Hampton defensive lineman Kenrick Ellis visited the Arizona Cardinals today.
Ellis has previously visited the Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys.
He also has a visit with the Denver Broncos.
And he has previously worked out for the New England Patriots.
Ellis is also is drawing serious interest from the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers, according to league sources with knowledge of the situation.
The 6-foot-5, 346-pounder has drawn second-round grades from several draft analysts.
Per a source, Ellis interviewed well at the NFL scouting combine and was accountable for past transgressions that got him dismissed from South Carolina (reportedly failed drug tests) before transferring to Hampton and being suspended for one game.
"We like the kid," an NFL source said. "We were impressed with him."
Ellis addressed the off-field problems at the NFL scouting combine during an interview with a crowd of media.
"I had character issues," Ellis acknowledged. "I had disciplinary problems. They did everything they could. It just didn't work out for me. I had to get out of there.
"I had to look within myself and change a lot of things within myself and around me. And after I changed those things, it was pretty much easy after that. I had to realize that I had a problem, and I confronted it and overcame it."
Ellis said he wasn't allowed to play in one game due to a paperwork issue.
"I had NCAA violations, not even violations," he said. "I had to get some things clear with the NCAA. I didn’t have my paperwork in on time. So I wasn’t necessarily suspended. I just didn’t have my paperwork."
Ellis declined to elaborate on what happened at South Carolina, but addressed the issues with NFL teams.
"Be honest and upfront, that's all I could do," Ellis said. "Make everything transparent. Be honest, and hopefully it will work out.
"Being that I went through those things, I feel that I have grown and I have matured into a different human being. Where I was three years ago,m definitely not anymore. I feel like I'm a grown man."
As far as specifics, Ellis didn't want to get into details.
"I had disciplinary issues," he said. "I violated team policies."
Ellis boosted his stock with a strong showing at the NFLPA All-Star game formerly known as Texas vs. the Nation.
He played all of last season with a high-ankle sprain, displaying his toughness.
At the combine, Ellis ran the 40-yard dash in 5.19 seconds with a 1.64 10-yard split and bench pressed 225 pounds 26 times.
In addition to his motor, what else does he bring to the table?
"Just a physical specimen," Ellis said. I'm 340-plus pounds. I'm a big guy. I clog up the middle. I love to play the run. A run-stuffing defensive tackle."
The All-MEAC selection recorded 94 tackles, 15 for losses and two sacks last season.
He recorded 16 tackles against Howard.
For his career, Ellis recorded 186 tackles, 37 1/2 for losses and seven sacks.
"I'm relentless," Ellis said. "I just try to hustle to the ball and dominate whoever's in front of me, and do my job."
Born in Jamaica, Ellis signed with South Carolina and was named a starter before getting in trouble.
Hechose the Gamecocks over Tennessee, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina State and Rutgers.
Ellis said he's not concerned about coming from a small school.
"Every time when I used to be at Hampton, I'd watch Kendall Langford," he said. "He just gave us hope. Small-school guys, we're not on TV every week. Just with him doing it, it gave us hope that we could do it. Kendall was a good player. So I try to emulate what Kendall did, being strong in the weight room, working hard and trying to be just like him. I try to emulate my game after Kendall. He was a much better athlete."
Ellis said the heaviest he's ever been was roughly 360 to 365 pounds.
He could fit in well on a 3-4 team as a two-technique or five-technique with his size and athleticism to provide an anchor presence at the line of scrimmage. There aren't a lot of nose guards with his dimensions in the NFL.
"I'm here to fill the shortage," Ellis said. "Whatever they need me to do, I'm here to fill that void."
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