Elliott was an All-American quarterback on the undefeated 1948 Michigan Wolverines football team that won a national championship. He was also a standout basketball player who was first-team All-Big Ten Conference in 1948 and second-team All-Big Ten in 1949 as well as team MVP in 1948. The 1948 team finished third in the eastern region of the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship. Elliott is the only Michigan athlete to have earned 12 letters in varsity sports: football, basketball, and golf.