Advertisement
Ellis's News
Self-Scouting: Evaluating recent five-star defensive tackles

Self-Scouting: Evaluating recent five-star defensive tackles

Did Rivals over-perform or under-perform with its rankings at the DT position from 2012 to 2015?

 • Adam Gorney and Mike Farrell
Five-Star History: California checks in at No. 3

Five-Star History: California checks in at No. 3

Only two other states have produced more five-star players, and those states will be revealed Thursday and Friday.

 • Mike Farrell and Adam Gorney
Five-Star Tracker: Where are they now

Five-Star Tracker: Where are they now

Jadeveon Clowney is the real deal, but other five-stars have not been so fortunate. Find out how recent five-stars are faring.

 • Dallas Jackson
Waiting game: California prospects in no hurry

Waiting game: California prospects in no hurry

Like most of California's top prospects, 5-star safety Su'a Cravens has yet to make his college choice. Why hasn't the trend of committing early hit t

 • Steve Megargee
Junior Days have class of 2013 off to fast start

Junior Days have class of 2013 off to fast start

More than ever, top prospects such as Daniel McMillian are committing while still juniors in high school. Recent history says many will change their m

 • Steve Megargee
Big-money recruiting wars on rise for assistants

Big-money recruiting wars on rise for assistants

Assistant coaches such as Chad Morris are getting big bucks in part because of their impact on recruiting. But do recruits really notice when a school

 • Steve Megargee
Pac-12 position rankings breakdown

Pac-12 position rankings breakdown

The Cal recruiting class took some late hits, but its WR class led by Bryce Treggs is tops in the Pac-12. Check out the full Pac-12 breakdown.

 • Adam Gorney
First class can be key for new coaches

First class can be key for new coaches

The pressure on new coaches such as Texas A&M's Kevin Sumlin to turn things around makes their first recruiting classes more important than ever. Who

 • David Fox
Top recruiters by conference

Top recruiters by conference

Greg Mattison helped Michigan reel in a top 10 class with his efforts. Rivals.com goes deep into every conference to name our top recruiters for each

 • Rivals.com recruiting staff
Roundtable: Recapping National Signing Day

Roundtable: Recapping National Signing Day

Rivals.com analysts recap National Signing Day in this week's roundtable, including NSD's most impressive college coach. Stanford's David Shaw plays h

 • Rivals.com
Signing Day Blitz: Ranking the Pac-12

Signing Day Blitz: Ranking the Pac-12

Five-star Ellis McCarthy leads a UCLA group that rose up the rankings late and could turn the Bruins around. We break down all the Pac-12 classes.

 • Adam Gorney
Southern California Football Signing Day Rapid Reaction

Southern California Football Signing Day Rapid Reaction

SouthernCaliforniaPreps.com breaks down all of the 2012 National Signing Day action from the region. Read on to find out why UCLA scored big with its

Premium content
 • Kevin Scarpati
Signing Day 2012: The top 25 teams

Signing Day 2012: The top 25 teams

Alabama reeled in another top class, led by running back T.J. Yeldon. See where your favorite team stacked up on National Signing Day as we break down

 • Chris Nee
Coaching chaos among 2012 class memories

Coaching chaos among 2012 class memories

Thanks to players such as Eddie Goldman, the 2012 class will go down as one of the best collection of defensive linemen in recent memory.

 • Rivals.com
National Signing Day: Top storylines

National Signing Day: Top storylines

National Signing Day is Wednesday, and Rivals.com analysts provide a region-by-region glance of the top storylines. Atop the list: Can Alabama coach N

 • Rivals.com
UCLA among late surprises in final days

UCLA among late surprises in final days

Rivals.com analysts debate the biggest team surprises as National Signing Day nears, and the late push from new UCLA coach Jim Mora has gained plenty

 • Rivals.com
Recruiting blitz: Ranking the classes

Recruiting blitz: Ranking the classes

Nick Saban's Crimson Tide could sign another top class, but there is still work to be done. We run down recruiting across the country and predict orde

