Indiana’s Elijah “Waffle House” Sarratt: Always Open, Always Delivering
Elijah Sarratt doesn’t just play wide receiver - he owns the moment. And if you're wondering why folks around Indiana football call him “Waffle House,” it’s not just a catchy nickname.
It’s a mindset. As his father Donnie put it during a Big Ten Network interview, “He’s open right now.”
That’s the kind of confidence you earn when you’ve built a résumé like Sarratt’s - 228 catches, 3,535 yards, and 41 touchdowns over his college career.
Always open? The tape backs it up.
But what separates Sarratt from your average stat-sheet stuffer is when and how he delivers. When the lights are brightest and the stakes are highest, that’s when “Waffle House” starts serving.
Clutch DNA
Indiana’s perfect 13-0 season and No. 1 national ranking didn’t happen by accident - and it certainly doesn’t happen without Sarratt. He’s been the go-to guy in the biggest moments, and he’s delivered with a consistency that’s hard to teach and even harder to stop.
Let’s rewind to September 27 at Iowa. Tie game.
Under two minutes left. Iowa shows zero coverage - no safety help over the top.
That’s a gutsy call against a route technician like Sarratt. He ran a shallow crosser, broke a tackle, and turned it into a 49-yard game-winner right through the heart of Kinnick Stadium.
That’s not just execution - that’s instincts, toughness, and a feel for the moment.
Two weeks later, Indiana’s back on the road, this time at Oregon. Different setting, same result.
With the game hanging in the balance in the fourth quarter, Sarratt leaned into his physicality, created just enough separation, and hauled in another game-winning touchdown. It wasn’t flashy - it was gritty, composed, and clutch.
And then came the biggest stage yet: the Big Ten Championship against Ohio State. Tight coverage.
Back shoulder throw. Sarratt made the kind of contested catch that defines seasons - and sealed the win.
It was the exclamation point on a campaign that’s been building toward something special.
Three different games. Three different types of catches. All with the same result: Indiana walking off with the win, and Sarratt walking off as the difference-maker.
The Skillset Behind the Nickname
Ask Indiana offensive coordinator Mike Shanahan what makes Sarratt special, and he’ll tell you it’s more than just the highlight plays. “He always seems to be at his best in those big moments,” Shanahan said.
“I feel like he kind of has a clutch factor about him. His ball skills, he’s a really intelligent receiver.
He can diagnose coverages, anticipates well, understands when to find voids in the zone, and then he does a good job separating versus man-to-man and making tough catches.”
That’s the kind of praise reserved for elite receivers - the ones who not only make plays, but make them with purpose. Sarratt’s ability to read coverages, find soft spots in zones, and win against man coverage is textbook. But it’s his poise under pressure that makes him different.
From Overlooked to Unstoppable
Sarratt’s journey hasn’t been a straight line. Coming out of high school without a single FBS offer, he had to fight for every snap, every rep, every look.
He started at St. Francis, transferred to James Madison, and eventually found his way to Indiana.
At each stop, he didn’t just show up - he produced.
He’s the embodiment of head coach Curt Cignetti’s “production over potential” philosophy. No matter the level, no matter the opponent, Sarratt has proven he can get it done. And now, on the biggest stage in college football, he’s showing that same work ethic and mindset translate when the pressure is at its peak.
Built for the Moment
When asked about his approach to those pressure-packed situations, Sarratt keeps it simple - and grounded. “When those moments come, I just take a little time to myself on the bench, take a little deep breath, maybe say a little prayer to the man above and then I’m ready to go,” he said.
He leans on his training. The hours of work behind the scenes.
The reps no one sees. “You’re just still running the routes,” he said.
“You’re still blocking like it’s the first or second quarter. It’s just a little extra pressure on you.”
But that pressure? That’s where Sarratt thrives.
“I pride myself when the pressure comes making those plays,” he added. “I put a lot of hard work in behind the scenes that allows me to be ready for those moments. My quarterback, my linemen, they’re ready for those moments too, and they allow me to succeed as well.”
Always Open, Always Ready
Elijah Sarratt isn’t just a nickname or a feel-good story. He’s a game-changer.
A route-running technician with elite ball skills, a high football IQ, and the kind of clutch gene you can’t coach. He’s the guy who shows up when the game is on the line - and more often than not, he’s the reason Indiana walks away with the win.
So yeah, Waffle House is always open. And if you’re playing Indiana, you better know where No. 1 is at all times. Because when the game’s in the balance, Elijah Sarratt isn’t just part of the plan - he is the plan.