Patriots LB Ellis 'All In' on Football Before Giving Medical School a Shot

By Phil Perry

May 29, 2017

FOXBORO -- When a new player arrives to the Patriots, there's a familiar refrain that's recited from behind the podium at Gillette Stadium: "Football is important to him."

Whether the subject is a rookie or an established veteran, those five words can serve as Bill Belichick's stamp of approval. It means the player cares. It means the player is willing to put in time.

Belichick hasn't gone on the record on any of the members of this year's class of undrafted free agents just yet, but linebacker Brooks Ellis seems to fall into that category of players to whom football is important.

If it wasn't, he would probably be putting all of his energy into getting accepted into medical school right now.

Ellis was a two-year captain at Arkansas and one of 12 finalists for the Campbell Trophy, also known as the "Academic Heisman." He maintained a 3.82 grade point average as a pre-professional exercise science major with a minor in biology, he was the first two-time Academic All-American in program history, and he was the SEC's Scholar-Athlete of the year for 2016.

All that is to say, Ellis had options upon graduation.

Football won out. He agreed to a deal with the Patriots soon after the draft, and he's spent the better part of the last month trying to learn defensive terminology and special-teams techniques.

But eventually Ellis hopes to be an orthopedic surgeon, and later this summer he'll submit his applications to medical schools in order to kick-start that process for whenever it's time to pursue his next plan full-throttle.

"I'm putting my all into this right now," Ellis said, wearing Patriots gear while standing on the Gillette Stadium turf last week. "But when I get some spare time, I'm finishing applications, and then when I get back in July I'm sending those in.

"If I get accepted somewhere, I'm going to tell them I need to defer until I know for sure what the football situation is going to be. So I'm all in on football, and just in case, I'm going to have that ready to go when I get out of it."

If all goes well for Ellis this spring and summer, it could be a while before he's taking the Hippocratic Oath. The Patriots have a long history of giving worthy undrafted players a shot at the 53-man roster, and Ellis plays one of the few positions on New England's loaded roster that might have room for a newcomer or two.

On paper, he certainly looks like their type.

The 6-foot-2, 245-pounder was his team's leading tackler for two seasons. He played all three linebacker positions in Arkansas' defense -- strong-side, middle and weak-side -- and he started 31 consecutive games to finish his career. Ellis also has extensive special teams experience, and he recorded one of the quickest three-cone drills among linebackers at this year's NFL Scouting Combine.

That he learned under Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema can't hurt his chances, either.

Bielema began his coaching career at Iowa under former Belichick assistant Kirk Ferentz, and Belichick has dipped into Bielema's programs at Wisconsin and Arkansas several times over the course of the last few seasons. Running back James White, defensive end Trey Flowers and former tight end AJ Derby all played for Bielema, and Ellis joins fellow Arkansas rookies Deatrich Wise (fourth-round pick) and Cody Hollister (undrafted) on this year's squad.

"He came in, started about halfway through his true freshman year -- we weren't a really good football team, we were 3-9 -- threw him in the middle of it, didn't bat an eye, and he got better every game," Bielema said of Ellis on Quick Slants the Podcast. "Sophomore year, [he] really began to mature, develop. He's another guy that the potential -- because we never redshirted him -- to grow in this year is going to be huge . . .

"He's just truly very, very intelligent, compassionate. And the value that he brings is he could be an unbelievable role player. I'm not saying he's going to be a four-time All-Pro or anything like that, but he'll be reliable, dependable, in every phase of the game."

Robb Smith, Arkansas defensive coordinator from 2014-16, believes Ellis landed in the perfect spot. Prior to his time at Arkansas, he worked under Greg Schiano at Rutgers, where he coached Patriots safeties Devin McCourty and Duron Harmon, former Patriots corner Logan Ryan, Patriots linebacker Jonathan Freeny and safeties coach Steve Belichick.

"He's one of those guys that's not only going to know his job, but what the other 10 guys around him are supposed to do," Smith said of Ellis. "He'll be able to be a leader from that standpoint in terms of helping guys with the system and the scheme. He's very good instinctively . . ."

"This guy's going to be replacing my knee someday. I'm serious. He's going to be an orthopedic surgeon that's outstanding. I know that's what his goals are. But hopefully he gets to play a lot of football between now and then."

There's one more Patriots link connecting Ellis to New England. His agent, Neil Cornrich, has counted Belichick as a client and also represents Bielema, Ferentz, Flowers, Derby, undrafted Patriots rookies Cole Croston and LeShun Daniels (both of whom played under Ferentz at Iowa) and Patriots running back Rex Burkhead.

It may come as no surprise then that when Ellis signed with the Patriots, no one knew. He didn't announce it on Twitter, as is the norm for undrafted players when they come to an agreement with a team. And the news wasn't leaked. Instead, he waited for the team to announce it, which his new employers probably appreciated.

