Notes On Career Of Victor Ellis

Former Alabama linebacker Victor Ellis died Tuesday night after a very difficult battle against a rare form of cancer. Here are details from his Crimson Tide playing career:

Career: Victor Ellis played in 40 games in his Alabama career … He was elected permanent team captain following the 2001 season. He played for Coach Mike DuBose (1998-2000) and Coach Dennis Franchione (2001).

Ellis was elected permanent team captain following the 2001 season. He played in 40 career games for the Crimson Tide. Posted 145 career tackles, including 93 solo stops.

Ellis also added 14 tackles for loss (-60) and three sacks (-31) along with three pass breakups, two forced fumbles, two blocked kicks and one fumble recovery.

2001: As a senior, Ellis played in 11 games and recorded 28 tackles, including 15 solo stops. He also added two tackles for loss (-8 yards) and one quarterback pressure. He recorded a season-high five tackles in the season opener against UCLA on Sept. 1 and against Tennessee on Oct. 20. He also had four tackles against LSU on Nov. 3.

2000: A starter in every game, Ellis played 775 snaps and played a season-high 93 snaps plays against Central Florida. He was the Tide’s second-leading tackler with 94 total stops, including 64 solo tackles. He also added 14 quarterback pressures, nine tackles for loss (-42 yards) and 2 ? sacks (-24 yards), two quarterback pressures, two fumbles caused and one fumble recovery.

He also had two blocked field goals against Arkansas and Ole Miss.

Ellis had four double-figure tackle games, including a career-high 16 stops against UCLA in the season opener on Sept. 2 at the Rose Bowl. He also added two TFLs (-12 yards) in the game.

He posted 13 tackles the following week on Sept. 9 against Vanderbilt. Ellis added three TFLs (-19 yards) and one sack (-8 yards) against the Commodores.

He also added 11 tackles at Tennessee on Oct. 21 and 12 tackles at LSU on Nov. 4. Ellis added a season-high three quarterback pressures against South Carolina on Sept. 29 … Ellis earned the “Woodrow Lowe Most Improved Linebacker Award” following spring practice.

1999: A very active linebacker, Ellis was a member of the Crimson Tide’s 1999 SEC Championship team. He played in all 13 games, including the Tide’s 35-34 overtime loss to Michigan in the FedEx Orange Bowl.

He played 240 total snaps. Ellis finished the season with 20 tackles, three tackles for loss (-10 yards) and one-half sack (-7 yards. He also added three quarterback pressures and one pass breakup.

He played a season-high 42 snaps and recorded eight tackles in the win over Southern Miss. Named to the 1999 Academic All-SEC squad.

1998: Ellis played in seven games a true freshman. He recorded three tackles on the season. He made his collegiate debut against BYU on Sept. 5 as the Tide posted a thrilling 38-31 win behind Shaun Alexander’s school-record five touchdowns in the newly expanded Bryant-Denny Stadium.

He also played against Vanderbilt, Southern Miss, LSU, Mississippi State and Auburn.

Ellis recorded his first career tackle in the Tide’s homecoming win over Southern Miss on Oct. 31.

Prep: A safety at Red Bank High School (Chattanooga, Tenn.). He was selected as the 11th best prep prospect by The Knoxville News Sentinel, honorable mention Class 5A All-State selection and named the MVP of the Tennessee-Kentucky High School All-Star game.

As a prep senior, he recorded 79 tackles and five interceptions. His best game came against Columbia Central, where he recorded 19 tackles, while playing his first game at middle linebacker. He added 16 tackles the following week. He was also a track standout, clocking a 23.2 in the 200-meter dash.

Personal: Ellis was born November 24, 1979. His parents were Victor and Debbie Ellis. He majored in Telecommunications and Film at The University of Alabama, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in 2002.

Ellis worked as a regional recruiter in Charlotte, N.C. for the University of Alabama … He was an honorary football captain for the Tide last season against Louisiana-Monroe.