 • Rivals.com recruiting staff
Rivalries run strong on the recruiting trail

Rivalries run strong on the recruiting trail

Rivalries don't end simply because the games are over. Get inside for a look at the best new and renewed recruiting rivalries for 2012 and beyond, inc

 • David Fox
Pac-12 recruiting blitz: New staffs settle in

Pac-12 recruiting blitz: New staffs settle in

The coaching moves in the Pac-12 have made things less clear for Shaq Thompson and other top prospects. We go around the conference in the Pac-12 blit

Premium content
 • Adam Gorney
Moras NFL experience draws talent to UCLA

Moras NFL experience draws talent to UCLA

Jim Mora's NFL background is making top prospects look at UCLA differently. And the veteran recruiters on his staff are closing the deal.

 • Steve Megargee
USC surviving, even thriving, despite sanctions

USC surviving, even thriving, despite sanctions

This was supposed to be the first year recruiting sanctions hurt USC. So how is Lane Kiffin putting together another star-studded class? It's about qu

 • Steve Megargee
Long-term deals are far from guarantees

Long-term deals are far from guarantees

Pick a school, not a coach. Top recruits such as Pitt QB commit Chad Voytik quickly learn long-term contracts do not guarantee long-term stability in

 • David Fox
D-line dominance rewarded in rankings

D-line dominance rewarded in rankings

The 2012 spotlight shifted toward the D-line after 11 of 32 five-star spots, including new addition Ondre Pipkins of Kansas City, in the final Rivals1

 • Josh Helmholdt
Cals stellar class beginning to crumble

Cals stellar class beginning to crumble

Cal was in the national spotlight only 10 days ago after landing three top recruits during the Army Bowl. But after assistant Tosh Lupoi's decision to

 • Tom Bergeron
Column: McCarthy a game-changer for UCLA

Column: McCarthy a game-changer for UCLA

COLUMN: As news of five-star defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy broke late Monday evening, one phrase came to mind: Game changer.

Premium content
 • Rick Kimbrel
Five-star talks about switch

Five-star talks about switch

Five-star Ellis McCarthy committed to Cal at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl but after defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi left the Golden Bears for Washi

 • Adam Gorney
Cal recruits react to loss of Lupoi

Cal recruits react to loss of Lupoi

Cal recruits react to Monday's surprising news that assistant coach Tosh Lupoi, the 2010 Rivals.com recruiter of the year, has left the program for Wa

Premium content
 • Adam Gorney
With Lupoi gone, what happens to this class

With Lupoi gone, what happens to this class

What happens to Cal football's recruiting class with the departure of Tosh Lupoi?

Premium content
 • Ryan Gorcey
Treggs talks Lupoi departure

Treggs talks Lupoi departure

Bryce Treggs talks about the departure of defensive line coach and super recruiter Tosh Lupoi.

Premium content
 • Ryan Gorcey
Roundtable: Expectations for signing day

Roundtable: Expectations for signing day

With National Signing Day in the headlights now, Rivals.com analysts look ahead to some anticipated surprises and storylines - such as the choice of S

 • Rivals.com
PODCAST: Zach Kline joins The Bear Republic

PODCAST: Zach Kline joins The Bear Republic

2012 Cal football signee Zach Kline takes time out of moving in to Clark Kerr to join the best Cal podcast on the net for an in-depth interview.

 • Ryan Gorcey
Farrells Army Bowl Week Awards

Farrells Army Bowl Week Awards

Ondre Pipkins was a hit on and off the field at the U.S. Army Bowl, so it's no surprise he is well represented as Mike Farrell hands out his awards fo

Premium content
 • Mike Farrell
Bears get visit from another All-American

Bears get visit from another All-American

The Cal football program will get an official visit from another US Army All-American.

Premium content
 • Ryan Gorcey
Five-star could take some visits

Five-star could take some visits

Ellis McCarthy committed to Cal during the U.S. Army All-American Bowl on Saturday but there is already chatter that the five-star defensive tackle co

Premium content
 • Adam Gorney
McCarthy talks Cal commitment

McCarthy talks Cal commitment

Ellis McCarthy talks more in-depth about his commitment to the California Golden Bears football program.

