Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ferris junior Elisara commits to Huskies

Cameron Elisara, a football player with a Washington State Cougars legacy, has orally committed to become a University of Washington Husky.

Elisara, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound lineman who will be a senior at Ferris, announced Friday his intent to play for the Huskies.

“It’s just a gut feeling,” Elisara said of his decision play in Seattle. “I felt really comfortable around there. I have family over there and love the environment.”

Elisara was an All-Greater Spokane League defensive lineman last year despite breaking a bone in his foot and missing the last half of the season.

This spring he won the State 4A shot put in track and field with a 59-foot-5 1/2 throw. His season and career best was 60-10.

He said that 14 schools offered him scholarships, including several major universities.

Part of his decision, he said, was based on the fact the UW coaching staff told him that even if he were to get hurt this fall, they would honor the scholarship.

“I didn’t have anything to worry about,” he said. “They told me they’d take care of me. This is a huge weight off my chest.”

His father, Matt, and mother, Cheryl, are Spokane educators and WSU graduates. Matt played football for the Cougars from 1979-81 and Cheryl worked games in the press box for the sports information department. His older brother, Travis, attends WSU.

Matt Elisara said WSU was one of the four Pacific-10 Conference schools who expressed no interest in his son.

“I would have liked it to work out the other way,” Matt said. “It doesn’t make sense when your son is going to the rival. But of all the schools, he was comfortable with the UW. I’ll let him do his thing and go where he’s happy.”

Added Cameron, “I grew up liking the Cougs, but WSU just didn’t feel right. I couldn’t imagine anything getting better than the UW.”