2023: Started all 13 games at safety ... Had 84 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, six pass breakups and an interception ... Had three double-digit tackle games ... Led the team in tackles once ... Had 11 tackles and one tackle for loss at Virginia Tech ... Had 10 tackles in the win over Louisiana ... Recorded a career-high 12 tackles at Marshall ... Had six tackles and an interception in the Famous Toastery Bowl against WKU.
2022: Played in all 12 games, started a pair at safety ... Registered 40 tackles and one pass breakup ... Totaled four tackles in the season-opening win over Virginia Tech ... Notched six tackles in the win over Arkansas State ... Recorded a career-high 10 stops against Georgia Southern ... Had eight tackles at App State.
2021: Played in 11 games, seeing action at safety and on special teams ... Registered nine tackles and one pass breakup ... Had two tackles on special teams ... Recorded season-high three tackles in the win over Hampton ... Notched a pair of tackles against Tulsa in the Myrtle Beach Bowl ... Saw more action at safety as the season progressed.
HIGH SCHOOL: Named to the 2020-21 Shrine Bowl Roster for the prestigious North Carolina vs. South Carolina Shrine Bowl ... Recorded 44 tackles, six tackles for loss and two interceptions as a junior … Scored touchdowns on an interception and fumble return … Earned third-team All-Charlotte Observer at safety as a junior.
PERSONAL: Son of Tyrone Hilton and Amenua El ... Full name is Tahj Azim Ra-El ... Majoring in cybersecurity.
TAHJ RA-EL CAREER STATS
| Year | Games | AT | UT | TOTAL | Sacks | TFL | INT | FF | FR | PBU |
| 2021 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022 | 12 | 19 | 21 | 40 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2023 | 13 | 41 | 43 | 84 | 0.0 | 5.5-15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| TOTAL | 36 | 62 | 71 | 133 | 0.0 | 5.5-15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 |