| 2006: Ellis was impressive once again while starting for the second
year at nose tackle as a junior in 2006. Overall in 2006 while starting 10
games, he had 34 tackles, including 8 for losses of 47 yards (with 4.5 sacks for
minus 37 yards), plus 2 fumble recoveries, 1 forced fumble, a blocked field goal
(at Stanford that USC returned for a touchdown) and 3 deflections. He tore
cartilage in his right knee prior to the Nebraska game and had arthroscopic
surgery, sidelining him for 3 games (Nebraska, Arizona, Washington State). He
made the Scout.com All-Pac-10 second team. He won the 2006 Pac-10 Morris Trophy (for the league's top defensive lineman, as
voted by the league's offensive linemen). He had 3 tackles (with a sack)
and a forced fumble at Arkansas, then returned from a 3-game hiatus because of
the knee injury and had 5 tackles against Washington. He made 5 tackles,
including 2 for a loss (with 0.5 sack), versus Arizona State, another 5 tackles,
including 2 for losses (with a sack), at Oregon State and a tackle and the
blocked field goal at Stanford. He added a tackle against Oregon, 4 tackles, a
fumble recovery and a deflection against California, 2 tackles against Notre
Dame and 2 more tackles, a fumble recovery and a deflection at UCLA. He had 6
tackles, including 2 for losses (with a sack), and a deflection against
Michigan.
2005: After an eye-opening showing in 2005 spring practice, Ellis
earned the starting nose tackle spot as a sophomore in 2005 and didn't
disappoint. Overall in 2005 while starting all 13 games, he made 50 tackles,
including 8 for losses of 36 yards (with 4.5 sacks for minus 26 yards), plus 3
deflections and 1 forced fumble. He had 9 tackles (with a sack) at Notre Dame, 7
tackles (1.5 for a loss, with a sack) versus UCLA, 6 stops (with a sack) at
Washington, 4 tackles against Arkansas (1 for a loss) and Oregon (2.5 for
losses), and 3 stops versus Arizona State (with a sack), Washington State,
Stanford, Fresno State and Texas. He made 2005 All-Pac-10 honorable mention.
2004: Ellis backed up Mike Patterson at defensive tackle as a redshirt
freshman in 2004. Overall in 2004 while appearing in 11 games (all but Virginia
Tech and Notre Dame), he made 2 tackles (1 each against Arizona State and Oregon
State).
2003: Ellis redshirted as a freshman defensive tackle in 2003, his
first year at USC. He suffered a left ankle fracture in 2003 fall practice,
played briefly against BYU and then had midseason surgery, forcing him to miss
the rest of the 2003 season (he was allowed to redshirt because of the early
injury).
HIGH SCHOOL: He posted 122 tackles (35 solo), including 19 for losses (with 6.5 sacks), plus 1 blocked punt, 1 forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries in 2002. He also was on Chino's track team.
PERSONAL: He's a sociology major at USC. |
