Jabari Ellis used South Carolina's Pro Day for his "revenge tour" back to the NFL
Defensive lineman Jabari Ellis returned to South Carolina for Pro Day this week, with hopes of making it back to the NFL. The program’s open arms allowed him to continue his journey and promote his talents, again.
“This time around it was different,” Ellis said. “I got a lot more experience, just a lot more miles up under my belt. The first go around it was cool, it was good, I enjoyed it. But this go around, it’s been the revenge tour for me.”
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Ellis, a South Carolina native, featured his athleticism at Pro Day and ran a 4.84 40-yard dash. He also recorded 35 reps on the bench press. Ellis said his confidence is what drives him to make it back to where he knows he should be.
Ellis played for South Carolina from 2018 to 2021 after two years at Georgia Military Institute. He entered the 2021 draft and signed as an undrafted free agent with the New York Giants.
Shortly after signing, the Giants released him and he made his way to the Canadian Football League. Ellis played for the Montreal Alouettes and appeared in two games at the tail end of the 2022 season. He recorded two tackles and a blocked punt which he recovered for a touchdown.
Following those two appearances leading up to the 2023 season, The Alouettes cut Ellis after a year and a half in the league.
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Determined to make it back to the NFL, Ellis said he knew South Carolina would allow him back to try playing football on U.S. soil again.
“It was no doubt in my mind when I asked Coach Beamer,” Ellis said. “It was no doubt in my mind because I know him. I know what type of guy he is, what type of coach he is. I’m appreciative of course, but it was no doubt in my mind. It’s really a family atmosphere.”
Ellis played in 35 games for South Carolina. He made 81 tackles and three sacks during his time as a Gamecock.
In addition to proving himself to the NFL scouts in attendance for Pro Day, Ellis said he gave some of the younger players advice from wisdom gained in his time playing professional football.
Ellis had the words “I belong…” on his shirt at Pro Day and he said that’s the message he’d like to send to an NFL team.
“I had the chance, I tasted it, I lived it, I was there,” Ellis said. “I was signed with an NFL team, I was in there. So I know what’s like, and if I feel like I didn’t belong, I would’ve been stopped, but I know I belong.”
