From Gridiron to Ice Track: An Ole Miss Linebacker’s Unlikely Push to the World Stage
Elliot Markuson built his athletic identity on impact. As a former University of Mississippi linebacker and now a Team USA bobsledder, he competes as a “push athlete” — the explosive engine that launches a sled from a standstill into controlled chaos.
Push athletes rely on raw power, speed and precision. The same qualities that once helped Elliot flatten SEC offensive lines in pursuit of quarterbacks now propel him down an ice track at nearly 90 mph.
“In bobsled, all you feel is the speed,” Elliot said. “The G-forces are similar to what a fighter pilot experiences. That’s all you can think about when you’re pushing.”
To generate that force, this breed of athlete loads its hips and quadriceps like springs before releasing into a rapid sequence of powerful steps. Hip mobility and extension are essential for stride efficiency, velocity and balance.
But those same demands take a toll.
Years of football collisions, followed by a bobsled crash, steadily damaged Elliot’s right hip. By the summer of 2023, the pain could no longer be ignored.
“It got to a point where my hip was so painful that I couldn’t sleep at night. I couldn’t sit down for more than 15 minutes. Flying in a plane was basically torture,” said Elliot, who’s on the very short list of Mississippians to compete in a winter sport on the world stage. “It was affecting my performance. I couldn’t run. I couldn’t push the sled, and riding in it was even worse. I finally recognized that I needed to have it looked at.”
As a Team USA athlete, Elliot was eligible for care through the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Medical Network, supported by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. The network includes four regional and four national medical centers, including UF Health.
The network initially referred him to a surgeon in Colorado Springs, but scheduling and travel challenges made that option impractical.
“Then, they said, ‘We have this new partnership with the University of Florida,’ and I said, ‘Yes, let’s do that!’” Elliot laughed. “‘It’s SEC country, and those are my people. I would rather go there.’ And they made it happen.”
At UF Health, Elliot was treated by orthopaedic surgeon Ryan Roach, MD, also an assistant clinical professor in the UF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine.
Testing revealed femoroacetabular impingement — abnormal contact within the hip joint — along with a torn labrum.
“The labrum is a ring of cartilage that helps stabilize the hip socket,” Dr. Roach said. “In Elliot’s case, excess bone caused friction in the joint, which led to a tear and significant pain.”
In December 2023, Dr. Roach and his surgical team reshaped the bone and repaired the labrum during a three-hour procedure.
“Dr. Roach explained everything in a way I could understand,” Elliot said. “Once the repair was done, it finally felt like we had a clean slate.”
Rehabilitation required months of physical therapy, patience and discipline — qualities Elliot already knew well.
Today, he views the experience as both humbling and formative.
“It built resilience,” he said. “It reminded me how grateful I am for the opportunities I’ve been given.”
One of those opportunities was meeting his fiancée, Emily Renna, also a member of Team USA Bobsled.
“It’s funny — I wouldn’t have met her if I hadn’t decided to take some sled rides at 90 miles an hour,” Elliot said with a laugh.
For Elliot, the journey has also been one of deep purpose.
“It’s about being part of something bigger than myself,” he said. “Representing my country and competing alongside world-class athletes is a blessing I don’t take lightly.”