By Mike Carmin (Lafyette Journal and Courier)/Photo by Eric Sun
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Raymond Ellis arrived at City College of San Francisco as a defensive end.
Ellis didn’t think he would budge from the spot. That was until Austin Larkin arrived from Notre Dame. Yes, that’s the same Larkin who is now a defensive end at Purdue.
The two will be reunited this summer when Ellis joins coach Jeff Brohm’s program. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Ellis was expected to sign his paperwork Thursday and will provide immediate help on the defensive line.
“He took the position and some of the other guys got discouraged. I came back every day and it didn’t faze me,” Ellis said of Larkin’s presence. “I didn’t miss a practice. This last season, it paid off. It shows that I’m not going to back down even if someone is front of me.”
Ellis split time between defensive end and tackle in 2015 but moved inside during the offseason. The more he played inside, the more comfortable Ellis became with his new position. Other coaches in California Community College Athletic Association took notice.
“By the time we got to the second half of the season, he was a dominant defensive lineman,” CCSF coach Jimmy Collins said. “In our all-conference selection meeting, he was the No. 1 overall vote getter at defensive line. In the second half of the season, playing defensive tackle clicked for Raymond.”
Collins calls Ellis explosive and athletic and believes he’ll fit in the scheme under Purdue co-defensive coordinator Nick Holt.
“Every single game we saw improvement and more comfort in terms of different situations and how to handle those situations,” Collins said. “The Purdue coaching staff, that’s a good staff and coach Holt is one of the best defensive coaches in the country. I think he’s going to thrive.”
HIGHLIGHTS: Raymond Ellis
Ellis visited Purdue last week during the spring game. He had offers from Kent State and Liberty University and interest from the University of Buffalo and Houston. California was also showing interested but backed off recently.
Ellis has two years of eligibility when he arrives at Purdue.
“They need someone to come in and start playing for them this season to fill in those holes,” Ellis said.
This and that
Ohio standout tight end Keaton Upshaw visited Purdue on Thursday. The 6-7, 225-pound Upshaw is from Lima. The 2018 recruit was offered by the Boilermakers on April 5. ... Tyrese Allen, a 2018 defensive tackle prospect from Paintsville, Kentucky, plans to announce his decision Tuesday. The Boilermakers, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Memphis, Western Kentucky and Bowling Green are among the schools on Allen’s list.
http://www.jconline.com/story/sports/college/purdue/football/2017/04/12/purdue-football-lands-juco-defensive-tackle/100401038/