NewsAthleticsAcademicsCollege GuidanceFootball
Ellis commits to Wake Forest
Aug 2, 2007 12:00 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
From Rome News-Tribune, published 8/2/07
With his college options as numerous as they were, Darlington football player Derricus Ellis was going to have a lot to think about in his senior season with the Tigers.
Now, however, his list of things to worry about just got a little shorter. That’s because the 6-foot-2, 235-pound speedy athlete verbally committed to play for the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest University in 2008.
After a recruiting process that included offers from at least three separate Division I schools, Ellis chose the one that came in first. Wake Forest first extended their offer in early March — an event that warranted Darlington coach Tommy Atha to pull him out of class to tell him.
“It’s certainly a great honor for Derricus,” Atha said. “It’s kind of a testament to how hard he’s worked over the last year and a half or so.”
Ellis won’t feel too alone when he gets to the Winston-Salem, N.C., institution. His older brother, Chantz McClinic, is a red-shirt junior on the Wake Forest football team this season.
“I really don’t think that Chantz being there was a deciding factor,” said Atha, who coached McClinic as well. “But I think it’s something that he’ll be glad of when he gets there.”
Following the Deacs, Duke and Vanderbilt both started courting the multi-sport star.
“The thing that Derricus and I talked about and I kept trying to emphasize to him is that he had offers not just from three strong athletic programs, but also three great academic institutions,” Atha said. “And he really couldn’t go wrong.”
A running back and defensive end for the Tigers’ football team, Ellis also played forward for the boys’ basketball team. In 2006, Ellis recorded 67 tackles, seven for a loss, four sacks and two fumble recoveries on defense while rushing for close to 600 yards and 10 touchdowns at fullback.
“I’ve got to hand it to Derricus,” Atha said. “He was very meticulous and wanted to make sure that he saw all three places and really took his time.”
As one of 11 seniors for Darlington this season, Ellis will test his abilities as a leader for a Tiger squad looking to be victorious in Region 7-AA South. This summer, Ellis received some attention when he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds at the Nike Combine Training Camp.
With his college options as numerous as they were, Darlington football player Derricus Ellis was going to have a lot to think about in his senior season with the Tigers.
Now, however, his list of things to worry about just got a little shorter. That’s because the 6-foot-2, 235-pound speedy athlete verbally committed to play for the Demon Deacons of Wake Forest University in 2008.
After a recruiting process that included offers from at least three separate Division I schools, Ellis chose the one that came in first. Wake Forest first extended their offer in early March — an event that warranted Darlington coach Tommy Atha to pull him out of class to tell him.
“It’s certainly a great honor for Derricus,” Atha said. “It’s kind of a testament to how hard he’s worked over the last year and a half or so.”
Ellis won’t feel too alone when he gets to the Winston-Salem, N.C., institution. His older brother, Chantz McClinic, is a red-shirt junior on the Wake Forest football team this season.
“I really don’t think that Chantz being there was a deciding factor,” said Atha, who coached McClinic as well. “But I think it’s something that he’ll be glad of when he gets there.”
Following the Deacs, Duke and Vanderbilt both started courting the multi-sport star.
“The thing that Derricus and I talked about and I kept trying to emphasize to him is that he had offers not just from three strong athletic programs, but also three great academic institutions,” Atha said. “And he really couldn’t go wrong.”
A running back and defensive end for the Tigers’ football team, Ellis also played forward for the boys’ basketball team. In 2006, Ellis recorded 67 tackles, seven for a loss, four sacks and two fumble recoveries on defense while rushing for close to 600 yards and 10 touchdowns at fullback.
“I’ve got to hand it to Derricus,” Atha said. “He was very meticulous and wanted to make sure that he saw all three places and really took his time.”
As one of 11 seniors for Darlington this season, Ellis will test his abilities as a leader for a Tiger squad looking to be victorious in Region 7-AA South. This summer, Ellis received some attention when he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds at the Nike Combine Training Camp.
