Sedrick Ellis, 2008 NFL Draft Prospect
 | Defensive Tackle 6' 1" 292 lbs. University of Southern California Senior  |
USC’s Sedrick Ellis at 6' 1" 292 pounds might not have the perfect size for a defensive tackle, but they said the same things about the Bears’ Pro bowl tackle Tommy Harris when he entered the NFL Draft. Ellis was the new baby Sapp against the Michigan Wolverines in the 2006 Rose Bowl. He was too much for the heralded
Just how good is he, Ellis (in 2006) was selected the winner of the Pac-10's Morris Trophy as the league's best defensive lineman. The award is picked by the conference's starting offensive linemen. Ellis is very good at using his hands and has a very quick first step, he plays with excellent leverage and has a powerful lower body. offensive lineman have a difficult time with him because they can't get in front of him fast enough, he usually knifes through the line and gets through to the ball carrier. He disrupts a lot of plays with his penetration.
Ellis played a major role in the Trojans' 10-2 regular-season record that led to a Rose Bowl berth in 2006. With Ellis in the middle of the line, USC led the Pac-10 in both scoring defense (14.9 points per game) and total defense (293.8 yards per game).
A two-year starter and a first-team All-Pac-10 selection in 2006, Ellis missed three early games with a knee injury, but still posted 34 tackles, including eight tackles for loss and 4.5 quarterback sacks, broke up three passes, recovered two fumbles and blocked a kick. Ellis is a little under-sized, but he should still be one of the top rated defensive linemen for the 2008 NFL Draft. With his size, quickness and athletic ability he might even be moved to "end" on an NFL team that uses the 34 defense. Ellis is a 2007 pre-season "Sporting News" first team All-American defensive tackle and a second team All-American by Athlon Sports.
Update: A certain top 10 selection in the 2008 NFL Draft. Overall in 2007 while starting all 13 games, he had 58 tackles, including 12.5 for losses of 75 yards (with 8.5 sacks for minus 67 yards), plus 7 deflections, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble.
2007 Accolades:
- Was 1 of 15 semifinalists for the 2007 Bednarik Award
- 1 of 8 semifinalists for the 2007 Lott Trophy
- Named to the 2007 AP (unanimous), Football Coaches, Football Writers and Walter Camp All American Teams
- Named to the The Sporting News, ESPN.com, SI.com, Collegefootballnews.com and Pro Football Weekly All-American first teams and Phil Steele’s All-American second team
- Named the 2007 Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year and Pac-10 Morris Trophy winner (for the second year in a row)
- Unanimous choice on the 2007 All-Pac-10 first team and ESPN.com All-Pac-10 first team
- Named Collegefootballnews.com All-Pac-10 first team, Rivals.com All-Pac-10 first team and Phil Steele’s All-Pac-10 first team
- Was USC’s Co-MVP and also won USC’s Co-Defensive Lineman of the Year Award and Co-Lifter of the Year Award
- A Senior Bowl invitee