www2.hernandotoday.com/content/2010/feb/05/ellison-answers-higher-calling/areasports/Ellison answers a 'higher calling'
By TONY CASTRO SPORTS EDITOR
Hernando Today
Published: February 5, 2010Less than 48 hours before tight end Braddie Lynn Ellison's playoff game last Nov. 20 against Citra-North Marion, the Nature Coast Technical senior lost a significant parental unit, his grandmother Carrie Ellison.
Despite a heavy heart, the 6-foot-2, 240-pound Ellison helped anchor a defensive unit that played stout for 3½ quarters before succumbing the Colts for the second time in three seasons in their own backyard, 35-22.
The next morning, he and his father, Braddie Ellison Sr., attended the funeral service.
The younger Braddie perhaps did not realize how much of an impact his grandmother had on his life in Brooksville - until she was gone.
"All I've had to lean on is my dad and my grandma," explained Ellison. "Even though she's gone I can still hear her. She talks to me everyday. She's telling me to stay focused and always follow your dreams."
To that end, the burly Shark signed a national letter of intent this week to play tight end or "H" back for the Division I-AA North Carolina A&T State University Aggies from Greensboro, NC.
The Aggies are members of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. A&T dropped their final three games last fall finishing 5-6 overall.
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Braddie's father, Braddie Sr., did not do cartwheels upon his son's signing but beamed with expected pride.
"It's a great accomplishment," explained the older Ellison. "As a single father raising his son in Brooksville and seeing him reach the next level is something."
What about the transition to a Greensboro campus that's nine hours away?
"Right now I'm trying to attend four of his home games next season," said Braddie Sr. with excitement in his voice. "I work the graveyard shift and Braddie's always had to get up and gotten ready for school. I think it'll be an easy transition. It shouldn't be that difficult even without me or his grandma."
Ellison's coach this season, Mark Lee, described the two-way threat.
"Braddie brings a big motor," said Lee, who recently let go by the NCT administration and will not return as head coach. "He's a physical-type guy. I heard he'll have a chance to play right a way. He'll fit in nicely at tight end or "H" back or even at defensive end.
"A&T is one of those up and coming programs," added Coach Lee, a former assistant at the University of West Virginia. "I see it as a good situation for Braddie and for their program."
Why North Carolina A&T?
"When we went on our official visit, the coach impressed us immediately," recalled Braddie Sr. "It wasn't about Xs and Os or even football really," he said. "It was more about building men and building character first. Coach said he couldn't believe Braddie hadn't been picked up by someone else. He said their loss is our gain."
Ellison, who born in Inverness, was raised by his father in his grandmother's house.
Ellison, who snared 25 passes, averaging almost 21 yards per catch, across three varsity seasons at tight end, was better known for his punishing blocks across Coach Mike Lastra's offensive line.
When the Sharks lost their starting defensive end (Gary Myrick) to a transfer to Land O'Lakes, Ellison volunteered to play that position. He said he'd prefer playing linebacker.
Why?
"I love to hit people," smiled the 17-year-old Ellison. "But I wanted to help out the team the best I could."
How'd he feel following the signing?
"It's a relief," recalled Braddie. "I'm so happy it's over. It was a goal of mine get out of high school and move to college and get my degree. My ultimate dream is to play football in the National Football League.
"If that doesn't happen, I want to lean on my degree," said Braddie. "At least now my dad doesn't have to stress anymore about how to pay for college. That's taken care of."
Why the Aggies?
"Dad has always stressed getting an education first," said Braddie. "Now that grandma passed, everything is on me. The goal is not just to go to college but to earn a degree.
"I was impressed with the atmosphere at Greensboro," recalled Braddie. "It seemed like everybody I met was happy to be an Aggie. And everyone there was real serious about getting their education, building young men and not necessarily about just playing football."
Braddie, who carries a 3.2 grade point average, is torn between studying sports medicine and engineering.
He mulled attending Iowa State, Western Michigan, Charleston Southern, FSU and USF before inking with North Carolina A&T, which has existed since 1893.
According to the school's Web site, "A&T is the nation's leader among colleges and universities that graduate minorities with degrees in engineering and technology."
What's next?
"I'm trying to focus on improving my grades even more," admitted Braddie before graduating. "And I'm staying in shape. I'm planning on lifting for the team again."
He's been a member of the Shark weightlifting squad under Charles Liggett the past two seasons. Last spring, Ellison hoisted a high of 550 pounds. He finished second overall in the heavyweight division during the Hernando County Championship Meet to Hernando High's Robert Huggins' 600-pound total.
What does Ellison expect to bring to the table next fall in Greensboro?
"I've always been known as a blocking tight end," explained Braddie. "I bring explosiveness to the offensive line. And I can catch the ball. I think I could have done a lot more had I been given the opportunity."
Does Ellison have any regrets? His team produced a county-record fourth straight post-season visit; albeit without one regional win.
"Yeah I have some regrets. I think we should have won all our games," he said. "Most of the losses were due to mental mistakes. We could have done a lot better and yeah, I feel we could have gone undefeated. Trust me, with everything we'd had to go through over the past couple years, I felt nobody worked harder than we did.
"I didn't understand all the changes this year. I didn't understand some of play calling. Why change something that's been so successful in the past. We went undefeated the year before," frankly stated Braddie. "Our new coach this year (Lee) changed the entire blocking scheme and my role. I can play both sides. I can play anywhere my coach wants me to play. I feel like I can make a difference."
So does his grandmother Carrie.