Premium content
 • Ryan Gorcey
Army Bowl: Game breakdown

Army Bowl: Game breakdown

Running back Mike Davis made the most of limited touches in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. He was one of several prospects matching their hype in th

Premium content
 • Adam Gorney
Seymour huge for USC

Seymour huge for USC

SAN ANTONIO, TX - While USC didn't have an avalanche of commitments at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Saturday, quality is much more important than q

Premium content
 • Gerard Martinez
Louisville, Cal, Miami among big winners

Louisville, Cal, Miami among big winners

By landing Charlotte (N.C.) Phillip O'Berry's Nick Dawson and a couple of other stars, Louisville was among the biggest winners at Saturday's U.S. Arm

Premium content
 • Josh Helmholdt
Lupoi not done yet

Lupoi not done yet

Tosh Lupoi has his sights set on his remaining targets in San Antonio, including Arik Armstead and Darius Hamilton.

Premium content
 • Ryan Gorcey
Bears Snag Five-Star

Bears Snag Five-Star

The Cal football team and Tosh Lupoi snag another five-star in Ellis McCarthy.

 • Ryan Gorcey
Cal lands five-star DT McCarthy

Cal lands five-star DT McCarthy

Saturday at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl five-star defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy from Monrovia, Calif., committed to Cal over USC, Oregon and man

 • Rivals.com recruiting staff
Army Bowl: What to watch

Army Bowl: What to watch

Geno Smith and the talented East secondary will face a tough West receiving corps in Saturday's U.S. Army All-American Bowl. That's just one storyline

 • Rivals.com
West team: Thursdays practice report

West team: Thursdays practice report

Jabari Ruffin understands the task coaches have in letting players have fun - yet not so much fun that they aren't prepared for the Army Bowl on Satur

Premium content
 • Ryan Abraham
McCarthy, Hamilton talk Bears

McCarthy, Hamilton talk Bears

VIDEO: Ellis McCarthy hits the field, and talks Cal recruiting with BearTerritory.

Premium content
 • Ryan Gorcey
Dozier Ready to Compete

Dozier Ready to Compete

Cedric Dozier may have gotten to San Antonio late, but he's making up for lost time.

Premium content
 • Ryan Gorcey
HD Video: Ellis McCarthy Army practice highlights

HD Video: Ellis McCarthy Army practice highlights

SAN ANTONIO, TX - Monrovia (Calif.) five-star defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy has been one of the top performers during Army Bowl practices. Check out

Premium content
 • Ryan Abraham
Tuesday USC Army All-American Notebook

Tuesday USC Army All-American Notebook

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - Tuesday's West Army All-American practice was a battle of wills between the defensive and offensive lines. Monday, the offensive

Premium content
 • Gerard Martinez
Army Bowl: West Tuesday top performers

Army Bowl: West Tuesday top performers

After a rough first day, OL Mike Matthews bounced back to make Mike Farrell's list of Tuesday's top performers for the West squad at the U.C. Army All

Premium content
 • Mike Farrell
Shittu could be part of huge package deal

Shittu could be part of huge package deal

Five-star Aziz Shittu said after Tuesday's Army Bowl practice that he along with fellow five-star Ellis McCarthy and four-star Arik Armstead have seri

Premium content
 • Adam Gorney
Army Bowl: West top performers

Army Bowl: West top performers

Kansas City (Mo.) Park Hill defensive tackle Ondre Pipkins is too much to handle in the middle on opening day of practice. He leads the list of top pe

Premium content
 • Mike Farrell
Monday USC Army All-American Notebook

Monday USC Army All-American Notebook

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS - Last year, the West offensive line gave up 12 quarterback sacks. That set an Army All-American Bowl record that will not be broke

Premium content
 • Gerard Martinez
Simmons solid, but injured

Simmons solid, but injured

SAN ANTONIO, TX - During Monday Army Bowl practice Encino (Calif.) Crespi five-star offensive tackle Jordan Simmons went down following a collision at

Premium content
 • USCFootball.com Recruiting
McCarthy has a new leader

McCarthy has a new leader

SAN ANTONIO, TX - Monrovia (Calif.) five-star defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy has a new leader among his list of college choices. McCarthy, who had U

