Coach | UMass Got "A Good One" In WR Elijah Pedro

Wise High School head coach Steve Rapp talks about incoming UMass WR Elijah Pedro.

Steve Rapp is convinced Elijah Pedro’s upside is enormous.

“Without a doubt, his best football is in front of him,” the Wise High School head coach said of Pedro, a 2025 Maryland receiver who signed with UMass last week.

That’s saying a lot too, considering Pedro, Rapp and apparently the Minutemen staff are expecting big things right away.

“I think he's a plug-and-play player at UMass,” Rapp continued. “I think they got a good one. He can play all three receiver spots; he can play the X, he can play the Z, he can play the slot. He's got great body control. He'll come in at about 194 pounds, which is ready to play. I think there's a lot of upside for him there.”

Pedro spent his senior season in an advanced-level offense at Wise, which should help accelerate his adjustment to the college game.

“I think that's going to make a world of difference,” said Rapp. “He'll be prepared to step in and process the information. The faster he processes it, the faster he'll be on the field. I think for UMass and their fans, they want him to get it as fast as possible.”

And while Pedro’s versatility will also help him get on the field quicker, Rapp can envision him solidifying one spot eventually.

“I think it's all about matchups,” said Rapp. “Ultimately, I think he'll end up being the Z receiver. He'll be off the ball, moving, motioning to get some matchups for him to be able to make plays.”

Off the field, Pedro also checks the boxes, according to his coach.

“Great guy,” Rapp said. “He'll show up for work every day with his hard hat and his lunch pail. A super competitor. He doesn't really say too much, just kind of speaks with his actions, if that makes sense.”

Pedro had some big-time offers early in his high school career, but an injury derailed his recruitment a bit later.

“He didn't have any junior film due to injury and then had an all-state type senior year,” Rapp said. “Through connections and just working the phone, a coach who was there I had a relationship with at a previous stop and then he ended up leaving and hooking me up with our area guy. And then the area guy evaluates him and he's on an official a day later.

“It's all about connections”

Pedro isn’t thinking about putting up numbers in Amherst and trying to work his way to a higher level. He’s thrilled to be headed to UMass and is looking forward to a successful career with the Minutemen.

“One of the best qualities about Elijah is he's always where his feet are. I think that's why you'll get the best out of him because he just kind of takes things in stride and that speaks to the person that he is.”