It seems like just yesterday that State College native and Penn State safety Keaton Ellis was enrolling and moving up the street from his parents in a town he had called home his entire life. Most people have to get used to their college campus and town. Ellis knows it like the back of his hand.
But the urgency to do everything else is still there, and as Ellis finds himself entering his senior season, those chances are slowly but surely running out. Ellis could stick around another season if he really wanted to thanks to an extra COVID-19 year. So time hasn’t run out by any measure, but it isn’t slowing down any either.
“Going into this year I feel like this could be a big year for me,” Ellis said earlier this week. “And you know, I’m excited for it. Just keep getting better every day and putting the work in is you know, the only thing I can do and can control.”
For Ellis there really might be no time like the present. Penn State is in need of players around safety Ji’Yair Brown and with a bunch of good choices but not many obvious ones, Ellis is as good of a bet as anyone to fill that void.
And it would be a long time coming for a player who has battled through injuries, a position change from corner to safety and the general ups and downs of anyone trying to find their place on a depth chart.
The good news for Ellis is that he has never lacked confidence, and he’ll need it out in the last line of defense.
“I feel like I’m ready,” Ellis said. “And you know, I’m more comfortable [moving from corner to safety]. My confidence is really high. There’s always room to improve, there’s always room to get better. I’m always I’m learning something new every day, you just gotta keep stacking days, and it’s gonna take care of itself.”
If Ellis finds himself in that larger role it wouldn’t take much for a breakout season. Ellis hasn’t had more than 10 solo tackles in a season over the past three years, but if anything shows his potential, those three forced tackles, six passes defended and interception to his name all help the cause.
Then again, like all things in sports, credit for what you’ve done will only last so long before you have to do it again, or do it even better.
