Kevin Ellison S 6'1 230 USC

A knee injury cut short Ellison’s freshman season after just six tackles and a pick. He came back strong as a sophomore though, finishing the year with 64 tackles, six for loss, 1.5 sacks, and a pick on the year. Ellison was placed on the All Pac 10 1st team with his performance as a junior, where he had 57 tackles, eight for loss, two sacks, and two interceptions.

Strengths

Kevin Ellison is a football player, plain and simple. He is strong, tough, instinctive, and always battling to make plays. Ellison is great at moving forward and attacking the line of scrimmage from his strong safety position. He is a force against the run, and not afraid to throw his body around to make plays on the field. His instincts are his best trait, and he quickly reads the action and is always in the right place at the right time. Ellison has evolved into one of the leaders of the USC team despite entering the program as one if it’s unheralded recruits.

Weaknesses

Ellison has the talent to play on Sundays, but there are some questions about just how good and where he may fit in the NFL. He is only an average athlete with average speed, so he has some trouble keeping up with receivers down the field in coverage. He is not the most flexible when he has to change directions and has to play catch up to the receiver. A move to a weakside linebacker spot could be a possibility, a position his brother Keith has played with the Buffalo Bills.

Future

Ellison will play on Sundays and should make an impact on special teams. Whether he proves he can remain at safety, or has to try and move up to a linebacker spot, his toughness and instincts should allow him to find a role in the NFL. Another solid outing as a senior and solid workouts would go a long way to proving to teams he can remain at the safety position, and if he has starting potential there in the NFL.