Elijah Burress, son of Giants' hero Plaxico, has become one of North Jersey's best players

Elijah Burress has basked in the confetti that falls on a Super Bowl champion. The DePaul Catholic senior’s football coach can attest to it.

“I remember seeing some pictures of him on the field that night with his dad after the game,” Nick Campanile said, referring to Super Bowl XLII in 2008. “Elijah was a baby at that time.”

OK, so it was Burress’ father, Plaxico, who caught the winning touchdown that famously ruined New England’s unbeaten season.

Elijah has utilized his own talents to become one of North Jersey’s top wide receivers in 2024, as well as a University of Notre Dame recruit.

Yet, whereas some players say they’ve “been around the game forever” as a figure of speech, the younger Burress can say it and mean it.

“There’s been a lot of [football] talk that’s gone in my ear my whole life,” Elijah said after his three-touchdown performance in DePaul’s season opener . “But there’s no pressure for me. He [Plaxico] believes in me, and I believe myself. So, it’s just on me to live up to it.”

Burress has done splendidly in that regard during the Spartans’ 2-0 start. Entering the week, he led North Jersey in yards per catch (33.5), was tied for No. 1 in touchdown catches (four) and was one of two area receivers to average 100 yards a game. (The other? Bergen Catholic’s Quincy Porter, an Ohio State commit.)

“I can’t even list the amount of things he brings to our team,” Campanile said of Burress. “His speed is just unmatched. There are not many guys that can run with him, so he gets behind the defense very easily.”

That was evident on his second TD catch of the season.

A sense of déjà vu

Burress is wide open.

Touchdown Spartans, in the left corner of the end zone… with 20 seconds to go, and the Spartans regain the lead.

Sound familiar? You can literally substitute two words of the call from Giants play-by-play announcer Bob Papa on Plaxico’s Super Bowl touchdown – “Giants” for “Spartans” and “35” for “20” – and it would accurately describe an Aug. 30 play that Elijah made in a win over Pope John.

“It was actually that same double move that his father ran,” Campanile said with a knowing smile.

Burress got behind the defense up the left sideline, headed for the corner and hauled in a 32-yard heave from Derek Zammit to put DePaul ahead, 12-7, late in the first half. That was after the 6-foot-1, 165-pounder caught a 26-yarder for a 6-0 Spartan lead in the opening quarter.

“That ball-tracking ability just runs in the family,” Burress said.

For good measure, Elijah also wears the “family jersey,” No. 17, which at DePaul is roughly the same shade of green in which Plaxico played for the 2011 Jets.

The ‘complete package’

Burress officially announced his commitment to Notre Dame on X, formerly Twitter, in February. He called it “a perfect fit for me,” noting he’s developed good relationships with head coach Marcus Freeman and receivers coach Mike Brown, a former Jacksonville Jaguars wideout.

“What I love about him, he’s a great route-runner,” Campanile said of Burress. “He blocks really, really well, but he catches ball underneath the coverage and makes plays with it, too. So, he’s dangerous in every aspect. He’s a well-rounded receiver.”

Plus, he lines up across the formation from Ohio State commit De’Zie Jones. Either can attract extra attention from the secondary to give the other opportunities to get open.

And Burress always has family in his corner. His younger sister Giovanna is a freshman soccer player at DePaul, so she is always nearby, and his parents are at every game.

Plaxico prefers to remain in the background these days – Elijah was the one taking selfies with young fans after the Pope John game – but was right there to congratulate his son as he came off the field.

“From a young age, he told me, no matter what happens, he’s always going to believe in me,” Elijah said. “So, that gives me full confidence to just go out there and play my best ball.”

North Jersey receiving yardage leaders

Through Sept. 9, 2024

Quincy Porter, Bergen Catholic: 12 catches–216 yards (18.0 average)–2 TD

Elijah Burress, DePaul: 6–201 (33.5)–4

Ian McDuffie, Passaic Tech: 8–193 (24.1)–4

Jake Kelshaw, West Milford: 8–185 (23.1)–2

Nehki Martin, Paramus Catholic: 12–169 (14.1)–1

Luis Placido, New Milford: 7–165 (23.6)–2

Ronan Malady, Old Tappan: 6–161 (26.8)–1

Joey Roman, Wallington: 11–159 (14.5)–2

B.J. Cunningham, St. Mary: 7–157 (22.4)–2

Nathan Bailey, St. Joseph: 11–154 (14.0)–1

Shane Hanlon, Northern Highlands: 12–147 (12.3)–1

*Based on statistics reported to NorthJersey.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Elijah Burress, son of Giants' hero Plaxico, has become one of North Jersey's best players