Elijah Molden Finally Cutting It Loose
September 24, 2019 | Football
After the season ending Rose Bowl game on January 1, Husky fans flew home or clicked off their televisions, slightly saddened after watching their favorite team fall to Ohio State. Over the next few weeks, they returned to work, school, and other obligations. Over the next few months, they continued about their lives. They would tune in to watch basketball, tennis, and any other sport to keep their Husky pride alive. Come summer, Dawg fans started thinking about being back at Husky Stadium again, and before they knew it, August 31 came and went.
Elijah Molden flew home from that Rose Bowl game with a chip on his shoulder. He had a pit in his stomach, knowing that he would have to wait nine months for his chance at another Husky win. Over the next few weeks, Molden returned to the training room. Over the next few months, he began preparing for the fall, putting in countless hours in the weight room working to get stronger, fueled by the vision of a break-out junior year. He watched and studied film, doing everything that he could to prepare for what was ahead. Come summer, he was counting down the days until he was back on the field. For nine months, he had August 31 circled on his calendar.
The biggest difference for Molden coming into his sophomore year last season, was his confidence. This year, the difference is in the preparation.
"He has had an unbelievable off season in the weight room. He has studied a lot of tape. You can tell that his preparation is going to lead him to make a lot of plays this year," said his position coach and defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake.
For a player that had visions of having a starting position three weeks into his college career, the past two seasons were unsatisfactory for Molden.
"I have pretty high expectations for myself," Molden said. "My goal coming into UW was to start by week three, now I am in my third year, and finally starting. If you aren't setting expectations like that for yourself, then you are setting yourself up for failure."
After just two starts last season, Molden was ready to do whatever it took to make sure that number increased to 14 this season. Along with preparation, this also included taking a leadership role on the team. Molden has stepped into this role effortlessly, knowing that the two years of experience he has under his belt have prepared him for this.
Coach Lake agreed, saying, "He has already taken the next step in his leadership role. Which has been awesome to watch. It is his turn to be the starter and the guy. Making those plays that are supposed to be made."
Molden has 16 tackles through the first four games of the season, on pace to double his total from his first year. He is making all the plays that are supposed to be made and has had exactly the start he wanted to this season.
"I am just ready to cut it loose," Molden said. "I am ready to play for the fans."
And that is exactly what he has done.
Being the "starter and the guy" means leaving the younger members with good habits and leading by example. One of the ways that Molden does this is by being the first one in and the last one out. This season has already showed him the rewards of working hard, and he wants the younger players to realize the same. This has meant arriving early, and leaving late. He has shown up in all the places that the fans can't see, so that he can really show up in the place that they can.
Although Molden is putting in countless hours of work, he has also been working on maximizing his time to get the most productivity out of every moment that he can. He calls this "working smarter." Another lesson that he hopes the younger members will latch on to.
Overall he wants the younger members to know this: "take ownership of everything. Not everything is your fault, but everything is your responsibility." This sense of responsibility is what has allowed Molden to have such a dominant presence on the defensive side of the ball.
Coach Lake has seen this dominance and feels comforted by the veteran force that Molden now brings to the team. He says that having experienced players like Molden in his lineup is very reassuring and exciting.
"They have been unbelievable leaders for the team," Lake said. "They have done a really great job of bringing the young guys along. The guys that have redshirted and the true freshmen that are expected to play. It has been really cool, because they used to be the young guys. And they had the older guys helping and ushering them in as young pups. And now they are the old Dawgs."
The reason that Molden so easily stepped into the leadership role might be because he is used to being the "old Dawg". Molden is the second-oldest of eight children in his family and has paved the way for his six younger siblings, allowing a lot of practice in leading by example.
He also had no shortage of role models growing up, as his father, Alex Molden, was an NFL player himself, and a member of the University of Oregon Hall of Fame. Along with this, Molden's older brother, Isaiah, is a defensive lineman at Western Oregon.
Molden's family has been his inspiration and his support throughout his football career. Now they serve as a reminder to stay humble and consider what is truly important in life.
He shared, "I got a snapchat the other day from my mom and it was a video of my little sister and she said 'I love you, have a good day.' Stuff like that is a reminder of why I play football. It motivates me."
