By Heath A. Smith, TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
A reputation can precede you, define you, diminish you or enhance you.
Before competing in the Lake Marion Invitational track and field meet last spring, Kevin Elliott, a senior at Colonial High School in Orlando, was known as a multi-sport athlete.
After the meet, Elliott was known as the kid who cleared 6 feet, 11 inches in the high jump. It's a reputation that has preceded the freshman wide receiver to Florida A&M University - where he's already known as "6-11."
"I just wanted to break the school record, and I just kept going," said Elliott, who won the Class 4A state championship in the high jump. "That's what everybody knows me for now."
While clearing 6-11 may be what Elliott, who also plans to jump for the FAMU men's track team in the spring, is known for these days, it's not why FAMU football coach Rubin Carter offered him a scholarship.
"The one thing that stands out about Kevin is his size," Carter said. "He also has tremendous range as a player. The jumping ability was a bonus for us."
Elliott is 6-3 and close to 200 pounds. Physically, he resembles senior wide receiver Willie Hayward, a 2007 All-MEAC preseason first-team selection.
"We see him as similar to a Willie Hayward as far as size, stature and jumping ability, and we thought it necessary to get another player of his caliber to be able to go up vertically and catch the football," Carter said.
Elliott said he had the opportunity to work out with Hayward this summer while participating in the team's offseason strength and conditioning program.
"I got the opportunity to do drills with him," Elliott said. "He's a real cool guy. He's been productive and I'm just trying to learn from guys like him.
"Coming up here for the summer was important for me. I got to learn the system a little bit and bond with my teammates."
Hayward said Elliott made an impression on him after having the chance to work out together this summer.
"He has a lot of potential to be a big-play receiver for this university," Hayward said. "Once he gets the system down, he's going to be good."
Elliott did nothing to change Hayward's opinion of him in Monday's practice after making several catches during passing drills.
"He showed me today that he had drive and that he's aggressive on the point of attack," Hayward said. "He's going to be a good receiver with his height and size."
The Rattlers are once again stocked at the receiver position, but Carter said Elliott will get every opportunity to get on the field this season.
"He has a an excellent chance to see playing time," Carter said. "He has an opportunity. He will be evaluated and we will see how he responds. It helped that he was here with the summer program."
Elliott's reputation as a track athlete may have preceded him at FAMU, but he is looking forward to creating a new reputation on the gridiron.
"He has a tremendous work ethic and great character," Carter said. "He just has all the attributes that you would like to have in a student-athlete."
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