A wanderer of a college career - four stops in five years - who settled in at James Madison and signed with Arizona as an undrafted rookie corner.
Elijah Culp has seen more college football stadiums than most defensive backs, working his way from Austin Peay to Troy to Charlotte before finishing at James Madison. The Charlotte, North Carolina native signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent after helping anchor a Dukes defense that made the College Football Playoff.
Path to the league
Culp began his college career at Austin Peay in 2020 before transferring to Troy for the 2021 and 2022 seasons, then to Charlotte for 2023 and 2024. He finished his eligibility at James Madison in 2025, starting all 13 games at cornerback for a Dukes defense that helped carry the program into the College Football Playoff.
Career highlights
Across 44 college games, Culp compiled 106 tackles, three interceptions and 14 passes defensed, experience that scouts pointed to as a strength given how many different schemes and competition levels he faced. He earned third-team All-Sun Belt honors in his final season at James Madison.
2025 season recap
In his lone season with James Madison, Culp started all 13 games and posted 46 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, one interception and eight passes defensed. That production, paired with his experience, was enough to draw an undrafted free agent contract from the Arizona Cardinals after the 2026 NFL Draft.
Sources
- ESPN: Elijah Culp
- James Madison Athletics: Elijah Culp Inks NFL Deal with Arizona Cardinals
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Cornerback
- Group
- defense
- College
- James Madison
- Hometown
- Charlotte, NC, USA
- Age
- 21
- Status
- active
