PRO: Drafted in the seventh round (220th overall pick) of the 2009 NFL Draft…was the first defensive back from West Virginia drafted in team history.
2009:
- at MIA (10/4) Made his NFL debut. Saw action on kickoff coverage unit in fourth quarter.
- at CAR (10/25) Saw action on special teams.
- at TEN (11/15) Saw his first action defensively and nickel defensive back. Posted first NFL tackle.
- vs. MIA (11/29) Recorded his first special teams tackle.
- at ATL (12/27) Saw his first extended action defensively and posted two tackles and a pass defensed. Also saw action on special teams.
COLLEGE:
- 2008: Started all 13 games…third-leading tackler on the team with 68 stops, including 45 solo tackles…tied for the team lead with seven pass breakups … 2.5 tackles for loss and three interceptions…two games with double-figure tackles…team’s punt return leader with 20 returns for 171 yards, an average of 8.6 yards per return and a long of 36 yards…seven kickoff returns for 175 yards, an average of 25.0 yards per return with a long return of 32 yards.
- 2007: Played in nine games … finished with 16 tackles, including 11 solo stops … had an interception against USF that he returned 22 yards … season-high four solo tackles against Connecticut.
- Junior College: Junior College All-America return man…enrolled at WVU in Jan. 2007 ... standout corner from Jones County (Miss.) Junior College, where he played for Coach Eddie Pierce ... NJCAA all-region ... consensus first-team all-state selection … had 62 tackles, six interceptions, five pass breakups and two blocked field goals … school record 98-yard interception return for score ... blocked four field goals during his career … as a freshman, he started all seven games and finished with five interceptions … awarded the returner of the year in the conference and was an all-conference first team selection.
PERSONAL:
Son of Bill and Sayinka Jackson ... one of four children … majored in athletic coaching education…Product of Mobile’s C.F. Vigor High, where he played for Coach Kerry Stevenson ... offensive player of the year in the district … first-team 6A all-state selection … as a senior, he scored 24 times, 19 rushing and five receptions … collected nine interceptions … set the school record for most interceptions in season with 13 as a junior … also a basketball point guard.
COMMUNITY:
In 2009, Ellis participated in the Toyota Rookie Club appearing at numerous community events throughout Western New York and Southern Ontario. The Toyota Rookie Club helps the franchises newest players become more involved in the Western New York community. Each month, Ellis and all first year players did one community appearance as a group. The Toyota Rookie Club events included a visit to Dave & Buster’s to play video games and host a pizza party with pediatric cancer patients hosted by Brian Moorman’s PUNT Foundation, a visit to the Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute Panthers in Toronto, Ontario to discuss the importance of sport and activity with the student-athletes and to present the football team with $3,000 in new equipment for the school’s football program, and a trip to the Northwest Buffalo Community Center in November 2009 where the Rookie Club Members served Thanksgiving Dinner to approximately 300 children and families. In addition to serving food, the players introduced themselves to the community members during a brief ceremony, sat and ate with them, and signed autographs.
The final Rookie Club appearance of 2009 took place at the Annual Bills Holiday Party. The Rookie Club and Bills veterans hosted nearly 100 children from a number of different local community organizations. The Annual Holiday Party gives children from the organizations an opportunity to celebrate the holidays with the Bills players, Jills cheerleaders, Billy Buffalo, and Santa Claus. The children received a holiday dinner, pictures and autographs and gifts from a wish list that they had previously submitted.
