JUCO Transfer Cornerback Will Not Be Enrolling At BYU For 2019 Season
Jul 29, 2019, 6:46 PM | Updated: Jul 30, 2019, 1:52 am
PROVO, Utah – Three-star junior college cornerback Eric Ellison who signed with BYU last December out of Mt. San Jacinto College will not be enrolling in classes this fall semester. The news was first reported by KOVO 960 and later confirmed here at KSL Sports with Ellison directly.
Ellison was a player that BYU’s coaching staff (Preston Hadley, Ed Lamb, Jernaro Gilford) had recruited dating back to Ellison’s prep career at Banning High School in California. At 5’11”, 170 pounds, Ellison enrolled at Mt. San Jacinto College last football season and was coached by former BYU defensive back Casey Mazzotta.
Under Mazzotta, Ellison switched from running back to defensive back. When Ellison signed with BYU last December, the former JUCO standout had four years to play three. He will use his redshirt season this fall before working to enroll at BYU this January so he can compete in spring practices in preparations for the 2020 football season.
Welcome to the Family @TruEllison!!#BYUFOOTBALL #GoCougs #BYUNSD19 #NSD19 pic.twitter.com/OnvdPS2S3p
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) December 19, 2018
Last month at BYU football Media Day, I asked BYU defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki about Ellison and fellow Mt. San Jacinto College transfer Dimitri Gallow and Tuiaki expected immediate contributions from the two players. Gallow is still expected to compete this week when fall camp officially opens up on Wednesday, July 31st.
Ellison was expected to be on scholarship this fall. Now Ellison’s scholarship can go to another player currently in the program. The scholarship limit in a given year is 85.
Losing Ellison is a loss for the BYU cornerback unit as there was an expectation that he could provide an immediate contribution this fall with his athleticism. The starters heading into camp will likely be senior Dayan Ghanwoloku and sophomore D’Angelo Mandell.
Ghanwoloku can play any position in BYU’s secondary, but with the loss of Ellison this fall, this likely assures the former Northridge High standout Ghanwoloku will be a cornerback full time this season.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Cougar Tracks Podcast and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12-3 pm) on KSL Newsradio. Follow him on Twitter: @Mitch_Harper.
