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Demon Deac Derricus: Ellis officially signs with Wake Forest
Feb 7, 2008 12:00 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Written by Jeremy Stewart, Rome News-Tribune Sports Reporter, published 2/7/08
Darlington coach Tommy Atha has come to terms with the way Derricus Ellis led during his time on the football field at Darlington. It was mostly by example. Anything vocal came as a result of the moment.
“The thing about Derricus is you get spontaneous bursts of enthusiasm,” Atha said. “Any time you see any kind of emotion out of Derricus, it’s genuine.”
That genuineness came through Wednesday morning when the Darlington senior signed a national letter of intent to play football at Wake Forest.
“It felt great,” Ellis said. “One of the best moments this morning was seeing my mom look at me and tell me she was proud of me.”
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound athlete was joined by family, coaches, teammates and teachers Wednesday for National Signing Day to officially make his choice to play for the Atlantic Coast Conference Demon Deacons as a defensive end.
“Coach Atha kind of gave a little speech before I signed and ended it by saying, ‘At this time Derricus Ellis will sign,’ and it kind of hit me then,” said Ellis, who was a Rome News-Tribune All-Area selection. “Seeing all my teammates come up was great. I didn’t do anything by myself. They had to push me at times. I really thank them for helping me get where I am today.”
After being courted by major Division I schools including Duke and Vanderbilt, Ellis decided on Wake Forest last July.
“He’s so athletic for his size and he has the ability to make plays and I think that’s what they want at that level,” Atha said. “They saw his athleticism and his ability to move pretty well for a big guy.”
Seeing time at both running back and defensive end for the Tigers over the last two years, Ellis had to limit his movement at the beginning of this past season when he came up with a knee injury in the very first game.
However, the team captain never let the injury limit his commitment to his team. “When he was out, he wasn’t just standing by,” Atha said. “He was out there helping the younger kids and he continued to be an example on and off the field for us.”
Coming back in after missing three games, Ellis went on to rush for 1,128 yards and 13 touchdowns on 227 carries and help spur on Darlington to a 9-3 record and the second round of the Class AA state playoffs.
For now, Ellis will complete his classes at Darlington and his final season on the Tigers’ varsity basketball team.
“You know, it’s kind of bittersweet for me because Derricus certainly made me a better football coach,” Atha said “I think his best football is ahead of him, for sure.”
Darlington coach Tommy Atha has come to terms with the way Derricus Ellis led during his time on the football field at Darlington. It was mostly by example. Anything vocal came as a result of the moment.
“The thing about Derricus is you get spontaneous bursts of enthusiasm,” Atha said. “Any time you see any kind of emotion out of Derricus, it’s genuine.”
That genuineness came through Wednesday morning when the Darlington senior signed a national letter of intent to play football at Wake Forest.
“It felt great,” Ellis said. “One of the best moments this morning was seeing my mom look at me and tell me she was proud of me.”
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound athlete was joined by family, coaches, teammates and teachers Wednesday for National Signing Day to officially make his choice to play for the Atlantic Coast Conference Demon Deacons as a defensive end.
“Coach Atha kind of gave a little speech before I signed and ended it by saying, ‘At this time Derricus Ellis will sign,’ and it kind of hit me then,” said Ellis, who was a Rome News-Tribune All-Area selection. “Seeing all my teammates come up was great. I didn’t do anything by myself. They had to push me at times. I really thank them for helping me get where I am today.”
After being courted by major Division I schools including Duke and Vanderbilt, Ellis decided on Wake Forest last July.
“He’s so athletic for his size and he has the ability to make plays and I think that’s what they want at that level,” Atha said. “They saw his athleticism and his ability to move pretty well for a big guy.”
Seeing time at both running back and defensive end for the Tigers over the last two years, Ellis had to limit his movement at the beginning of this past season when he came up with a knee injury in the very first game.
However, the team captain never let the injury limit his commitment to his team. “When he was out, he wasn’t just standing by,” Atha said. “He was out there helping the younger kids and he continued to be an example on and off the field for us.”
Coming back in after missing three games, Ellis went on to rush for 1,128 yards and 13 touchdowns on 227 carries and help spur on Darlington to a 9-3 record and the second round of the Class AA state playoffs.
For now, Ellis will complete his classes at Darlington and his final season on the Tigers’ varsity basketball team.
“You know, it’s kind of bittersweet for me because Derricus certainly made me a better football coach,” Atha said “I think his best football is ahead of him, for sure.”
