Player Profile: USC S Kevin Ellison

Pros: Despite not having elite speed, Ellison was a big presence, when healthy, for maybe one of the best defenses in college football history. He is a big hitter and a very intelligent player. He played next to Taylor Mays who is a physically-gifted freak at 6’3, 230 pounds and was clocked in the 40 at 4.29 at USC’s spring drills. Mays is definitely the better athlete and NFL prospect, but Ellison matched him when it came to performance on the field. Ellison takes good angles and sticks to his responsibilities to make up for what he lacks in speed.

Cons: At USC he suffered a fractured left leg and three knee injuries that all required surgery. The wear and tear on his legs showed at the Combine when he ran a horrible time of 4.8 in the 40. That time is slow for a linebacker but unheard of for an NFL safety. He was never a big playmaker and had just five career interceptions. Often he would go for the knock out hit instead of the turnover. Sometimes he would shy away from attacking the ball, instead allowing the receiver to catch the pass in exchange for the easy tackle.

Scout’s Take: After playing safety in college, it looks like the 6’1, 227-pound Ellison will likely need to move to outside linebacker if he wants a shot of getting on an NFL field. If Ellison had the 4.5 speed scouts want from safeties, he would be a second or third round pick because of his size, intelligence and intimidating presence. Instead he will have to wait until late on day two to hear his name, if he is called at all. He will need to learn a new position so it will take time for him to get on the field as a defensive player. He will need to show potential as a linebacker and contribute on special teams early to have any shot at sticking on a roster. He better hope that his position change works out better than it did for fellow Trojan safety Darnell Bing.

Photo Credit: Long Photography

East-West Shrine Game Report

GAME DAY REVIEW & MVP:

A tightly contested game ended with less than a minute to play on a fourth-and-goal throw by Central Washington quarterback Mike Reilly (West) that was broken up by Norfolk State cornerback Don Carey and other East defenders who closed on the ball. The East ran out the clock and held on for 24-19 victory for head coach Bobby Ross.

Duke linebacker Michael Tauiliili earned defensive MVP honors with 13 tackles for the East, which won despite being out-gained 434 yards to 257 and running 31 fewer offensive plays.

Nebraska running back Marlon Lucky gained 68 yards and scored a touchdown after a lackluster week of practices due to a lingering turf-toe injury. Tennessee State running back Javarris Williams gained 56 yards and also scored. The East team connected on just 6-of-15 pass attempts.

The West, led by Texas A&M quarterback Stephen McGee and Fresno State's Tom Brandstater, passed for 317 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Bowl-bound wide receiver Mike Thomas (Arizona) had five catches for 73 yards and one touchdown. Rice’s Jarett Dillard caught the longest pass of the game, a 35-yarder for a touchdown.

Both kickers, Graham Gano (Florida State) and David Buehler (USC), showcased the leg strength to consistently put the ball at or near the goal line on their kickoffs. The two also converted three field goals.

Mississippi State safety Keith Fitzhugh continued his fine play by adding nine tackles for the East squad. Other top performers included Iowa cornerback Bradley Fletcher (six tackles), Kentucky defensive tackle Myron Pryor (six tackles) and Richmond defensive end Lawrence Sidbury, who pressured Reilly on the late play to help force the incompletion.

On the West side, Texas defensive tackle Roy Miller and USC linebacker Kaluka Maiava each had six tackles, while Utah State safety De’Von Hall, a late replacement, was active on special teams and added six tackles.

MEDICAL FILE:

Stillman (Ala.) DT Sammie Lee Hill (hamstring), USC S Kevin Ellison (knee), USC CB Cary Harris (hamstring), California LB Anthony Felder (hamstring), Texas OG Cedric Dockery (hamstring), BYU OL Ray Feinga (leg) and Texas A&M DE Michael Bennett (flu symptoms) each was affected by injuries during the week.

Bennett and Felder dressed for the game; the others did not take the field.

ALL-SHRINE GAME TEAM:

The All-Shrine Game team considers practice days, player interviews and game performance. An average practice player may have earned a spot with a great performance in the game.

The players are listed by position, starting with the week’s highest rated player. Positions are broken down based on total number of players in attendance; for example, 20 total offensive linemen as compared to just four fullbacks.

QB Stephen McGee, Texas A&M
QB Tom Brandstater, Fresno State
RB Gartrell Johnson, Colorado State
RB Javarris Williams, Tennessee State
RB Tyrell Sutton, Northwestern
FB/H-B Mark Hafner, Houston
WR Jarett Dillard, Rice
WR Mike Thomas, Arizona
WR Darius Passmore, Marshall
WR Deon Butler, Penn State
WR Taurus Johnson, South Florida
TE Brian Mandeville, Northeastern
OT Jamon Meredith, South Carolina
OT Ramon Foster, Tennessee
OT Sebastian Vollmer, Houston
OT Fenuki Tupou, Oregon
OG Seth Olson, Iowa
OG Louis Vasquez, Texas Tech
OG Jaimie Thomas, Maryland
OC Edwin Williams, Maryland

DE Matt Shaughnessy, Wisconsin
DE Lawrence Sidbury, Richmond
DL Clinton McDonald, Memphis
DL Jarron Gilbert, San Jose State
DL Myron Pryor, Kentucky
DL Roy Miller, Texas
LB Kaluka Maiava, USC
LB Mortty Ivy, West Virginia
LB Johnny Williams, Kentucky
LB Jason Williams, Western Illinois
LB Michael Tauiliili, Duke
LB Anthony Felder, California
CB Bradley Fletcher, Iowa
CB Ryan Palmer, Texas
CB Don Carey, Norfolk State
CB Ryan Mouton, Hawaii
S Keith Fitzhugh, Mississippi State
S Curtis Taylor, LSU
S Keith Ellison, USC
S C.J. Spillman, Marshall

K David Buehler, USC
P Jake Richardson, Miami (OH)
RT Aaron Brown, TCU

Top Canadian – Simeon Rottier, Alberta