• Defensive End – Bethel High School, Hampton, VA (Head Coach Tracey Parker)
• 6-4, 245 pounds
• Senior Statistics – 50 tackles, 7 tackles-for-loss, 10 sacks
• Runs the forty in 4.7 seconds
• Rankings: Rivals #8 of 40 (4-stars), Insiders #31 of 127 (3-stars), SuperPrep #3 in state of Virginia
• Virginia Tech Recruiter – Jim Cavanaugh
• Committed to Virginia Tech on February 6, 2003

Following the press conference where he announced he would be a Virginia Tech Hokie, Chris Ellis did something he has never done before – sign autographs. A surreal experience for one of the state of Virginia’s top players, it is telling of how far he has come in such a short period of time. Ellis was not like most football players who have played football since they were five years old. In fact, he did not get his football career under way until the seventh grade.

Despite the late start, the love of the game was always there for the Virginia Tech’s star defensive end recruit.

"I can’t figure out why my dad kept me out so late, but I only started playing football in seventh grade," said Ellis, who has become one of the top-rated players in the country. "I have always loved the game of football. I would always go with my friends from my neighborhood and play ball. We would play all summer. I knew I wanted to play football."

Once high school began, Ellis’ size helped him make up for the lack of experience. He has always been, as he says, the "biggest kid in my class." His freshman year, he was about 6-1 and was able to use his size and ability against the smaller junior varsity competition. The big transition came his sophomore year, when he went from the junior varsity to the varsity squad.

Bethel head coach Tracy Parker says, "He started for us as a sophomore. It was tough for him, initially, because it varsity was a totally different level. All of the guys were suddenly bigger and stronger than he was. It was certainly an experience for him."

Ellis did not deny the difficulty of the transition. According to him, the difference in speed from junior varsity to varsity was the "biggest difference." Even though he was 6-2, he was still slightly smaller than the upperclassmen he would face. He struggled early, but improved throughout the year as he got used to the competition.

In the beginning of his junior year, things changed. He grew a few more inches, and with his exceptional athletic ability, began to succeed against the one-on-one blocking he was facing. He finished his junior season with 80 tackles, 15 tackles-for-loss, 15 sacks, and one interception in earning a reputation as one of the top rising senior prospects in the state of Virginia.

Ellis’ excellent junior campaign drew early scholarship offers. He received offers from many schools, including Virginia Tech and Virginia, by the month of May. Ellis, who is a savvy competitor, knew he could not rest on his early offers. Instead, he decided to attend summer football camps, including one at the University of Virginia and one Nike camp. It was his goal not only to prove he was worth the early notoriety he was gaining, but to become the best defensive end in the country.

"I took the camps a little more seriously than most of the other guys," said Ellis. "My goals were to gain national recognition and to outshine all the guys in my position. It was a little bit of pressure, because I wanted to prove I could live up to what everyone was saying. In the Nike camp, I think I did a good job of separating myself. Coaches would pull me aside and tell me how good I was doing. It was a big step for me; it kind of gave me the confidence to know I could play not just with the competition from my area, but with the best players in the country."

Heading into his senior year, Ellis was brimming with confidence. Opposing coaches, knowing Ellis from his junior year performance, headed into each game with a plan to double and even triple team Bethel’s best defensive player. Because Bethel was a young team, opposing teams implemented their plans against Ellis without worry.

"The beginning of my senior year was very frustrating," said Ellis. "I would be impatient and I would force things. Mid-season, I learned that I needed to let my game come to me. The experience made me tougher, though, because if I can beat two guys like I was doing late in the year, I know I can beat one. My statistics were a little down as a senior, but I know I played well, considering the circumstances."

With his senior season and his high school football career winding down, the race to gain Ellis’ service over the next four years was just beginning. Early on in the recruiting process, Ellis had one clear favorite – Virginia Tech. As the process continued, and he began learning more and more about other schools, he opened things up.

"Early on, with [former Bethel teammate] Jimmy Williams going to Virginia Tech, I would see the Tech coaches quite a bit, and they would always say they could really use me," said Ellis. "Every time they would come down to check on him during the summer, I would see them. All I was seeing was Virginia Tech, and that’s all I thought about at one time. As the process went on, the more I found out about the other schools; everyone had something different to offer."

