If it hits Elisha Durham’s hands, consider the ball caught.

MLive is spending the summer taking a look at the top Michigan football recruits in 2025. Today, we take a look at West Bloomfield wide receiver Elisha Durham.

BIOGRAPHY OF ELISHA DURHAM

Height: 6 feet 2 inches

Weight: 165 pounds

Position: Wide receiver

Rookie Note: 3 stars on 247Sports Composite; No. 23 on MLive Top Recruits

Recruitment status: Uncommitted

Scholarship offers: Wisconsin, Eastern Michigan, Central Michigan, Western Michigan and more

Year: 2025

MEET ELISHA DURHAM

WEST BLOOMFIELD, MI – Elisha Durham has the strength to do push-ups all day.

But it’s not the tension that he doesn’t like about them.

It’s shame.

And a day without push-ups is the goal every time the West Bloomfield receiver focuses on a pass.

“Everything has to be a hold if you get your hands on it,” he said. “If it touches your hands and you don’t grab it, it’s a fall. And every fall is like 20 push-ups.”

Durham enters a senior season full of expectations as the No. 23 high school football player in the Class of 2025 on MLive’s top recruits list. And he and fellow Division I standout Kamren Flowers have developed motivations to keep each other at the top of their game as West Bloomfield’s dynamic duo.

Push-ups are a big part of their motivation.

“Anytime one of us falls, it’s automatic. Just drop down and do 20 push-ups,” Durham said. “It’s a way to get stronger and hold ourselves accountable at the same time, but we don’t need to do them very often.”

Durham’s sure hands are a big part of his arsenal as a decisive receiver. Long and lanky, at 6’2″ and 165 pounds, he’s able to get his hands on a lot of passes and catch them with astonishing speed.

A year ago, he recorded 41 receptions for 1,124 yards, breaking the school record with 11 touchdown receptions.

“I feel like I could have done more, honestly,” he said. “This year, I expect a lot more. I’m just warming up.”

Durham should have his eyes on him, as he has college offers from Wisconsin, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan and nearly every other program in the Mid-American Conference. He said he hopes to have his college choice finalized before the season begins.

But he has big plans and lofty goals for the final year of his prep career. He said he’s working out with former Michigan State University and NFL star Andre Rison and meeting with Flowers and quarterback Beau Jackson about five times a week to get in some extra work on the field, setting the stage for excellence.

“We’re building that bond and working toward something big,” he said. “Ultimately, our goal is to win the state championship. We’re ready to surprise the state this year.”

Durham should be a big part of the equation for the Lakers this season as they try to build on last year’s 10-3 record and advance to the Division 1 state semifinals.

“Some kids just catch the ball naturally, and he’s one of them. He’s never had to be taught how to do it,” West Bloomfield coach Zach Hilbers said. “He’s comfortable with everything. There are times when he doesn’t look like he’s running fast, but he is. It looks so easy.”

“And he doesn’t back down from anything. He wants the ball all the time. That’s not realistic in this position, but you like a kid to have that mentality.”

Hilbers said Durham is cut from a similar mold to Tre Mosley, the West Bloomfield product who went on to have a stellar career at Michigan State. And Durham has plenty of help living up to that comparison with Flowers in his corner.

The receiving duo continually pushes each other to be better, to be bolder, to be perfect.

“We admire each other’s game and we learn from each other whenever we can,” said Flowers, who has a list of offers from Power 4 colleges. “We always say, ‘No go, no go.’”

And no falling means no push-ups, just like Durham hopes to do every day and every game this season.

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