When USC offensive coordinator/running backs coach
Kennedy Polamalu started calling tight-end-turned-fullback Rhett Ellison
"The Machine," the senior wasn't sure how to react.
"I didn't know if it was good or bad," said
Ellison.
The nickname was nothing more than a descriptor, a simple
adjective. And yes, it was a good thing.
Because when the season ended, a new award was announced
at the Trojan's banquet. It was called the "Trojan Way" Leadership
Award, and it too was about to get a new nickname: The Rhett "The Machine" Ellison Leadership
Award.
The inaugural recipient, of course, was Ellison himself.
"I was shocked," he said. "It
didn't make a lot of sense because going into a season, looking back, it
definitely wasn't just me [who should be recognized].
"Every one of us is what made this team so
special."
The 2011 co-captain wasn't the most athletic guy on the
team (his fastest 40 time was a 4.74 at USC's pro day) and he wasn't the most
vocal either. But his methodical work ethic was an example to his Trojans team
as Ellison picked up the play book after three years at tight end and studied
until he became, at the request of head coach Lane Kiffin, the starting
fullback.
"Of course it would have been great to get more time
to work on your skills, but I think I got as much as I could out of [playing
tight end]," Ellison said."I was happy that I got that one year at
fullback."
Ellison was the experiment that couldn't fail because
Soma Vainuku, the Trojans' only real option at fullback, wasn't ready to carry
the load. During the season, Ellison and Vainuku would stay
after practice, working on their skills long after most of their teammates had
gone.
The hard work helped Ellison get a better understanding
of the game.
"It helped me personally understand football at a
higher level than just playing football at one position, than just playing at
tight end," said Ellison. "From the backfield you get to see so much
more of what's going on. You get the feel of the game a lot more than just
playing at tight end."
He could play either position in the NFL. Maybe both. It
all depends on what a team wants and Ellison isn't going to play guessing games
on whether the move helped his stock in the draft or not, but after his
performance at the NFL draft combine and USC's pro day, most prognostications
have Ellison getting picked in the fifth or sixth round.
He's not a "quick-twitch" athlete, but a smart,
hard worker who knows how to get the job done.
And that is the reason NFL teams can look at
"The Machine" as a true hybrid TE/FB.
