Player Spotlight; Sedrick Ellis

Player Spotlight; Sedrick Ellis

He may be the consensus #2 defensive tackle on the board behind Glenn Dorsey but Sedrick Ellis is a legitimate top ten overall prospect who has taken a few risks and watched them all pan out with the USC Trojans. Ellis came into the Senior Bowl as the prospect many said was the best in attendance, he had little to gain and more to lose. Ellis left Mobile with his stock higher than it ever had been and he was named the Defensive MVP for his team.

*Sedrick Ellis Defensive Tackle USC*
Senior 6-1 310

*Strengths:* Range
*Weaknesses:* Height

*Statline:* 58 tackles with 12.5 coming for loss and was second on the team with 8.5 sacks.

*Technique:* Needs to work on being more consistent shedding blocks but he uses his hands well and uses his short stature to his advantage getting his hands under opponents pads and gaining leverage.

*Known Injuries:* No major injuries to speak of at USC.

*Combine / Workout Assessment:* Coming Soon.

*DJ Boyer's Analysis:* Much like the other top defensive end Glen Dorsey, Ellis is very small in sature standing under 6-1. Ellis says he learned from former USC All-American Mike Patterson how to be so effective despite being smaller in size and came away with many of the same practice and workout habits. Ellis doesn’t have elite strength or height but he is the hardest working lineman you will find in this draft class and a rising star whose stock is still soaring. Very impressed with Ellis at the Senior Bowl where many scouts stated that going into practice he was the biggest name participating in the game. Unlike years past when some of the big stars would take it easy in practice Ellis turned it on. He was unblockable and it carried over to the game where he was named Defensive MVP for his team while registering a safety for the South and getting points on the board. Ellis uses magnificent pursuit angles and its what makes him a special prospect. He can get consistent pressure on the quarterback but he can also stay at home along the line and move laterally with a play and chase it down. Looks like an extra linebacker in some packages that just happens to be playing along the defensive line. With his lack of height he will have to hit the weight room and improve his upper and lower body for the next level but there are no major flaws with his game. The team ending up with Ellis will get a player that is not only one of the best but one that should make an immediate impact in 2008.

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