they felt was gonna be consistently there,” Dunham coach Neil Weiner said. “They wanted to find people that they trust. They wanted ’em to have a history of their quarterback coach or their offensive coordinator really helping to develop quarterbacks to be the best they can be and eventually to have success in the NFL. So I think through the summer, going to camps, going and visiting schools and really getting to know who those people are, I think that was a huge help to them.

“And then once the season started going , all of a sudden James Franklin at Penn State gets let go, which was just complete breaking news. Nobody really expected that to happen like that. Well, that was something that he was interested in doing. He had a lot of respect for coach Franklin and what he was doing. And so that’s one domino that kind of falls. And then (LSU) coach (Brian) Kelly and (offensive coordinator Joe) Sloan, they get let go, and Florida (fires Billy Napier). And so all these dominoes started really falling. So really at the beginning of the summer it started to kind of clean things up, and then once we got to October, it was pretty obviously who the last three of four schools would really be.”

Haven admitted he and his parents had to monitor the coaching carousel “super heavy” and that many of the teams among his favorites this time last year are now entirely different as decision day looms.

But Alabama has been among the consistent presences throughout the process, and Georgia offered nearly a year ago and has ramped up its efforts notably going back to the fall.

“For me, I know it’s relationship with coaches, and these two schools I have the best relationships with the coaches and feel the most comfortable not only talking with them about on-the-field stuff, but off-the-field is important as well,” Haven said. “I would also say stability. These are two of the most stable programs in the country as far just the coaching and not having to necessarily worry about a coach going or moving and taking a different opportunity to another school. And then my third thing is development. I feel like if I go to any one of these schools, I’ll get developed for the next level the best.”

Questions or opinions from fans around school or Baton Rouge — or segments on local radio shows — wondering about the potential of Haven suiting up for hometown LSU or where that possibility slipped from the consideration are inevitable.

[ ELIJAH HAVEN NAMED INAUGURAL LVAY LEONARD FOURNETTE III OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR ]

The talented prospect sidesteps those with the same poise he avoids a pass-rush and climbs the pocket, praising the Tigers and new coach Lane Kiffin, but saying he feels the their two SEC rivals have proven themselves to be the best destinations for him to thrive.

And the Havens have the due diligence in the process to support the assessment.

Weiner is confident that, aided by Elijah’s tremendous character, hometown fans — at least most — will wish him well at the next level even if they would have preferred he landed just a few miles away in purple and gold.

“He’s a phenomenal football player, but as a young man, he’s gonna be great for a team, he’s gonna be great for an institution, he’s gonna be great for a community,” the coach said. “I think one of the things that is probably the highest compliment is SEC fans, they’re loyal to their school, and they’re gonna be loyal to guys that commit to them, and they’re not gonna be exactly pulling for guys that don’t go to their school. So it’s not like LSU fans are wanting to see him have the greatest career ever, right? But you’re not gonna find anybody that’s gonna talk negatively about him, and they’re proud of him. I think the Baton Rouge community is proud of Elijah Haven no matter where he goes to school.”

As clear an example as his principles as any, Haven will host a youth football camp Saturday morning for kids ages 5-13 before sharing his decision.

“Kind of a way to just give back to the community and little kids that watch our games and watch me play,” he said. “So having fun, and then after that it’ll be commitment time. I’ll probably do a little jacket, unzip the jacket and do the reveal.”