 He attended Palm Beach Community College and worked at a dentist's office before receiving a scholarship offer from Kent State University in 2004, where he graduated from in 2005 after playing just one year.Elam was signed by the Miami Dolphins in 2005 as an undrafted free agent, but was released during training camp.Dallas Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells signed him as a free agent in 2006, based on a recommendation from Tucker Frederickson who had a son that played at Kent State University.