Ellis looks to keep turning Cardinal corners into pros

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) - In this day and age, the amount of tools at your disposal to evaluate talent is endless.

But Louisville cornerbacks coach Steve Ellis doesn't think it has to be that complicated. In fact, to find the best of the best in college football, the guys who are going to be pros? That takes very little time.

"It don't take long," Ellis said. "Ray Charles should be able to see it."

In his first season as Louisville's corners coach, Ellis helped write the songs for a secondary singing pro tunes. He impacted both Jarvis Brownlee and Storm Duck last year, two former Cards now enjoying NFL opportunities. The Tennessee Titans drafted Brownlee in the fifth round and the Miami Dolphins signed Duck as an undrafted free agent.

"If you are a real dude, be a real dude," Ellis said. "It ain't rocket science. Limited guys play pro ball.

"Jarvis? Real dude. It don't take long. After about two or three practices with the Titans, the defensive backs coach calls here and says he's a real dude."

There may be a number of NFL teams calling later for a star Cardinal corner who has a great chance to be a high NFL draft pick: Quincy Riley.

"It's a book that's unwritten, but I'm ready to read it," Ellis said. "I think it'll be a good deal because he checks off all the boxes."

Riley has tallied six interceptions as a Cardinal, racking up three in each of his two seasons. He likely could have left for the NFL after last season, but decided to come back in part because he wanted to learn more from Ellis.

"He's a hard coach, but it's all love at the end of the day," Riley said. "He's going to push me. He's going to tell me when I'm wrong and not always when I'm right. He's going to understand that I can't get complacent right now with the position I'm in."

To the Middle Tennessee State transfer's credit, he sounds like he gets it. Ellis has been consistent in praising Riley's professional approach, plus his growth and maturity as a leader and teammate, something he emphasized to the defensive back when deciding to return for another season with the Cardinals. 

"I think when you first start coaching in your 20s to about 35 years old, it's all about man, how can I get to the Power Five," Ellis said. "How many guys can I put in the National Football League? I think it's individual.

"When you get to be 35-plus, man you sit back, you realize this game is more about how can I help these young men be the best they can possibly be? So my job with Quincy is how can I help you achieve all the goals that you want to achieve: the graduation, the masters, to being the best football player you can possibly be? How can you be the best son?

"And again, it's going back to that servant leadership. How can I serve? How can I serve to be the best coach Quincy has ever had?"

A former standout as a defensive back for Nicholls State, Ellis has put together an impressive list of credentials during his time at East Carolina, Middle Tennessee State, Nicholls State, South Florida and Louisville. While at East Carolina, he mentored current Denver Broncos cornerback Ja'Quan McMillian, who was a second-team All-American and Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist as a Pirate.

In addition to Brownlee, four other defensive backs who learned under Ellis in college have gone on to be NFL draft picks: Kareem Moore, Lardarius Webb, Rod Issac and Kevin Byard. He has also helped guys who went undrafted make it in the league, such as Charvarius Ward and McMillian. 

"When you walk out there, you should know who the number is," Ellis said of identifying future pros. "If they don't say, 'Oh, there he is,' something is wrong.

"I got a nine-year-old girl. She knows just a little bit about football. But when she comes to practice, she'll know: 'That's an elite guy.'"

You will hear any of this stuff, plus a whole lot more, if you listen to Ellis on the practice field. He's engaging and energetic while also getting his barbs in every now and then. 

"He's the funniest coach I've ever had, but he coaches you hard though too," Louisville cornerback Tayon Holloway said. "It's a great balance."

"Coach Ellis gets it in every day," Louisville corner Tahveon Nicholson said. "He brings great energy and gets us better every day. He puts certain drills on us and holds us accountable for everything we do."

Holloway and Nicholson also appreciate how Ellis encourages Zoom calls with current pros so his players can learn from their examples, like Brownlee did recently with the Cards. 

"Last year, those guys were right here in this seat and on that practice field getting ready for a scrimmage this Saturday at L&N Stadium," Ellis said. 

Now, Riley is trying to ace that on his way to being the latest pro product for Ellis. And maybe a Zoom call can come next season.

"It's a story that's untold," Ellis said. "But I'm very happy to read it once it's told."

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