Bruce Elia

Bruce Louis Elia (born January 10, 1953 in Hoboken, New Jersey) is a former college and professional American football player. In college, Elia played on both the offensive and defensive teams for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Professionally, he was a linebacker, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers. Elia is one of the few Ohio State players in the modern era to start on both the offensive and defensive teams. He grew up in Cliffside Park, New Jersey and graduated from Cliffside Park High School in 1971, where he had played as both a running back and linebacker. He was recruited to Ohio State by head coach Woody Hayes as a fullback. Before the third game of the 1972 season, Elia was claimed by the Ohio State defensive coordinator, and made...