Career
He was a prominent guard and center for the Auburn Tigers of Alabama Polytechnic Institute. The yearbook remarks "The student body thinks "Jimmy Bigs" Elmer is the laziest man in college. "
1902
He was selected All-Southern in 1902.
Tradition dictates many publications list Elmer as the school"s first All-Southern selection despite the success in 1899 of Arthur Feagin.
A report of the 6 to 0 loss to Sewanee reads "Elmer, of Auburn, was the star of the game, his work in the line being remarkable."
He attended the for a year. He continued his legal studies at the University of Mississippi.
1906
In the Egg Bowl of 1906, Elmer"s kicking accounted for 13 points in a 29 to 5 rout. Elmer also caught the first forward pass in the history of that rivalry.
He was elected All-Southern by former Tennessee player Nash Buckingham in the Memphis Commercial Appeal.