Kevin Ellison Scouting Report

Ellison is an incredibly physical safety prospect for the Southern California Trojans. He is known for his crushing hits on opposing receivers, but he is also a veracious hitter and does great in run support. A great NFL comparison would be Roy Williams of the Dallas Cowboys. He has below average speed for his position, but makes up for the deficiency in run support. He will struggle when matched up in man to man coverage with receivers and faster tight ends in the NFL. He is only an average athlete and interest in him may be limited to teams that rely on a cover two defense. At nearly 230 pounds, he has great size. Teams may be interested in adding weight and turning Ellison into an outside linebacker. Ellison will contribute immediately on special teams and will likely start on special teams as a rookie for whatever team drafts him. Ellison closes quickly after the catch and generally wraps up the receiver. He is an effective blitzer off the edge and up the middle, showing the closing speed necessary to get to the quarterback. It is tough to say where he might be drafted due to his "tweener" size and speed. If Ellison continues to be productive and tests well at the Combine, he will be a very productive player in the right system. He would do well in a scheme like the Philadelphia Eagles that takes players and uses their strengths and asks them to play in the system, not above their weaknesses.