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Jeffery Ellis enjoyed a breakout season for the Callaway football team this season. The junior came into this season as a bonafide starter and more than lived up to the billing as one of the team’s starting cornerbacks.

“I have such a strong love for the game,” Ellis said. “My pops always wanted me to play basketball growing up, but it never matched my love for football.”

Ellis has always envisioned himself playing in red and black. As a young kid, Ellis would go to every Callaway game to see his uncle suit up for the Cavaliers. Now, it’s Ellis’ turn to dominate under the Friday night lights.

“I used to go up there every game and watch my uncle play back in the day and I used to always dream of being here and playing for the Cavs,” he said. 

The first time Ellis got a true taste of the Friday night lights was in week three of his sophomore season in a 38-6 win over Heard County. Ellis was a little nervous at first, but with the helping hand of some of the leaders on the team, both players and coaches, he found his spot in the starting lineup. 

“I was very nervous at first because I didn’t want to let the coaches and my teammates down,” Ellis said.

“Kavius (Leonard) and Jeremiah Dunn really helped me a lot when I first started,” he added. “They’ve been great and it’s been special to play alongside them these last couple of years.”

The junior cornerback had an outstanding season for the Cavaliers, finishing with nearly 30 tackles, three interceptions and a fumble recovery, but had no finer performance than in the first round of the state playoffs against Miller Grove. Ellis intercepted two passes, got his hands on multiple others and was an all-around playmaker in the secondary for Callaway. 

“I played both ways in middle school, but when I got here to high school I really wanted to focus in on playing defense,” Ellis said.

Ellis is more than just a football player for the Cavaliers, he is also an exemplary track and field athlete. As a sophomore, Ellis qualifies for the state meet as a triple jumper, a feat he’s hoping to replicate and one up this year.

“It was amazing last year to see all those people at state competing for the same thing, to win state,” Ellis said. “It felt pretty good last year, but I know that I’m gonna go back this season and win.”

The track and field team needed a triple jumper last season and Ellis stepped up. Previously a short-distance runner, Ellis has found his niche as a triple jumper.

“They got me to try it out one time at practice and I really started to like it,” Ellis said with a laugh. 

Ellis’ track and field coach and his position coach in football are the same man Jamarkis Holmes. The two have formed a strong player-coach bond as they spend a remarkable amount of time throughout the year on the practice field.

“We have a tight relationship. He pushes me a lot, makes me work very hard so I can get where I want to be,” Ellis said.

Ellis is very much a two-sport star for the Cavaliers, but his heart has always been on the gridiron. The junior comes from a football family and would have it no other way.

“I’ve had relatives play football here, I had some play at Troup and LaGrange too,” Ellis said. “My cousin Jeremiah Culpepper plays at Troup so hopefully we will get to play them next year.”