Fansided

25 best Pac-12 football players of the last 25 years

By Nathaniel Reeves

Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) warms up prior to the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 12, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) warms up prior to the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2015 CFP National Championship at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sedrick Ellis of the USC Trojans celebrates a sack on Brady Quinn of the Notre Dame Irish at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana on October 15, 2005. USC won 34-31. (Photo by G. N. Lowrance/Getty Images)
Sedrick Ellis of the USC Trojans celebrates a sack on Brady Quinn of the Notre Dame Irish at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana on October 15, 2005. USC won 34-31. (Photo by G. N. Lowrance/Getty Images) /

19. Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC

Ellis turned in one of the most impressive seasons by a defensive tackle in recent memory in 2007, helping him earn a spot in Pac-12 lore.

At High School, Ellis reached back-to-back state title games and drew interest as one of the most physically dominant recruits at the nation at 6-1, 307 pounds. Carroll’s recruiting dominance kept Ellis in-state at USC, and he would go on to become a prominent member of the defensive line rotation as a redshirt sophomore in 2005.

Ellis racked up eight tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in both 2005 and 2006, leading to plenty of NFL hype. The Trojans convinced Ellis to stay for his senior season, when he was even better with 58 tackles, including 12.5 for loss, 8.5 sacks and seven pass swats.

Such a performance helped Ellis accumulate plenty of accolades, including the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year Award and his second consecutive Morris Trophy as the top lineman in the conference. Ellis was also named a unanimous All-American and helped USC allow just 16 points per game en route to a Rose Bowl victory.

The New Orleans Saints picked Ellis seventh overall in the 2008 NFL Draft and won a Super Bowl before abruptly deciding to retire prior to the 2013 season.

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