Sixth in a series profiling newcomers to the Arkansas football team.
FAYETTEVILLE - Brooks Ellis didn’t shy away from a position of great responsibility for the Fayetteville High School mini-dynasty of the early 2010s, and he has no plans to be just another guy on the roster at Arkansas.
Ellis wants to be a director on the defense before he finishes his career with the Razorbacks, just as he was for the Bulldogs.
It is a mostly faceless Arkansas linebacking corps Ellis will join as a true freshman this fall, with an opportunity awaiting those who understand the schemes, play fast and deliver hits.
Ellis did just that at Fayetteville after his career path was redirected when the coaching staff switched defenses and moved him from strong safety to the key strong-side linebacker spot as a prelude to the team’s runs to Class 7A state championships in 2011 and 2012.
“That was a huge leadership role I had to take on,” Ellis said. “I liked it. I liked the responsibility of it. I liked being the centerpiece of it.
“Going into that Razorback defense, that’s my goal is to get to be the leader of the defense. Obviously that’ll take some time and some experience, but I definitely would like to work my way up in that position.”
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema, referencing his role as a linebackers coach coming up through the ranks, spoke with a gleam in his eye regarding Ellis on national signing day.
“We’re real excited about what he brings to the table,” Bielema said. “His film was unbelievable.”
Fayetteville Coach Daryl Patton used a single word - “stud” - when asked to profile Ellis’ football traits.
“He wreaked havoc sideline to sideline,” Patton said. “You’re not going to find a linebacker any more intelligent or smarter than he is. … There are some nice linebackers over there, there is, but Brooks, his ceiling is a lot higher. I think he has a chance to be really special.”
Ellis, 6-3, 228 pounds, made the same progression as many high school safeties.He kept growing after being named the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s sophomore defensive player of the year as a safety in 2010, and Fayetteville’s coaches decided to move him into the box.
“We switched defenses, went from a 4-3 to a 4-2-5, and when we did that everyone we talked to said put your best player at [strong-side] linebacker,” Patton said. “So we moved him to an inside ‘backer. His junior year was phenomenal.”
Ellis earned defensive player of the year honors in Arkansas in 2011 with 86 tackles and 13 ½ sacks, then battled through a knee injury and a concussion to pull down the state’s defensive player of the year honors again as a senior.
“When you watch Brooks on tape - watch him run, change direction, take on blocks - he’s been very well coached,” Arkansas defensive coordinator Chris Ash said.“He’s a physical player. He can run. He’s got the tools where he could potentially come in and help as a freshman.
“But again, it’s going to be those mental things that may either help or hurt him being able to get on the field. We won’t know that until we get a chance to start meeting with him as a coaching staff to see where he’s at. He is a very smart player.”
Bielema has suggested on many occasions that Ellis could have an immediate impact in the linebacking corps, along with junior college transfer Martrell Spaight. His words haven’t escaped the ears of Ellis, whose grandfather, David Lashley, played for the Razorbacks from 1951-53.
“I’ve heard him say that, and I’m very humbled by that,” Ellis said. “I have the same opportunity that any of those guys do. What they’ve been through, they have more experience than I do, so I’ll have to really step it up and prove myself before I can even think about playing.
“During fall camp, I’ll have to really work hard and do my best. But I’m not expecting anything. I’ll have to work for everything.”
The Arkansas linebacking corps might be one of the biggest mysteries in the SEC this fall, and linebackers coach Randy Shannon, Ash and Bielema will have less than a month to sort out the position after camp begins.
Senior Jarrett Lake and juniors Daunte Carr and Braylon Mitchell took many of the first-team reps at linebacker in the spring, while sophomores A.J. Turner and Otha Peters, who were thrown into the fray perhaps ahead of schedule last season, were slowed by injuries. Players like Austin Jones and Robert Atiga also have gotten first team practice snaps.
The newcomers Ellis, Spaight and Myke Tavarres will give the defensive decision-makers a lot of candidates.
Ellis has the build of an SEC linebacker, though he said he felt “a little skinny” and he’s trying to learn all three linebacker spots in Arkansas’ 4-3 scheme prior to the start of fall camp.
“You don’t really know what position you’re best at so you play them all,” Ellis said. “That’s Coach Shannon’s philosophy, and so I’m kind of moving around a little bit and seeing what fits well. I’m getting the hang of all of them.”
Bielema said the linebackers coach in him is intrigued by Ellis’ skills.
“Brooks was heavily recruited by everybody in the country,” Bielema said. “His grandfather being a former player here, it’s in his DNA. He wants to be here, and it’s a part of who he is. Natural, instinctive linebacker things that you can’t coach. Routine linebacker plays that you need him to do.”
Patton said Ellis’ capacity for scouting is boundless.
“He knows game plans, he knows opponents inside and out,” Patton said. “He’ll know what kind of socks they like to wear on Tuesdays. He’ll do that kind of homework.”
Ellis, who is rooming with fellow Fayetteville signees Brandon Allen and Alex Brignoni and freshman tight end Hunter Henry, said it is a fun time to be joining the Razorbacks.
“It’s really exciting, honestly, just getting to see these coaches work and seeing what they’ve done in the past,” he said. “I’m just excited to see what’s going to happen this season, bringing all these coaches together and seeing all the talent we have this year.
“I feel like it could be a good year.”
Brooks Ellis glance
CLASS Freshman HEIGHT/WEIGHT 6-3, 228 POSITION Linebacker HOMETOWN Fayetteville NOTEWORTHY Played for back-toback Class 7A state champion teams at Fayetteville High in 2011-12 and was the state defensive player of the year each season. … Posted 114 tackles, 16 for loss, with 4 sacks and 4 forced fumbles despite missing two games as a senior. … Named as Little Rock Touchdown Club’s 7A player of the year as a junior, where he recorded 86 tackles, 22½ for loss, 13½ sacks, 19 hurries, 2 forced fumbles and 2 breakups. … Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s sophomore defensive player of the year in 2010 when he recorded 130 tackles as a strong safety.
Sports, Pages 17 on 07/10/2013