Awards and Honors:
2020 NFF Hampshire Honor Society
Dean’s List (F17, S19, F19)
Athletics Director’s Honor Roll (S18, F18, S20)
As a redshirt senior in 2019: Final campaign yielded more than 100 tackles for the first time in his career as the primary man roaming the second level for the Govs… had at least a half-tackle for loss in four straight games to start the season, including 1.5 tackles for loss in the opener against North Carolina Central (Aug. 29), a half-sack the following week against Central Arkansas (Sept. 7) and as part of a nine-tackle day against ETSU (Sept. 21)… broke up a pair of passes against Jacksonville State (Sept. 28)… made 11 tackles at Tennessee State (Oct. 19)… recorded first career interception at Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 2)… eight tackles, a half-sack and a full tackle for loss to go with two quarterback hurries and a pass break-up against UT Martin (Nov. 9)… forced a fumble and recorded a tackle for loss at Murray State (Nov. 16)… made 11 tackles on Senior Day against Eastern Illinois (Nov. 23)… closed with a career-high 14 tackles in his final appearance as a Gov in the FCS Playoff Quarterfinals against Montana State (Dec. 14).
2018 (Redshirt Junior): Started all 11 games at weakside linebacker in his first real action with the Govs… complemented Gunnar Scholato in the linebacking corps, finishing fourth on the team with 53 total tackles, including 4.0 for loss… posted a career-best eight tackles (7 solo) and half a tackle for loss at Jacksonville State (Sept. 29)… matched his career-best with eight total stops, including half a tackle for loss, in the finale against Murray State (Nov. 17)… had six total tackles, including 1.5 for loss against both UT Martin (Sept. 22) and Eastern Kentucky (Nov. 3).
2017 (Junior): Redshirt season… appeared in two games for the Govs, against Tennessee State (Oct. 14) and Southeast Missouri (Oct. 21).
Prior to Austin Peay: Spent two seasons playing for Ken Karcher at East Central Community College... recorded 69 tackles as a freshman and returned an interception for a touchdown... first-team all-conference and all-district at North Forrest (Miss.) High School... also an all-district baseball player.
Personal: Son of Debra Ellis... has three siblings--Danny, Tay and Zilan... born Feb. 3... majoring in health and human performance, with a concentration in K-12 teaching.
