A unanimous All-American in 2007 Ellis played on USC teams that went 47-5 in his career. He was a member of USC’s 2004 national championship team. He played in 2005 Orange Bowl and 2006, 2007 and 2008 Rose Bowls. In 2006 and 2007, made All-Conference first team and was Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year. One of only five defensive players to win the Morris Trophy in back to back years (Dana Wells, Steve Emtman, Stephen Paea, and Will Sutton). One of 27 Morris Trophy winners who were also first round picks in the NFL draft, he was taken by the Saints in 2008 and played five years with them. One of just seven Morris Trophy winners to also own a Super Bowl ring, he started on the Saints Super Bowl XLIV championship team.