Ellis, who according to the Boston Globe received the fifth-most guaranteed money of the 19 undrafted rookies the Patriots signed, said he received some simple advice from Cornrich before making his way to New England.

"He just said that you'll fit in well there," Ellis said. "You're the type of guy they like, and you're the type of guy that succeeds in that organization. Don't do anything special. Just go out there and work like you do every day, and it'll turn out for the best."

Even if it doesn't, Ellis will have medical school. But he acknowledges there's some unpredictability with that path, just as there is being an undrafted player in the NFL. He still has to be accepted. His application, including personal statements, interviews and MCAT results -- "It was horrible, I don't want to take that ever again," Ellis said -- still has to be deemed up-to-snuff.

Whenever Ellis starts, it will be the beginning of almost a decade of training between schooling and residency. It will be a challenge, he knows, and it's one that he looks forward to. But he's hoping it can wait because football is important to him.

"It just makes you work harder," he said of his uncertain future. "It makes you really focus on right now, and make sure that you're doing all you can in this area because even the next area might not be there.

"That's what I've done. I'm just working as hard as I can on this, and if that doesn't work out, then I've got the next thing, and I'm going to work as hard as I can in that area."

Patriots notebook: Deatrich Wise feels right at home with lots of familiar Razorback faces in Foxboro

By Stephen Hewitt

May 19, 2017

FOXBORO — In his first couple of weeks in New England, Deatrich Wise has likely looked around and experienced some deja vu.

In some ways, it’s almost like he never even left Arkansas.

Wise, the former Razorbacks defensive end drafted in the fourth round by the Patriots last month, is feeling right at home as a new pro. He’s reunited with three former college teammates in Trey Flowers, Brooks Ellis and Cody Hollister.

Wise, who officially signed with the Pats yesterday, probably is closest with Ellis, a middle linebacker who was signed as an undrafted free agent. The two were teammates for four years at Arkansas, and they’ve already picked up in Foxboro where they left off.

“Every day, I try to keep up with him, he tries to keep up with me,” Wise said yesterday at Gillette Stadium. “We learn from each other. We’ll be running plays, and he’s still my middle linebacker, so we still communicate. It’s awesome seeing how he works.

“We were locker buddies, we were teammates for four years. He was behind me telling me what to do, and I was in front of him telling him the same thing, so it’s been the same.”

Wise also has reunited with Flowers, who was his teammate from 2012-14. Flowers is only going into his third season, but he’s already taken on a mentor role with Wise, who figures to play with him on the edge.

Wise has watched closely what Flowers — who had 2.5 sacks in the Patriots’ Super Bowl LI win — has done from afar and is eager to follow in his footsteps.

“I kind of say if he can do it, I can do it too type thing, you know?” Wise said.

“It’s been awesome. He’s a big mentor, and the advice he gives me is just take it one day at a time, don’t try to think ahead, stay in the now, and he’s been helping me out here and there with the plays and what I have to do, and it’s been great.

“I try to follow him a little bit, try not to be too close to him, but try and follow and see how he does and see how he works and do the same.”

As far as the pantheon of colleges Bill Belichick has grown fond of, Arkansas is no Rutgers just yet, but it’s getting close. Wise believes coach Bret Bielema’s pro-style system is one of the reasons he’s not only prepared for the NFL, but why the Patriots are developing a pipeline with the Razorbacks.

“They both teach mental toughness, they both teach things that pretty much transfer over to the league,” Wise said. “How to take care of your body, mental and physical toughness. They teach the terminology, it’s kind of the same, and it’s just how they run their whole program from the top to the bottom.

“Showing everyone respect. I don’t care if it’s a CEO, a GM, a head coach or a janitor or cafeteria lady, you treat everyone with respect. And that’s kind of what Arkansas taught me and what I’m learning here as well.

Wise said it’s a point of pride that such a high-pedigree NFL program like the Pats has continued to poach away from Arkansas.

“It shows what Arkansas does for their players,” he said. “It shows Arkansas holds itself to a high standard, and it’s exactly what the Patriots look for in their players, so they kind of bounce off each other.”

Playing away from home for first time, Arkansas’ Brooks Ellis could stick with Patriots

Arkansas linebacker Brooks Ellis, right, will play for a football team outside his hometown for the first time as he tries to make the New England Patriots as a rookie free agent.

By Hector Longo
May 11, 2017

The New England Patriots, despite the rumors, have not added fried catfish to the players’ daily menu.

They only do things like that for high draft picks. Sorry rookie free-agent Brooks Ellis, you’re on your own. In Foxborough, Mass., for about two weeks, the native of Fayetteville, Ark., must be in need of home cooking.

