Elijah Sarratt’s Rise from Zero-Star Recruit to Indiana’s Championship Catalyst
Before Elijah Sarratt ever caught a pass at Indiana, before the touchdowns and highlight-reel grabs, before the Rose Bowl ticket was punched, he sat in the back of an Uber on his way to Indianapolis International Airport. It was the start of the 2024 season, and the wide receiver was still a relative unknown.
But somewhere along that 50-minute ride from Bloomington, he made a promise - quietly, to himself and to his teammates - to give more than what was expected. To give everything.
Now, as Indiana prepares for its first Rose Bowl appearance in nearly six decades, that promise feels prophetic.
“It’s been nothing but love and support from Hoosier Nation,” Sarratt said. “I consider this a home for myself.”
That love wasn’t handed to him. It was earned - the hard way.
From Zero Stars to Big Ten Star
Sarratt’s path to college football’s biggest stage didn’t begin with a flurry of scholarship offers or national rankings. In fact, a quick search of his high school recruitment turns up next to nothing. The Stafford, Virginia native was a zero-star recruit, overlooked and under-recruited, who started his college career at FCS Saint Francis (PA).
But even at Saint Francis, the flashes were there - 35 catches, 504 yards, 11 touchdowns. Enough to catch the eye of James Madison and, more importantly, head coach Curt Cignetti.
It didn’t take long for Sarratt to prove himself in Harrisonburg. In a 2023 matchup against Georgia Southern, he went for 105 yards and a touchdown on just five catches. After the game, Cignetti summed it up simply: “The guy’s a gamer.”
So when Cignetti made the leap to Indiana in late 2023, he knew he had to bring Sarratt with him. Not just for the production, but for the leadership.
For the edge. And once again, Sarratt delivered.
Big Ten Breakout
In his first season at Indiana, Sarratt didn’t just adjust - he thrived. He became quarterback Kurtis Rourke’s go-to target, finishing with 53 receptions, 957 yards, and eight touchdowns. That stat line earned him second-team All-Big Ten honors and a seat at the table among the conference’s elite.
But accolades haven’t changed Sarratt’s approach. If anything, they’ve only sharpened his focus.
While some players tap out during grueling summer workouts, Sarratt leans in. He does the extra rep - not for show, but to set a tone.
And his teammates follow. What started as a personal standard has turned into a team-wide habit.
“I always tell them, do that one championship rep,” Sarratt said. “Now all my receivers do it every single day, so I don’t have to tell them now. They are beside me, I do my one extra rep, they’re doing it with me.”
Tight end Riley Nowakowski sees it every day - the way Sarratt leads by example, not words. “He’s just always trying to push everybody around him, but doing it from a point of leadership,” Nowakowski said. “He’s not gonna ask you to do something that he’s not doing himself.”
Clutch Gene
Sarratt’s leadership is matched only by his knack for delivering in the biggest moments. Game-winning touchdowns against Iowa and Oregon this season weren’t just lucky breaks - they were the result of relentless preparation. He’s earned the nickname “Waffle House” because, as teammates joke, he’s always open.
But ask Sarratt, and he’ll tell you it’s not about timing or talent. It’s about preparation.
“I pride myself on making plays when the pressure comes,” he said. “But I put a lot of hard work in behind the scenes that allows me to be ready for those moments.”
That consistency has been a hallmark of his career. Until a hamstring injury in Week 11, Sarratt had caught a pass in 46 straight games - the longest active streak in the nation at the time.
Even with the setback, his two-year run in cream and crimson has been nothing short of historic: 104 catches, 1,644 yards, 20 touchdowns. He’s already cemented his place among the program’s all-time greats.
Fan Favorite, Locker Room Leader
Off the field, Sarratt has become as much a part of Bloomington as Mother Bear’s Pizza. His “Sarrattcha Sauce” campaign has turned into a viral sensation, and he’s become a fixture on the restaurant’s TikTok page. Whether he’s signing autographs, chatting with fans, or just walking around town, his energy is magnetic.
But it’s his connection with quarterback Fernando Mendoza and the rest of the locker room that has truly powered Indiana’s rise. The chemistry is real, and it shows every Saturday.
Now, Sarratt is set to lead No. 1 Indiana into a Rose Bowl showdown with No.
9 Alabama - a game that feels more like a video game simulation than real life. But it’s very real, and Sarratt is carrying a 93 overall rating and a whole lot of belief into Pasadena.
One Last Promise
Whether Indiana’s season ends in the Rose Bowl or under the confetti in Miami on January 19, Sarratt believes the foundation has been laid. And he’s confident it’ll hold long after he’s gone.
“I 100 percent think it’s going to continue while we’re gone,” Sarratt said. “Coach Cig, the whole coaching staff, they do a great job of putting that work in, recruiting. I expect no drop-off next year in the years to come from Indiana football.”
From a zero-star recruit to a Rose Bowl captain, Elijah Sarratt has spent his career defying expectations. Now, with his time in Bloomington nearing its end, he’s chasing one final goal - a national championship for the program and the community he now calls home.
“I want to continue to go out there and win these games for Hoosier Nation,” he said.
And knowing Sarratt, he’ll do it the same way he always has - one extra rep at a time.