Michigan State RB Elijah Tau-Tolliver welcomes competition to prove himself at the FBS level

Heading into the 2025 campaign, there is a lot of reason for optimism regarding the Michigan State offense. Quarterback Aidan Chiles, wide receiver Nick Marsh, tight end Jack Velling, and a revamped offensive line and wide receivers room overall allows for palpable buzz in East Lansing. However, there still remains a massive question mark for the Spartans and that is regarding the wide open running back competition.

After losing Nate Carter and Kay’ron Lynch-Adams from last year’s roster to the NFL, the running back group does not return a lot of carries or experience at the FBS level. Joining the room in 2025 is Sacramento State transfer Eliljah Tau-Tolliver, who is the most experienced college football in the group, however, all of that experience is at the FCS level. While playing for the Hornets, Tau-Tolliver ran the ball 275 times for 1,538 yards (5.6 yards per carry) and 14 touchdowns over four seasons (only three carries in 2021). This production, while at the FCS level, will provide Michigan State with a floor-riser who can compete for starting carries.

Tau-Tolliver is currently competing for a role in the running back rotation with sophomores Brandon Tullis and Makhi Frazier, and true freshmen Jace Clarizio and Zion Gist. Despite the competition, Tau-Tolliver is putting the team first.

When asked on how his preparation this fall is going, Tau-Tolliver said, “I think it’s going good, getting the playbook down, executing the offense how it’s supposed to be executed. We know it’s my last year … But at the end of the day I’m focused on the team, I’m not really focused on myself. I know if I focus on the team, the self-stuff comes with it.”

Even though Tau-Tolliver will only get one season to prove himself at the Power Four level, this mindset of focusing on the team over personal accolades is the exact type of player Michigan State wants competing for carries. It is a big jump going from the FCS level to Big Ten Football, but Tau-Tolliver isn’t too worried about this step up in competition.

“I think it’s football, but I mean, the guys are bigger, but I feel like it’s football,” he explained. “The biggest thing that drew me is I can play at any level, and that’s what I feel like.”

This sort of confidence is carrying Tau-Tolliver through the fall camp position battle where everyone is trying to prove themselves. While Tau-Tolliver does have the production behind his name, he doesn’t have the same experience going up against Big Ten-caliber competition on a weekly basis like many of the younger backs do.

He understands, that nothing is given and he must earn every snap he gets.

“I feel like it’s very competitive, there’s a lot of dogs in the room, I feel like, but at the end of the day, that’s not up to me,” Tau-Tolliver said about earning a starting role. “That’s not (my call), so I’m just leaving it in God’s hands, the coaches’ hands, we’ll see how that shakes out.”

One area he feel like he can carry an edge over the rest of the backs is his ability to catch passes and be a threat in the air attack. While at Sacramento State, he had over 300 receiving yards and a pair of touchdowns in 2024. He caught 48 passes during his career with the Hornets.

“Yeah, I feel like I catch a lot of passes, but I feel like there’s still other guys who can catch a lot of passes as well, so like I said, I’m just leaving that in the coaches’ hands,” Tau-Tolliver said.

Regarding expectations on Tau-Tolliver, it is hard not hard to look at fellow Sacramento State transfer Cam Skattebo. Skattebo also spent his first couple years as a Hornet and was teammates with Tau-Tolliver in 2021 and 2022 before he burst onto the college football scene in 2024 for Arizona State, rushing for 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns. While Tau-Tolliver is not the same player as Skattebo, it shows that running backs from the FCS level can make a big impact in the FBS ranks as well.

“He wanted to show that he can also play at another level,” Tau-Tolliver said about Skattebo. “And he did just that. I’m not trying to be just like ‘Skat,’ but I am trying to show everyone else that I can play at that level as well.”

While it isn’t fair to expect Tau-Tolliver to become one of the most exciting players in college football, it is evidence that continuing FCS production at the Power Four level is more than possible. The competition that he faces from the other Spartan running backs only pushes him harder to be better.

“This is it, I’ve got to prove myself,” Tau-Tolliver explained. “I’ve got to prove that I’m the lead dog in this pack. Just keep on digging, taking it day by day. If I’m better than I was yesterday, then that’s just going to come.”

While he spent most of the spring getting up to speed in Michigan State’s offense and the jump in competition, he is now focusing this fall on the details that can help separate himself from the rest of the backs. Assistant head coach/co-special teams coordinator/running backs coachKeith Bhonapha knows Tau-Tolliver is the most experienced at the position and therefore holds high expectations for him.

“The detail aspect of it — I’m too wide on this track, or this route wasn’t deep enough,” Tau-Tolliver said about Bhonapha’s coaching points for him. “He (Bhonapha) basically told me, ‘You’re too old for that (to make those kinds of mistakes).’ Yeah, I am. That’s a big thing I’ve been focusing on, that’s been going good.”

Heading into his fifth year of college football and first at Michigan State, Tau-Tolliver understands that there are no guarantees. If he isn’t performing or executing, then other backs will be given the opportunity.

“Adversity comes, and you feel like I might not be the guy,” Tau-Tolliver said. “It’s my last year, and if that is what happens, when I do get in, I’m just going to show you what I can do then. That’s how I feel about it, starting or not.”

As we are just under three weeks from the opening kickoff of the season, with Michigan State hosting Western Michigan on Aug. 29, there is much to still learn about how MSU will handle the running backs position. One thing that is for sure is that Tau-Tolliver is eager for the opportunity to prove himself.