Tag: Sanders Ellis

Tennessee State’s Sanders Ellis enters the transfer portal 

Brandon King

According to Matt Zenitz and Chris Hummer of 247 Sports, Tennessee State true freshman linebacker, Sanders Ellis has entered the transfer portal. Following Micah Gay’s unfortunate season-ending elbow injury, Ellis was moved into the starting lineup and it paid immediate dividends for the Tennessee State defense. Ellis recorded 81 tackles a mark only outpaced on the team by Ahmad Nelson’s 94. Ellis also added 14 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and 3 fumble recoveries. His play this season earned Ellis a multitude of accolades, including being named Big South -OVC…

Read More

Tennessee State’s Sanders Ellis named FCS Football Central Freshman All-American

Brandon King

For his gridiron exploits this season Tennessee State linebacker Sanders Ellis was named an FCS Football Central Freshman All-Amwrican. Thrust into a starting role when Micah Gay was sidelined for the season with an elbow injury, the Nashville, TN was an immediate impact player.  The true freshman appeared in 14 contests, recording 86 total tackles (59 solo, 27 assisted), 15.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries and 2 passes defended. Ellis was named Big South-OVC Freshman of Week 5 times on the season, with the fifth coming after…

Read More

Sanders Ellis once again named Big South-OVC Freshman of the Week

Brandon King

For the fifth time this season, Tennessee State linebacker Sanders Ellis was named the Big South-OVC Freshman of the Week.  In TSU’s 28-21 win over no.11/12 Southeast Missouri that secured a portion of the conference crown for Tennessee State, Ellis recorded a team-high tackles ( 7 solo) and a pass breakup. The Nashville, TN product also posted 0.5 tackles for loss in helping the Tigers defense stand tall in helping the TSU defense hold SEMO’s offense to 21 points and 308 yards of offense, numbers which are well below their…

Read More

Sanders Ellis named Big South-OVC Freshman of the Week

Brandon King

Tennessee State linebacker Sanders Ellis was named Big South-OVC Freshman of the Week for the fourth time this season. In the Tigers’ 23-20 win over defending conference champion Gardner-Webb, Ellis recorded 5 tackles ( 3 solo, 2 assisted) and 1.5 tackles for loss  On the season, Ellis is Tennessee State’s second-leading tackler, with 64 total stops ( 22 assisted), and ranks 11th in the Big South-OVC, averaging 5.8 tackles per game. The Jerry Rice Award Watchlist member is 6th in the conference in tackles for loss with 11.0. That also…

Read More

Tennessee State’s Sanders Ellis named to Jerry Rice Award watch list

Brandon King

title image via Tennessee State Athletics Tennessee State University linebacker Sanders Ellis was amongst 30 players named to the 2024 Stats Perform Jerry Rice Watchlist. The award, named after the former Mississippi Valley State and NFL Hall of Famer, honors the top freshman at the FCS level.  For a player to be eligible for the award he must be considered a freshman by his conference in his first or second academic year without participating in more than 4 games in the previous academic year.  Ellis who has been named Big…

Read More

A pair of Tigers garner weekly Big South-OVC honors

Brandon King

The Big South-OVC announces their weekly football honorees and two Tennessee State players were among the players selected.  Special Teams Player of the Week | CJ Evans | WR/KR | R-Sr | Mobile, AL After a Howard touchdown trimmed the Tennessee State lead to 20-14, the momentum of the game was up in the air. On the ensuing kickoff, Evans returned it for a 99-yard touchdown that put the Tigers firmly in charge of the game, as it returned the proceeding to a two-score TSU lead at 27-14. In addition…

Read More

Sanders Ellis named Big South-OVC Freshman of the Week

Brandon King

Tennessee State linebacker Sanders Ellis was named Big South-OVC Freshman of the Week. In the Tigers’ late game, come from behind 13-9 win over Charleston Southern, Ellis tied Chris Walker for the team lead with 11 total tackles ( 4 solo, 7 assisted) ; he also posted 0.5 tackles for loss and a fumble recovery led to 7 TSU points. On the season the Nashville, Tennessee native has recorded 30 total tackles ( 15 solo, 15 assisted) , 6 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks 1 pass defensed and the aformentioned…

Read More

Tennessee State’s Ellis and Ellis earn Big South-OVC Weekly Honors

Brandon King

The Big South-OVC Football Association named its weekly honorees and a pair of Tennessee State Tigers, quarterback Draylen Ellis, and linebacker Sanders Ellis were among the recognized players. Co-Offensive Player of the Week- Draylen Ellis | Quarterback | Tennessee State  Ellis put together his second strong outing of the season. In the Tigers’ 41-28 win over Arkansas Pine Bluff in the Southern Heritage Classic, Ellis completed 20 of his 33 pass attempts for 226 yards, 3 touchdowns, and no interceptions, while also running for 25 yards on 3 carries and…

Read More