Motivated to have his break-out season, there is no doubt that Molden has put in the work to achieve it. Now, all he has left to do is continue to cut it loose. With everything coming together this season for No. 3, opposing offenses should dread their time on the field against him.
Elijah Molden flew home from that Rose Bowl game with a chip on his shoulder. He had a pit in his stomach, knowing that he would have to wait nine months for his chance at another Husky win. Over the next few weeks, Molden returned to the training room. Over the next few months, he began preparing for the fall, putting in countless hours in the weight room working to get stronger, fueled by the vision of a break-out junior year. He watched and studied film, doing everything that he could to prepare for what was ahead. Come summer, he was counting down the days until he was back on the field. For nine months, he had August 31 circled on his calendar.
The biggest difference for Molden coming into his sophomore year last season, was his confidence. This year, the difference is in the preparation.
"He has had an unbelievable off season in the weight room. He has studied a lot of tape. You can tell that his preparation is going to lead him to make a lot of plays this year," said his position coach and defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake.
For a player that had visions of having a starting position three weeks into his college career, the past two seasons were unsatisfactory for Molden.
"I have pretty high expectations for myself," Molden said. "My goal coming into UW was to start by week three, now I am in my third year, and finally starting. If you aren't setting expectations like that for yourself, then you are setting yourself up for failure."
After just two starts last season, Molden was ready to do whatever it took to make sure that number increased to 14 this season. Along with preparation, this also included taking a leadership role on the team. Molden has stepped into this role effortlessly, knowing that the two years of experience he has under his belt have prepared him for this.
Coach Lake agreed, saying, "He has already taken the next step in his leadership role. Which has been awesome to watch. It is his turn to be the starter and the guy. Making those plays that are supposed to be made."
Molden has 16 tackles through the first four games of the season, on pace to double his total from his first year. He is making all the plays that are supposed to be made and has had exactly the start he wanted to this season.
"I am just ready to cut it loose," Molden said. "I am ready to play for the fans."
And that is exactly what he has done.
Being the "starter and the guy" means leaving the younger members with good habits and leading by example. One of the ways that Molden does this is by being the first one in and the last one out. This season has already showed him the rewards of working hard, and he wants the younger players to realize the same. This has meant arriving early, and leaving late. He has shown up in all the places that the fans can't see, so that he can really show up in the place that they can.
Although Molden is putting in countless hours of work, he has also been working on maximizing his time to get the most productivity out of every moment that he can. He calls this "working smarter." Another lesson that he hopes the younger members will latch on to.
Overall he wants the younger members to know this: "take ownership of everything. Not everything is your fault, but everything is your responsibility." This sense of responsibility is what has allowed Molden to have such a dominant presence on the defensive side of the ball.
Coach Lake has seen this dominance and feels comforted by the veteran force that Molden now brings to the team. He says that having experienced players like Molden in his lineup is very reassuring and exciting.
"They have been unbelievable leaders for the team," Lake said. "They have done a really great job of bringing the young guys along. The guys that have redshirted and the true freshmen that are expected to play. It has been really cool, because they used to be the young guys. And they had the older guys helping and ushering them in as young pups. And now they are the old Dawgs."
The reason that Molden so easily stepped into the leadership role might be because he is used to being the "old Dawg". Molden is the second-oldest of eight children in his family and has paved the way for his six younger siblings, allowing a lot of practice in leading by example.
He also had no shortage of role models growing up, as his father, Alex Molden, was an NFL player himself, and a member of the University of Oregon Hall of Fame. Along with this, Molden's older brother, Isaiah, is a defensive lineman at Western Oregon.
Molden's family has been his inspiration and his support throughout his football career. Now they serve as a reminder to stay humble and consider what is truly important in life.
He shared, "I got a snapchat the other day from my mom and it was a video of my little sister and she said 'I love you, have a good day.' Stuff like that is a reminder of why I play football. It motivates me."
Motivated to have his break-out season, there is no doubt that Molden has put in the work to achieve it. Now, all he has left to do is continue to cut it loose. With everything coming together this season for No. 3, opposing offenses should dread their time on the field against him.
Players Mentioned
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