‘Best option’: Dunham’s Elijah Haven at home at Alabama
by William Weathers // GeauxPreps.com Contributor
BATON ROUGE – During unofficial visits last fall to the University of Alabama, Dunham quarterback Elijah Haven usually had his entire family in tow.
When prospects worked their way to the recruiting room at Bryant-Denny Stadium, members of the coaching staff were there to greet each of them.
That meant personal acknowledgments for Haven, his parents, and two siblings, a minute detail to some that struck a chord with the nation’s top-ranked quarterback in this year’s recruiting cycle.
“The last visit at Bama felt like home,” Haven said Saturday after committing to the Crimson Tide. “Everybody knew my little brother (Emmanuel) which is something special. Remembering not only your name but your little brother’s name, and the rest of your family means a lot to me. It’s super special.”
The 6-foot-5, 215-pound Haven, the state’s Mr. Football and Gatorade Player of the Year, helped put on a football clinic for 75 kids between the ages of 5-13, and then announced to a sizeable gathering he would attend Alabama over Georgia during his announcement at Elite Training Academy.
Alabama garnered its sixth overall pledge and the addition of Haven, a five-star prospect, moved it in the national recruiting rankings from No. 34 to 28th according to On3Sports. The Crimson Tide also has a quarterback pledge from four-star prospect Trent Seaborn (6-1, 190) of Alabaster, Ala.
“Throughout the whole process Bama’s been the most consistent with the coaching,” Haven said. “Coaches have reached out and built that relationship. It got crazy during the process with coaches moving to different schools and getting fired from jobs. Bama was just the most consistent. We were able to build a strong relationship with them.”
Two of Haven’s four finalists from a list he released in January – Florida and Auburn – both fired their head coaches which meant an upheaval in their respective coaching staffs.
Alabama’s staff wasn’t without some movement, losing co-offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Nick Sheridan to Michigan State. Head Coach Kalen DeBoer moved tight ends coach Bryan Ellis to quarterbacks coach and was part of the staff’s recruiting efforts for Haven, along with offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb.
“The last six months they’ve been pushing,” said Kwame Haven, Elijah’s father. “Originally it was coach Sheridan and then they developed that relationship over time. They’ve been the most consistent. We had a good transition with him moving on when he had the opportunity at Michigan State.
“They were transparent and genuine,” Kwame Haven said. “Throughout this process, everybody’s going to put their best foot forward. Coach Ellis was able to pick up the ball and coach DeBoer started to get involved more and showed that Elijah was a priority.”
Haven, along with help from members of Dunham’s state championship coaching staff, coupled with teammates, put on a 2 ½-hour clinic indoors that featured work on offensive and defensive skills.
“The idea behind it was to give back to the community,” Elijah Haven said. “I was once in those kids’ positions. For them to see this was really important, not only to me but my entire family. We had some fun today.”
Texas Tech was the first school to officially extend a scholarship offer when Haven was still in the eighth grade.
“When that coach came on campus, I was showing film of Elijah and said we you’ve got a cheat code,” Dunham coach Neil Weiner said. “He forecasted that well. We won a lot of games because of No. 5 (Haven). When Elijah came in and they got him on the phone, he had a huge smile on his face and he was so excited.
“It was the same smile he had on his face today,” Weiner said. “He’s the same kid as a 14-year-old as he is now. From that very first offer, to where it is now is a pretty remarkable story, but one he’s handled with grace the whole time.”
Haven’s been a Day 1 starter for Dunham and led the Tigers to a 30-5 record and consecutive trips to the Division III select state championship game. After a near-miss in 2024, losing to Catholic-New Iberia, Haven directed the Tigers to 11 consecutive victories and a 34-17 victory over Calvary Baptist for the school’s second state title.
Haven, the Class 2A Offensive Most Valuable Player, accumulated 4,776 total offensive yards and 73 touchdowns. He completed 73% of his passes (240 of 331) for 3,929 yards, 7 interceptions, and 62 touchdowns – a state single-season record.
He added 847 yards and 11 TDs on 127 rushes. His 73 total touchdowns were another state single-season mark.
Haven, who was first team Class 2A All-State in football and basketball, increased his career total yardage to 11,796 – 9,311 passing, 2,485 rushing – and his 180 total touchdowns are a state record with another season to play.
“It’s definitely a relieving feeling to get this done,” Haven said. “I can turn my focus to the team and my last high school season.”
Haven narrowed his finalists to four on Jan. 26 and maintained that posture throughout his basketball season which ended in the state semifinals.
Hometown LSU, which had offered with former head coach Brian Kelly and offensive coordinator Joe Sloan, had made contact when new head coach Lane Kiffin and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis were on board with Weis paying a visit to Dunham.
Haven opted to leave his home state for what he believed was an opportunity that was a fit for his entire family.
“At the end of the day I’ve got to do what’s best for me and my family,” he said. “That’s all that matters and we felt Bama was the best option to develop me as a player and a person as well.”
Weiner, an LSU graduate that’s spent time on the Tigers’ coaching staff, supported Haven – as is the case with all of his players – to make his own decision.
“He’s really at peace with that,” he said. “He realizes he’s not turning his back on anybody; he’s just opening his arms up for a different community. I think he’s really excited about it. I think their coaching staff, the support staff; the Haven family feel like it’s an extension of what they have at home and what they have right now at Dunham.
“For them it’s just the next chapter of what he’s already doing,” he said. “They love the Baton Rouge community. They’ve enjoyed going to Tiger Stadium and going to games. For the next chapter of his life, I think they’re excited about where he’s going.”
Weiner, part of an ardent LSU family, said he’ll continue to root for Haven because of the all-around young man he’s become.
“I don’t think I’ve ever been to Tuscaloosa before. I’ve certainly never said Roll Tide,” he joked. “I’ll say Roll Tide for Elijah Haven. At the end of the day, you just want the best thing that’s for the kids so they can become the best version of themselves. I don’t try and steer anybody. I just try and listen and provide a little guidance when they need.”
Alabama hired DeBoer to replace iconic coach Nick Saban wholed the Crimson Tide to 206 wins and six national championships in 17 seasons.
DeBoer, the winner of three national championships at Division II Sioux Falls, went 25-3 at the University of Washington where the Huskies went 25-3 and played for the national championship in 2023.
In two seasons at Alabama, DeBoer’s 20-8 and coached the Tide to an SEC Championship game appearance and the quarterfinal round of the CFP playoffs against eventual national champion Indiana.
“He’s gotten to know my family off the field very well,” Haven said. “I’m looking to continue building that.”
Kwame enjoyed a series of unofficial visits with his son, remarking at the resources available to student-athletes.
“These are all great choices,” he said. “I tell everybody there’s no bad choice. You just kind of make the best choice, right? These schools and the resources available at these institutions is out of this world.”
Once the camp was over, all eyes shifted to Haven who was dressed in a black hoodie and track pants. He was joined by his family on a stage to take a few questions from the campers seated closest to the stage.
He then spoke about his process as the nation’s No. 12 overall prospect and top-rated quarterback by On3, before a coordinated effort with his family – all of which unzipped their jackets in unison– revealed Haven was headed to Alabama where he’ll enroll in the spring.
“I had a sit-down with my parents pretty much every day this week, making sure that our heads are aligned,” Haven said. “They wanted the best for me; I always want to consider their opinion. We felt Bama was the best option.
“We got to talk to coach DeBoer last (Friday) night and break the news to him,” Haven said. “He was super stoked for me to get on campus and for us to continue building this relationship.”