Elon football had a huge weekend on the recruiting trail, landing a wave of new commitments following a busy stretch of summer camps and official visits. Social media buzz indicated coach Tony Trisciani and the Phoenix added as many as 10 new pledges — with confirmed details available on six of those recruits as of this writing.
Among them: a high-upside quarterback from the North Carolina coast, several two-way athletes and a pair of standout offensive linemen from inside and outside the state.
Elon having a big weekend on the recruiting trail!
Commits: tag us and we'll celebrate with you on your big decision! https://t.co/Ycvz7wZy6p— NC Football News (@NCFootballNews) June 22, 2025
🔥 Signal Caller: Tanner Payne (QB) – West Carteret HS (NC)
Elon didn’t waste time once it got eyes on West Carteret’s Tanner Payne. The 6-4, 210-pound quarterback received an offer from the Phoenix on June 19 — and gave his commitment just days later, per his social media
Payne is coming off a breakout junior season, throwing for 2,759 yards and 32 touchdowns in 11 games while averaging over 250 yards per game. His arm talent and frame have drawn interest across the state, including a prior offer from North Carolina A&T.
Nicknamed “Sunshine,” Payne was recently featured by Prep RedZone as one of North Carolina’s rising senior quarterbacks to watch. He’s also earned praise from Rivals, which wrote in April:
“Payne is a good decision maker who makes timely throws. He sees the field well and distributes to players when open. He can throw from multiple angles and plays with an obvious confidence.”
In addition to his stats, Payne boasts a 3.85 GPA, a 4.78 laser-timed 40 and a 21 MPH top speed — tools that could make him a long-term gem for Elon.
🔒 Xavier Porter (DB) – West Charlotte HS (NC)
Porter transferred to West Charlotte for his senior season after recording 3 INTs and 20 tackles at West Mecklenburg in 2024. A long, athletic defensive back with ball skills, he joins a defending state championship roster that’s loaded with talent.
Elon made an early impression during a spring visit, and he made it official after receiving offers from schools like Lenoir-Rhyne, UNC Pembroke, Fayetteville State and Alabama State.
🧠 Cason Jones (TE/LB) – Mountain Heritage HS (NC)
Jones is a versatile two-way player from Burnsville, NC, with strong academics (4.25 GPA) and production on both sides of the ball. He rushed for 692 yards, caught passes for 343 yards, and made 96 tackles during his junior campaign. He’ll project as a linebacker at Elon.
💪 Bristol Biegenzahn (EDGE/TE) – West Ashley HS (SC)
At 6-5, 240, Biegenzahn brings serious length and pass-rushing potential to the class. He notched 68 tackles, 10 sacks and 19 tackles for loss last fall in Charleston and held 10 reported Division I offers, including from Navy, NC Central, The Citadel, Charleston Southern and Campbell. Elon was one of the first to offer. He boasts a 4.4 GPA
🛡️ Elijah “Bubba” Shoe (OL) – Jay M Robinson HS (NC)
A key piece for one of the top teams in the 704 area, Shoe helped Jay M. Robinson to a 12-1 record and an undefeated regular season in 2024. The 6-5, 280-pound lineman is a true road-grader who helped the Bulldogs rack up nearly 5,400 yards of offense in 2024.
He also held offers from East Carolina, Gardner-Webb, Yale, Brown and NC A&T, among others.
✅ Will Tellers (OL) – Choate Rosemary Hall (CT)
Tellers comes from one of the top prep programs in New England. His team won back-to-back NEPSAC A championships, and he earned first-team All-Founders League honors. Elon offered in May, joining a long list of suitors that included Eastern Michigan and Akron from the FBS as well as Albany, Rhode Island, Georgetown, Lafayette and Monmouth among others from the FCS.
📌 Note: Additional commitment information may emerge as more names from Elon’s busy visit weekend become public. Tag us on Twitter/X or send an email to eric@ncfootballnews.com if we’ve missed someone!
