Sedrick Ellis DT 6’1 309 USC 5.23

After redshirting his first season because of a fractured ankle, and a year backing up Mike Patterson, Ellis moved into the starting lineup as a sophomore in 2005. He had a standout season, finishing with 50 tackles, eight for loss, with 4.5 sacks. As a junior, Ellis had similar numbers, posting 34/8/4.5 despite missing three games with torn knee ligaments. Ellis had a dominant senior season, finishing the season with 58 tackles, 12.5 for loss, and 8.5 sacks on his way to earning All America honors.

Sedrick Ellis is a load in the middle of the defensive line. He is built like a tank, and an immovable force. He has a low center of gravity, and a thick frame overall. He stays low to the ground, and coupled with his bulk and strength, really clogs rushing lanes up the middle. Ellis is not a player that can control gaps. He has the quickness to shoot through the line and make plays in the backfield.

Size may be an issue with Ellis. He is shorter than ideal, and his frame may already be maxed out. He probably does not have the ability to get any bigger at the next level. Ellis has also had a couple injuries in his career, fracturing his ankle as a freshman, and tearing a knee ligament as a junior.

Despite his size, or lack of potential growth, Ellis is a force on the field, and will be attractive to teams in April. His ability to dominate running lanes and shoot the gaps may make Ellis a Top ten pick.