In four years (1988-1992) as the placekicker for the University of Hawaii at Mānoa football team, Elam scored the third-most points in NCAA history (397) and tied for the second-most field goals kicked (79). He held the record for all-time leading scorer in the Western Athletic Conference until 2010 and was a three-time All-WAC selection. He is Hawaii’s career leader in field goals made and field goal percentage. Elam majored in communications at the University of Hawaii.