Landon Ellis realized Wednesday the reward of an offseason filled with sweat, aches, and pain.
After working hard to get stronger in preparation for his senior season on the Victory Christian football team, Ellis used the momentum from a standout season to sign to play football at East Mississippi Community College.
“It felt more than satisfying,” Ellis said. “Hard work pays off. I firmly believe that. The guy I worked out with the whole summer said you will be able to tell the results when you get out there. I thank him so much for what he did, and I believe him 100 percent.”
Ellis rushed for a team-high 1,152 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also caught 19 passes for nine touchdowns and made 53 tackles (42 solo) to help Victory Christian reach the Christian Football Association title game.
But eight-man players don”t often attract a lot of attention from college scouts, which is why Ellis was surprised to see a member of the EMCC coaching staff at one of his team”s games this season. A stellar performance (247 rushing yards and three touchdowns and an interception return for another score) in a 64-26 victory against Tabernacle in the semifinals of the CFA playoffs made an impression and earned Ellis a chance to try out with the Lions. He earned a call back to a second, invitation-only tryout Saturday and was soon offered an opportunity to take the next step in his football career.
“I knew I was going to try to go somewhere, EMCC or ICC, but (the recruiting process) didn”t feel too long,” Ellis said. “I didn”t even know they were interested until they came out and said they were looking at me and Tyler. I had no idea about it.”
Ellis and Tyler Jones played key roles in the Eagles” success the past few years. They helped guide Victory Christian to undefeated seasons and CFA titles in 2008 and ”09. The school”s 30-game winning streak ended in a 24-20 loss to Tuscaloosa Christian in the CFA title game.
But that loss didn”t take away from what Ellis accomplished or how he molded himself in the offseason into a more physical presence on the football field.
“You always like to see hard work rewarded,” Victory Christian coach Chris Hamm said. “A lot of times you have kids who sort of have the idea it would be good to play at the next level, but Landon really set his goal probably as a freshman to play ball at the college level.”
Hamm said basketball was Ellis” favorite sport early in his high school career. He said Ellis realized football likely would present a better opportunity to realize that goal. After a junior season in which he played a complementary role, Ellis emerged this season as a dominating runner who could absorb contact.
Hamm feels the intangibles Ellis possesses and his willingness to work hard made him even more appealing to EMCC.
“I think they”re looking at Landon”s potential because I know they are going to redshirt him this year,” Hamm said. “I think he has potential, and given the fact he has had that desire since the ninth grade, he is going to work as hard as he needs to to go through the process.”
Ellis expects college football to be “the hardest thing” he has done, and he plans to work his hardest to make his mark. He knows he will compete a lot of players who have generated more buzz, but that”s OK.
While many of those players were doing their thing in the offseason, Ellis was toiling and straining to realize a goal. Now that he has a chance, he isn”t going to let it slip away.
“I have always heard from everybody that coaches want somebody who is going to work hard and who is coachable,” Ellis said. “I believe I am very coachable and I will give my effort. I will do the extra job or the extra mile and do what they need to do to go on.”
Adam Minichino is the former Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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