Heading into the month of January, it became clear that Ellis’ official visits would be a large factor in his decision. He scheduled visits to Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, and North Carolina State over the final month and a week until Signing Day. Exhausted near the end, he canceled his final trip to North Carolina State and made his decision.

Ellis ended up choosing the team he liked from the very beginning – Virginia Tech – mostly because it was where his heart was telling him to go, but also because of his official visit.

"The Virginia Tech visit was so laid back," said Ellis. "It wasn’t like the other visits, where they were stuffing information down your face the entire time. We could pretty much do what we wanted. If we wanted to go to the game, we could go to the game. We had the basic academic stuff, but it was very laid back.

"In the end, I chose Tech because I had a good time every time I went there. My final decision came down to Virginia and Virginia Tech, and my gut was telling me Virginia Tech, so that’s where I went."

The Hokies received not only an excellent athlete, but an excellent person and competitor as well.

"Chris is an impact player," said Coach Parker. "It’s been a pleasure coaching him over the past three years. He has the physical tools to be a great football player. He has great hands and good instincts. I think he can get to 6-5, 270 and become a pro-type end. He can strive to be what he wants. Besides that, he is a good, genuine kid. I don’t sense any ego on him at all – real down-to-earth and respectful."

It was 7:30 am on February 6^th, 2002, and it was time for Chris Ellis to make his announcement. As he made his announcement, marking the first step towards his collegiate football career, he felt a huge sense of relief. The recruiting process, while fun, was over with.

"I loved the recruiting process," said Ellis. "There is nothing I would change about that. I love talking to the media – in fact, I can’t wait for Virginia Tech’s media day. I would rather be in the position of getting all of the letters and attention than not being in that position. After I announced, it was a major load off. I could breathe deep and let it all out. I was happy it was over."

So, there he was, signing autographs (for the first time ever) in the hallway following his press conference. It’s a weird feeling, not a bad one, but a different one – one he could certainly get used to.

"I thought they were joking at first," said Ellis. "When I found out they actually wanted my autograph, it felt really good. I plan to get to the point in the future where a lot more people want my autograph."

hOkie76: What are you doing to get ready to come to Virginia Tech? Any chance you will enroll early?

Chris Ellis: I just started lifting weights again. The coaches gave me a workout book, which is cool, because I’ve never really had a trainer before. They want me to be at around 245-250 by the time I get there I think. They told me they don’t want to redshirt me. I want to break the two-deep rotation once I get there, and hopefully earn a couple of Big East player of the weeks.

I am going to get there early – probably after the Hampton All-Star game in early July. I won’t be able to attend early classes though.

HVilleHokie: Did VT's history of All-American DE's have any bearing on your decision?

Chris Ellis: It’s true that has been in the back of my mind. Watching Corey Moore explode in this defense, and he’s just a little guy. Once Nathaniel Adibi adjusted to the defense, he has exploded. Virginia Tech produces these great defensive ends all of the time, so that must not be a coincidence.

ad nauseam: Is your success mostly due to athletic ability, desire or technique?

Chris Ellis: I would say more due to athletic ability and desire. Once I hit varsity in high school, I was evened out with the rest of the competition. I worked hard in the weight room – working out by myself a lot of the time – to adjust to the competition. I think that helped me a lot.

LovettsHokie –Who do you think you will end up rooming with next year? 

Chris Ellis – Xavier [Adibi] and I have talked about rooming together – so I’ll probably room with him.

Texas Hokie - Did any of the schools recruiting you do anything that you considered offensive?

Chris Ellis - All of the teams told me not to go to school [at Tech] because of Jimmy. That was really annoying because, in the beginning, I told them I wouldn’t make a decision because of Jimmy. Jimmy even told me to go my own way. All of the teams – Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee – kept asking me if I’m going to Virginia Tech because of Jimmy. That got a little annoying.

HokieBro - Describe the player, either from this class or future classes, that Tech fans should keep an eye on. 

Chris Ellis – DJ Parker is really going to be a surprise. After he goes to Fork Union, he’ll be very good. He’s a phenomenal athlete – last year he played quarterback, but he can play wide receiver and cornerback too. I know people think he is a project, but he will surprise some people.

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