Avery Ellis Explained

Avery Ellis
Team:Montreal Alouettes
Image Upright:1
Status:Active
Import:yes
Position1:Defensive lineman
Birth Date:3 October 1994
Birth Place:Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Number:23
Cis:Temple
High School:Montclair High
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lbs:250
Playing Team1:Ottawa Redblacks
Playing Team2:Montreal Alouettes
Playing Team3:Edmonton Elks
Playing Years4:–present
Playing Team4:Montreal Alouettes
Career Highlights:
Cfl:avery-ellis/162920/

Avery Malcolm Ellis (born October 3, 1994) is an American professional football defensive lineman for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

College career

Ellis played college football for the Temple Owls from 2012 to 2016.[1]

Professional career

Ottawa Redblacks

Following his collegiate career, Ellis signed with the Ottawa Redblacks on May 8, 2017.[2] He played in his first professional game on July 8, 2017, against the Toronto Argonauts, where he recorded two tackles, one sack, and one special teams tackle. He scored his first career touchdown on August 18, 2017, in a game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats when he returned a fumble 30 yards for the score.[3] In 2017, he played in 16 regular season games where he made 28 defensive tackles and six sacks.[4]

Ellis played in the first six games of the 2018 season, before suffering an injury in the July 28 game against the Tiger-Cats. He returned for the last three games of the regular season and totalled 15 defensive tackles and three sacks in those nine games.[4] Following an East Final victory against the Tiger-Cats, Ellis played in his first Grey Cup game where he recorded three tackles. However, the Redblacks lost the 106th Grey Cup championship to the Calgary Stampeders.[4]

In 2019, Ellis played in all 18 regular season games and led the team with 54 defensive tackles and tied for the team lead with seven sacks.[5] He did not play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the 2020 CFL season and he re-signed with the Redblacks on January 15, 2021.[5] He became a free agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 8, 2022.[6]

Montreal Alouettes (first stint)

On February 8, 2022, it was announced that Ellis had signed with the Montreal Alouettes.[7] He played in nine games where he had 17 defensive tackles and three sacks.

Edmonton Elks

On August 31, 2022, the Edmonton Elks acquired Ellis and a third-round pick in the 2023 CFL Draft from the Montreal Alouettes in exchange for Thomas Costigan and Nafees Lyon.[8] He played in seven games where he had 16 defensive tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble. He was released on May 4, 2023.[9]

Montreal Alouettes (second stint)

On May 28, 2023, Ellis signed again with the Alouettes.[10]

Personal life

Ellis was born in Newark, New Jersey, to parents Lisa Hunter and Byron Ellis, and raised in Montclair, New Jersey, where he attended Montclair High School.[1] He has three younger sisters.[1]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Avery Ellis . . October 16, 2021.
  2. Web site: Transactions . . May 8, 2017.
  3. Web site: Second-half surge leads Redblacks past Ticats . . August 18, 2017.
  4. Web site: Avery Ellis . . October 13, 2021.
  5. Web site: RJ Harris and Avery Ellis return to Redblacks . . January 15, 2021.
  6. Web site: Transactions – Football player trades and signings . . February 8, 2022.
  7. Web site: Mayala among free agent reinforcements for Alouettes . . February 8, 2022.
  8. Web site: Elks acquire Ellis & Pick from Montreal . . August 31, 2022.
  9. Web site: Transactions – Football player trades and signings . . May 28, 2023.
  10. Web site: Alouettes sign three players, release four . . May 28, 2023.