Point guard speaks for first time since decision
Like a lot of young men in college, Bruce Ellington missed playing football.
Unlike most young men in college though, Ellington has the physical gifts that allow him to alleviate that yearning.
Ellington, who led the USC men's basketball team in scoring this past season as its point guard, spoke publicly Tuesday for the first time since opting to join the football team last week.
"I just decided to play football because I missed it," Ellington said. "I really wanted to come out and try it out."
Per NCAA rules, Ellington can't participate in any football-related activities until the summer and the completion of his first academic year at South Carolina. As a result, he is a spectator at practice for the time being.
"I'm very disappointed [about the wait]," Ellington said. "It's kind of hard coming out here and watching them practice and know I can't be out there yet."
Once the summer comes, Ellington will be a full participant. He indicated he will work out with the football team for most of the preseason due to the different weight training and conditioning demands of the two sports. Ellington also said he might be all over the field this fall — the USC coaches have told him he may see time at a myriad of positions, including slot receiver, kickoff return, cornerback and wildcat quarterback.
As a senior at Berkeley High, Ellington led the Stags to the state football title in 2009 as a wildcat quarterback. He was a finalist for South Carolina's Mr. Football award, which eventually went to USC tailback Marcus Lattimore. After being recruited by both the football and basketball programs at USC, Ellington opted to only play basketball as a freshman. However, once Ellington arrived on campus, rumblings about an eventual return to football began almost immediately.
After USC's 66-55 loss to Ole Miss in the first round of the SEC Tournament, after which Ellington repeatedly said he was not planning on playing football, he visited his mother to discuss a return. She told him to pray about it, which Ellington said he did, fully realizing his desire to play football again. Ellington admitted his mother had some hesitations about him playing football, but she supports him.
"She said she wanted me to stay one more year in basketball, then play football," said Ellington, who attributed his past denials to the emotions of a tough loss. "But she said whatever I choose to do, she'd [support]."
Ellington also has the support of men's basketball coach Darrin Horn, who promised him when he was being recruited he could play both sports if he ever chose to.
"I didn't see any disappointment," said Ellington about Horn's reaction, adding that coach Steve Spurrier told him he can practice and play with the basketball team if needed during the overlap of the two seasons, such as the time between the end of the football regular season and a bowl game.
Along those lines, Ellington was adamant he will return to play basketball, saying the recent upheaval on the basketball roster had nothing to do with his decision and will not deter him from returning.
"I think the basketball program is working on being better," Ellington said. "We've got players coming in, and even though we got some players leaving, we're just going to work together and just continue to play."
Since his decision became known, Ellington said he has received numerous text messages and calls from friends and family, including cousin and Clemson tailback Andre Ellington.
Bruce Ellington wore Andre's No. 23 in basketball this past season. Now, he'll wear it in football as well.
"I texted him and told him I got No. 23," Bruce Ellington said. "So he said, 'You got no choice but to go out there and ball now.'"
He'll have to wait a while longer to heed his cousin's command, but once he can participate, Ellington said he's confident it'll be like he never left.
"I think I've got a little bit of rust, but after I get on the field, I think I'll be alright," he said.