A 6-foot-2, 245-pound linebacker, Ellis had a strong career at Fayetteville High School, which included a pair of state titles. He eschewed chances to move out on his own and stayed in town to play at the University of Arkansas. Sure, there were road trips and bowl games and even an excursion to Central America with his fellow biology students. But, Ellis always returned to Fayetteville, that is until now.

Ellis went on to play 49 games with 41 starts for the Razorbacks. He won the SEC Scholar Athlete of the Year Award this past December.

A traditional inside linebacker who relies more on savvy and his cerebral nature than his average athleticism, Ellis has a shot to land a job. Look at the prospects around him on the depth chart. Dont’a Hightower is a legit NFL player. After that, it’s Elandon Roberts, Shea McClellin and Kyle Van Noy, not exactly a string of Pro Bowl players.

His intelligence has to be considered an asset. Ellis will be given a chance to play because Belichick believes in his high-level, SEC production.

Arkansas Recognized for Excellence in Promoting the Scholar-Athlete Ideal

April 28, 2017

IRVING, Texas – As part of the National Football Foundation Faculty Salutes, presented by Fidelity Investments, the National Football Foundation will present Sharon Hunt, the faculty athletics representative for the University of Arkansas, with a commemorative plaque and the school with $5,000.

Arkansas and Hunt are being recognized for their efforts in fostering excellence among student-athletes as exemplified by 2016 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Brooks Ellis. The presentation will take place during a ceremony at 11 a.m. this Saturday, April 29, in the East Indoor Club at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas' Annual Red and White Spring Game will follow the ceremony at noon.

"Dr. Sharon Hunt has been a critical liaison between academics and athletics at Arkansas," said Steve Hatchell, president and CEO of the National Football Foundation. "We are proud to join with Fidelity Investments in highlighting her role in ensuring that Razorback student-athletes have an educational experience that prepares them for success long after their playing days in Fayetteville."

Since 2011, the NFF has partnered with Fidelity Investments, a leading provider of not-for-profit workplace retirement savings plans in higher education, to recognize the contributions of the faculty athletics representatives at each of the schools with an NFF National Scholar-Athlete. As part of the partnership, the NFF presents each of the FARs with a commemorative plaque, and Fidelity Investments donates $5,000 to support the academic support services for student-athletes at each school. Since the program's inception, the NFF has recognized individuals 88 different times, and Fidelity has made donations of $440,000.

"In her role as faculty athletics representative, Dr. Hunt serves our institution, athletics program and makes a meaningful difference in the lives of our more than 460 Razorback student-athletes," said Jeff Long, vice chancellor and director of athletics for the University of Arkansas. "We are appreciative of her ongoing commitment to fostering the academic growth of all of our student-athletes on their way to graduation, including 2016 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Brooks Ellis. We are also grateful to the National Football Foundation and Fidelity Investments for recognizing Dr. Hunt's outstanding work and celebrating the overall academic excellence of Razorback student-athletes."

Hunt has been a faculty member at Arkansas since 1990 and currently serves as a professor of kinesiology. She previously served as head of the department of health science, kinesiology, recreation and dance and was the interim dean for the College of Education and Health Professions during the 2000-01 school year. In 2010, Hunt became the first woman and non-lawyer to hold the post of faculty athletics representative at Arkansas. In her role as the representative, she works closely with the athletic department and the student-athlete advisory council and represents the university at various SEC and NCAA meetings. A high school athlete, Hunt's involvement with collegiate athletics dates back to her own college days at Arkansas when she played extramural sports prior to the enactment of Title IX. After receiving her bachelor's and master's degrees in physical education at Arkansas, she went on to earn a doctor of education degree from the University of Georgia and joined the faculty of the University of Kentucky for 13 years.

Arkansas was represented in the 2016 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class by Brooks Ellis, who maintained a 3.82 GPA as a pre-professional exercise science major with a minor in biology. The two-year team captain became the first two-time Academic All-American in program history and was named the 2016 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. As a senior, Ellis led the Razorbacks in tackles during the regular season for the second straight year with 78 and also recorded a team-high 7.0 tackles for loss. Off the field, the NFL draft prospect was named to the SEC Football Community Service Team and was a finalist for the 2016 Wuerffel Trophy.

The NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards, presented by Fidelity Investments, were established in 1959 as the first initiative in history to honor scholar-athletes with postgraduate scholarships for their combined athletic, academic and leadership abilities. The program currently provides each member of the class with an $18,000 scholarship, distributing approximately $300,000 each year to the nation's top scholar-athletes. Each year at the NFF Annual Awards Dinner in New York City, one member of the class is declared the winner of The William V. Campbell Trophy, presented by Fidelity Investments, as the top football scholar-athlete in the country and has his scholarship increased to $25,000.

In 2011, Fidelity Investments became the first official sponsor in the 57-year history of the program, which has awarded more than $11.1 million to 828 individuals since its inception. At the start of the 2014 season, Fidelity also became the presenting sponsor of the Campbell Trophy, college football's premier scholar-athlete award.

