2017 National Signing Day Profile: Morgan Ellison

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

Morgan Ellison, 6’1”, 221 pounds, Pickerington, OH (Pickerington Central High School), RB, 247Sports Composite Ranking: 3-star (85.00)

Stephen Houston, Tevin Coleman, Jordan Howard, Devine Redding…under running backs coach Deland McCullough, the Indiana Hoosiers are developing a reputation for developing terrific running backs. The moniker “RBU” has made the rounds on social media. On National Signing Day, IU landed one of the best “sleepers” in the 2017 recruiting class as Pickerington Central’s Morgan Ellison signed with the Indiana Hoosiers. Ellison has the potential to be the next great tailback in Bloomington. 

The big back from Ohio took a difficult road to a scholarship. He suffered a broken leg during the second game of his sophomore season and then another broken leg that caused him to miss all of his junior season. He was being looked at by every major Midwest power prior to the injuries but the broken legs kept him off the field and prevented him from getting any game film to show to coaches. Most programs moved on to other options and recruiting services didn’t have a way to evaluate him. Despite being an unknown, he impressed at a recruiting combine event called “The Opening” in Columbus prior to his senior season. He recorded the top SPARQ score (Nike’s barometer of athleticism) at the event, signaling he was healthy and ready to perform as a senior at Pickerington Central. And perform he did. Ellison tore up the top division in the state, rushing for an impressive ____. His play earned him 1st Team All-State honors and he helped the Pickerington Central Tigers win their way to the semifinals of the State Tournament. 

Ellison was committed to Ohio University but he was very open about waiting for a “major” offer. That offer came from Indiana’s Deland McCullough once new offensive coordinator Mike DeBord took over. The Hoosiers offered Ellison in mid-January, causing Ellison to tell Scout.com, “The Indiana running back is a great guy and I can see myself being coached by him. After missing most of my high school career it means a lot to have the opportunity to play college football at such a high level.”

Ellison took an official visit the weekend after he was offered and Indiana was widely considered the leader for his services heading into National Signing Day. Scout considers him the fourth best running back in the Midwest in the 2017 class after his awesome senior season. Looking at his senior tape, it’s easy to get excited about what he could do at IU. Ellison is a powerful runner that has the combination of size, speed and vision that makes for a successful running back. At first glance, he’ll remind Hoosier fans of Jordan Howard as he hits the hole and bowls over would-be tacklers. Recruiting experts that have scouted him also note his ability to catch the ball and protect his quarterback as a blocker. Ellison is a player that likely would have ended up at the Big Ten school of his choosing if not for the injuries that prevented him from playing for much of his high school career. However, he is now healthy and hungry to prove he belongs in the Big Ten and his future in the IU offense is incredibly bright. The Hoosiers have Camion Patrick leading the backfield in 2017 but this will be his final season in Bloomington. Devine Redding’s departure means IU were set to rely on Cole Gest, Mike Majette, Ricky Brookins, Tyler Natee and Devante Williams to carry the load behind Patrick. None of those players are traditional every down backs and only two of them are underclassmen. With the addition of Ellison and fellow RB signee Craig Nelson, IU has reloaded the position with under-the-radar gems with versatility and explosiveness. McCullough has never been afraid to give true freshman a shot so it’s certainly possible Ellison finds his way into a backup role behind Camion Patrick this coming season before taking the reigns as the leading back in 2018 and beyond.