Elijah Molden

PRO: The Titans selected Elijah Molden in the third round (100th overall)of the 2021 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he appeared in 16 games with seven starts in the nickel defense. He was limited to two games because of injury in 2022. The 5-foot-10 inch, 192-pounder is a savvy and physical defender capable of playing multiple spots on defense. An instinctive player with a nose for the football, he totaled 153 tackles, five interceptions, 25 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 44 games at the University of Washington.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
•   As a rookie in 2021, Molden ranked fifth on the team and first among Titans rookies with 60 tackles and registered one interception for a touchdown. He was one of six NFL rookie defensive backs with at least 60 tackles and one interception. 
•   In 2020, Washington's football season was limited to four games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Molden started all four contests and finished third on the squad with 26 tackles to go with one interception and two passes defensed.
•   In June 2021, Molden was named by the Pac-12 as a Tom Hansen Conference Medal recipient. The prestigious honor is awarded annually to each Pac-12 member institution's outstanding senior male and female student-athlete based on the combination of performance and achievement in scholarship, athletics and leadership. This followed Molden winning the Washington football team's Guy Flaherty Award, which is given to the team's most inspirational player as voted by the players.
•   In 2019, Molden set career highs with a team-high 79 tackles, four interceptions and three forced fumbles. 

TITANS TIDBITS:
•   Molden comes from a football family. His father, Alex Molden, was inducted to the University of Oregon Hall of Fame and was an eight-year NFL cornerback with the Saints, Chargers and Lions after being selected by the Saints with the 11th overall draft pick in 1996. Elijah's older brother, Isaiah, played defensive line at Western Oregon. 
•   Molden is the second-oldest of eight children in his family. He has four brothers and three sisters.
•   He is an avid reader and lists "Shoe Dog" by Phil Knight, "Tattoos on the Heart" by Greg Boyle, and "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho as three of his favorite books. He prefers hard copies of books as opposed to digital versions so that he can make notes and keep them in the books.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS: 
•   The West Linn, Ore., native was selected by the Titans in the third round (100th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft.

COLLEGE:
•   In four seasons at the University of Washington, Molden appeared in 44 games with 20 starts. His totals included 153 tackles, seven tackles for loss, five interceptions, 25 passes defensed, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He earned first team All-Pac-12 honors on defense as a junior and senior and was named second team All-Pac-12 as an all-purpose/special teams player as a sophomore.
•   As a senior (2020), started all four of the team's games in a shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ranked third on the squad with 26 tackles and added one interception and two passes defensed. Earned first team All-Pac-12 honors for the second consecutive season. Named the university's male recipient of the Pac-12's Tom Hansen Conference Medal as well as the football team's defensive MVP and Guy Flaherty Award recipient as the team's most inspirational player. Honors also included second team All-American by Pro Football Focus, which also named him Pac-12 Player of the Year. He was a semifinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy.
•   As a junior (2019), started all 13 games and led the team with 79 tackles, four interceptions, 17 passes defensed and three forced fumbles (tied). Added 5.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery. Honors included first team All-Pac-12, CoSIDA Academic All-District 8 team, second team Pro Football Focus All-America, first team Pro Football Focus All-Pac-12, first team Associated Press All-Pac-12 and Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll. Won the Husky Excellence Award and the 101 Club Academic Award. Named the MVP of the Las Vegas Bowl against Boise State (12/21) after totaling nine tackles, a half tackle for loss, a forced fumble and an interception in the win.
•   As a sophomore (2018), played in all 14 games with three starts and totaled 29 tackles, five passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Won the team's Most Outstanding Special Teams Player award and earned second team All-Pac-12 honors as an all-purpose/special teams player. Also named first team Academic All-Pac-12.
•   As a true freshman (2017), played in all 13 games and registered 19 tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss and one pass defensed. 
•   Graduated from Washington in December 2020 with a degree in communications.

PERSONAL: 
•   Married to Danelle. 
•   Attended West Linn (Ore.) High School, where he was named first team 6A All-State at cornerback and second team at running back as a senior in 2016. Also first team All-Three Rivers League at both positions and first team USA Today All-Oregon at defensive back, he helped lead the Lions to a 14-0 record, including five wins in the 6A state playoffs. Rushed for 702 yards and 10 touchdowns, caught 19 passes for 249 yards and six touchdowns, and added three interceptions.
•   Listed by ESPN.com as the No. 213 overall prospect and as the No. 19 cornerback in the country, and as the No. 2 prospect in Oregon. Ranked the No. 151 overall recruit and No. 17 cornerback in the country by Scout.com, while 247sports.com listed him at No. 2 in Oregon, No. 25 in the nation at cornerback and No. 193 overall.
•   As a junior in 2015, earned first team All-Three Rivers League on both sides of the ball.
•   Follow Molden on Twitter and on Instagram at @elijahmolden24.
•   Son of Christin and Alex Molden.
•   Born Elijah Monroe Molden on Jan. 30, 1999 in New Orleans, La.