Ellis Dreams of Entrepreneurship, NFL legacy

Former linebacker Brooks Ellis (#51) walks off the field after a game against Alcorn State on Oct. 1.

April 18, 2017
By Elise Parker

Brooks Ellis, a six-foot-two-inch linebacker, knelt between two cones in preparation for the 40-yard dash. He looks down the line at the scouts, their thumbs ready to press start on the timers. He takes a deep breath and sprints down the field.

Ellis was one of 17 former Razorback football players who showcased their talents to 30 NFL teams on Pro Day on March 15.

“The NFL has always been a dream of mine,” Ellis said. “It’s every young football player’s dream to make it to the big time. That’s what all of the hard work, early mornings and commitment has come to. This moment.”

His brother, Andrew, wore a Big Rock T-shirt in support of his All-American older sibling’s company.

Life on the Field

Ellis, 22, is a Fayetteville native. He played football at Fayetteville High School and was the student body treasurer. He led the Bulldogs to two state championships and was named Defensive Player of the Year both years.

As a recruit, he was ranked No. 4 in Arkansas and the No. 24 linebacker in the country. After multiple offers, he followed in the steps of his grandfather, David Lashley, who played offensive and defensive line at Arkansas in the 1950s.

“I looked around at a few places but I knew I was going here,” Ellis said. “My family is here and I grew up watching the Hogs, so it wasn’t too hard of a decision.”

During his career at the UofA, Ellis played in 49 games with 41 starts. He led the team in tackles nine times and was the only student-athlete from the Southeastern Conference to be selected to the Academic All-America first team in 2016.

Ellis received an $18,000 postgraduate scholarship as a member of the National Football Foundation (NFF) National Scholar-Athlete Class in New York City at the 59th NFF Annual Awards Dinner, making him the fourth Arkansas football player to get this award since 1978.

He graduated from the UofA in December 2016 with a degree in kinesiology and a minor in biology.

The Company

In summer 2016, Ellis and his friends were hiking at Devil’s Den State Park in Winslow. They stumbled upon an oddly shaped rock while they were walking, which sparked the idea for the company.

“I don’t remember exactly what he said, but one of my buddies goes, ‘Whoa, that’s a big rock’ and we immediately thought it would be a good name for a company,” Ellis said. “We have always wanted to start a T-shirt business, and finding this rock was the beginning.”

Ellis and four of his closest friends created Big Rock Clothing Company (BRCO). The five young investors are former teammates at Arkansas, and used their own money to buy the first 50 T-shirts.

Their business motto is simple: Be comfortable. Live in the moment.

“We wanted to create a company that was comparable to Fayettechill, while being affordable for students,” said Alex Brignoni, Ellis’ childhood best friend and part owner. “Our shirts are for people who love being outdoors and having fun, because that’s what we love to do.”

Big Rock mainly sells its T-shirts via social media.

“Until we decide that we want to create a website, right now we just sell our shirts through direct message on Instagram,” said Matt Dodson, self-proclaimed sales director for Big Rock. “It’s easy and convenient for our customers and is working well since we are still a start-up.”

Ellis said his favorite part about this experience has been bonding with his friends and learning something new everyday.

“As a kinesiology major, I know nothing about business,” Ellis said. “Through my buddies I have learned a lot about running a company, and trust me it’s not easy.”

He said the group often disagrees about designs.

“Running a company is just like football in a way,” Ellis said. “First and foremost we are a team, and I will always do what’s best for the team, even if I don’t agree. We have been teammates for almost three years, and that comes in handy when working together on a day-to-day basis and making decisions.”

The Future

Aside from running the company, the group loves to throw the football around. They said they are Ellis’ biggest fans.
“I am so proud of Brooks,” Brignoni said. “I wish I was as good of a player as he is. If he makes it big, he better take me with him.”

Ellis said he hopes to make it to the NFL and get drafted this April. His friends and teammates have served as a major support system.

Ellis’ mother, Shelley, has attended every game of his career, and said she is excited for this opportunity for her son.

“It has been a long and stressful process,” Shelley said. “I am so proud of Ellis and everything he has accomplished. He has an amazing work ethic, but I am ready for this process to be over and for him to be in the NFL.”

Ellis attended the 2017 NFL Combine where he was a top performer in the three-cone drill and 60-yard shuttle.

He still lives in Fayetteville and devotes most of his time training with the Arkansas strength and conditioning coach, Ben Herbert, alongside the other Razorback potential draftees.

“I’m excited and anxious for the future,” Ellis said. “I am so thankful to have spent my college years playing at Arkansas with my brothers, and have learned so much and grown as a player, but now it’s time for the next adventure.”

Brooks Ellis excels at NFL Combine