Shaun Ellis

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Shaun Ellis

Ellis in November 2009
No. 92     New York Jets
Defensive end
Personal information
Date of birth: June 24, 1977 (1977-06-24) (age 32)
Place of birth: Anderson, South Carolina
Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)	Weight: 285 lb (129 kg)
Career information
College: Tennessee
NFL Draft: 2000 / Round: 1 / Pick: 12
Debuted in 2000 for the New York Jets
Career history
As player: New York Jets (2000-present)
Career highlights and awards
1× Pro Bowl selection (2003)
Career NFL statistics as of week 17, 2008
Tackles	410
Sacks	61.5
INTs	1
Stats at NFL.com

MeShaunda "Shaun" Pizarrur Ellis (born June 24, 1977 in Anderson, South Carolina) is an American football defensive end for the New York Jets who was drafted in the first round (12th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft out of the University of Tennessee. He is also known by the nickname Big Katt.

College career

Coming out of Westside High School in Anderson, South Carolina, Ellis was a stand-out defensive end at the University of Tennessee. At the end of his college career he had 105 tackles, 12.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, a fumble recovery and one interception which he returned for 90 yards to score a touchdown. ^[1]

Professional career

Ellis was selected by the New York Jets in the first round (12th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft. He was the first of four first round draft picks that the Jets had that year. The other players drafted were John Abraham (13th overall), Chad Pennington (18th overall) and Anthony Becht (27th overall).^[2]

Ellis was an immediate impact player and in his rookie season recorded 8.5 sacks. Only Hugh Douglas in 1995 with 10 sacks ranks higher in Jets history for most sacks by a rookie. After 2001 and 2002 campaigns which saw his overall numbers drop, Ellis rebounded in 2003 with an impressive 12.5 sacks. Ellis followed up his 2003 season with 11 sacks in 2004.^[3] Ellis anchored a strong Jets run defense which contributed to a 10-6 season and a wild card berth. He also recorded three sacks in the final game of the 2004 regular season against the St. Louis Rams.

On December 14, 2008 in a home game against the rival Buffalo Bills, Ellis recovered a J.P. Losman fumble and ran it for a touchdown in the final 2 minutes, giving the Jets the lead and the eventual 31-27 win.

On December 23, 2008, Ellis was fined $10,000 for tossing snow at opposing fans when the Jets played the Seattle Seahawks at Qwest Field the previous Sunday. Ellis claimed that it was "all in good fun." ^[4]

As of 2009, Ellis is currently the longest tenured player on the Jets.

Personal life

He and his wife, Cecile, have a daughter, Keshona, and two sons, Jordan and Skyler.^[5]

He was arrested in December 2008 for marijuana possession, driving without insurance, and speeding after a highway traffic stop in New Jersey. He faces a possible suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. This is not Ellis' first brush with the law. While a student at Tennessee, Ellis was charged with felony assault of a woman in April 1999 after allegedly striking a woman in the head with a glass after she threw a drink in his face at a party. Ellis agreed to pay the woman's medical bills, undergo an assessment to see if he needs drug or alcohol treatment, and maintain a 2.5 grade point average.^{[citation needed]}

References

External links

• Jets Player Bio