Justice Ellison trades pads for a whistle as he mentors Indiana’s backfield

A season ago, Justice Ellison’s presence in Indiana’s backfield was easy to spot — the crimson No. 6, the explosive cuts, the bruising finish to each run.

Now, with the Hoosiers back on the field for fall camp, his uniform looks a little different. The helmet and shoulder pads are gone, replaced by a sweatsuit and a whistle — the tools of his new trade.

Ellison, who led Indiana with 159 carries for 848 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2024, has traded in game-day carries for the grind of coaching, working as a graduate assistant with the Hoosiers’ running backs.

His official title may be new, but the energy and leadership he brought to the huddle haven’t gone anywhere.

“He decided that he was done with football, and he wanted to coach,” Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti said back in the spring. “He was one of our leaders last year, and Scott [Dolson] created the opportunity within our organization for him to help us coach as a graduate assistant or a quality control coach. So, he will help Coach [John] Miller with the running backs, and he’ll do a good job.”

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That opportunity took shape after Ellison texted Cignetti about a month before spring practice to request a meeting. By the time the two sat down, Ellison knew what he wanted next. With Dolson’s backing, Indiana brought him aboard, and by the first spring practice at Memorial Stadium, the transition had begun.

For Ellison, the move to coaching was a natural evolution. A four-year player at Wake Forest before transferring to IU, he was the first recruit to commit to the Hoosiers after Cignetti’s hire in November 2023.

His lone season in Bloomington earned him All-Big Ten honorable mention honors and a role as an unofficial captain, representing Indiana at every coin toss. Those leadership traits now form the foundation of his work on the sideline.

“There’s some times that feel like he’s still a player,” running back Kaelon Black said Friday. “Just his enthusiasm and how much he’s in tune with the game — he’s on us like Coach [Miller].”

That closeness in age and experience has made Ellison more than just another voice in the meeting room. For running back Roman Hemby, Ellison’s mentorship feels personal.

“To see somebody so passionate about the game and willing to give back to people that are close in age to him — he’s like a big brother,” Hemby said. “He just wants to see us succeed. He’s somebody that you love to have in your corner.”

Ellison’s work doesn’t end when practice does.

Hemby said the newest addition to Indiana’ staff is often around for extra hours, making sure players understand techniques, fine-tuning their footwork and helping them master the details that can turn a good run into a game-changing one.

“He’s somebody that comes into work every day and he’s ready to teach us new things and helps us get techniques down,” Hemby said. “If we need him, he’s in there for extra hours making sure we get everything done so we can be at our best.”

For Black, who shared the backfield with Ellison last year, the transformation has been rewarding to watch. It’s clear to him his former teammate has a bright future in coaching.

“It’s been great seeing him evolve,” Black said. “He’s going to be a great running back coach in the future.”

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At practice, Ellison is rarely far from Miller, his coaching mentor in the running back room. The two work in tandem to scheme up ways for Indiana’s running backs to flourish in 2025 — just as Ellison did a season ago.

“Sometimes it feels like they’re the same person, just because of the simple fact that they’re always together,” Black said. “They’re in the same office, scheming and trying to get us better as a group.”

If Black is right, fans might notice the difference this fall. With Ellison’s voice now in the room, the Hoosiers’ running backs have been sharpening their game since the moment spring practice kicked off.

The pads may be gone, but the impact is the same. Ellison’s playing days are over, but his next chapter in football has only just begun — and it’s already leaving its mark on Indiana’s backfield.

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