Premium content
 • Gerard Martinez
Army Bowl: Top 10 stories to follow

Army Bowl: Top 10 stories to follow

The U.S. Army All-American Bowl Week has arrived and Rivals.com analyst Mike Farrell reviews the top 10 storylines. No. 1 prospect Dorial Green-Beckha

 • Mike Farrell
An Army of Trojan All-Americans

An Army of Trojan All-Americans

The all star season is upon us, and many of USC commits and top targets will be featured in bowls the next two weeks. The U.S. Army All-American Bowl

Premium content
 • Gerard Martinez
West mail: Pac-12 staffs take shape

West mail: Pac-12 staffs take shape

What is Jim Mora doing to get UCLA headed in the right direction? What is the first order of business for Todd Graham at ASU? Adam Gorney breaks it do

Premium content
 • Adam Gorney
Video: McCarthys last game

Video: McCarthys last game

MONROVIA, CA - Five-star defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy won his second straight CIF Championship ring Saturday. Here are exclusive highlights from h

Premium content
 • Gerard Martinez
McCarthy goes back to back then looks ahead

McCarthy goes back to back then looks ahead

MONROVIA, CA - After beating San Gabriel 53-14 in a second half landslide victory, Ellis McCarthy will leave Monrovia High School a two time CIF State

Premium content
 • Gerard Martinez
Recruiting must go on

Recruiting must go on

It is players and winning football that will put fans into the seats. The best way of getting fans back to the Rose Bowl is good, exciting players tha

Premium content
 • Rick Kimbrel
Treggs makes a big move

Treggs makes a big move

Bryce Treggs moves from No. 100 to No. 73 in the latest Rivals100 rankings.

 • Ryan Gorcey
Five-star recaps Arizona State visit

Five-star recaps Arizona State visit

Arizona State has moved up the list for Shaq Thompson after his weekend visit but the five-star safety from Sacramento (Calif.) Grant probably isn't d

 • Adam Gorney
Video: McCarthy battles flu and triple teams

Video: McCarthy battles flu and triple teams

MONROVIA, CA - Ellis McCarthy was sick during Monrovia's win over South Pasadena Thursday night. McCarthy had the flu, he also had double and triple t

Premium content
 • Gerard Martinez
Top six changes for McCarthy

Top six changes for McCarthy

MONROVIA, CA - Sick with the flu Thursday, five-star defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy still played a big role in helping the Wildcats win a Rio Hondo L

Premium content
 • Gerard Martinez
Kevon Seeing More of USC

Kevon Seeing More of USC

Pasadena (Calif.) four-star cornerback Kevon Seymour woke up for church Sunday exhausted. While Seymour didn't play a game Saturday, he attended the l

Premium content
 • Gerard Martinez
A Big Game, Unofficially

A Big Game, Unofficially

USC has yet to host an official visit this season, but with a capacity crowd expected to fill the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Saturday when the No.

 • Gerard Martinez
Roundtable: Programs find stability

Roundtable: Programs find stability

Several coaches are finding recruiting easier now that their seat isn't so hot. Count Georgia's Mark Richt among the coaches enjoying more stability t

 • Rivals.com
West whispers: Six stand out for Peat

West whispers: Six stand out for Peat

A handful of programs currently stand out to Tempe (Ariz.) Corona Del Sol five-star OT Andrus Peat. Rivals.com's Adam Gorney has the latest on that an

Premium content
 • Adam Gorney
West mailbag: Ducks in it with top prospects

West mailbag: Ducks in it with top prospects

Are Chip Kelly's Oregon Ducks on the verge of reeling in the Pac-12's top recruiting class? Adam Gorney breaks it down in the West Coast recruiting ma

Premium content
 • Adam Gorney
Oregon in duel over Foster

Oregon in duel over Foster

Oregon hosted an all-star group of recruits over the weekend including a slough Rivals' 100 occupants, and gained two commitments in the process. They

Premium content
 • Brent Zook
Army All-American returns from Autzen

Army All-American returns from Autzen

MONROVIA, CA - A day removed from his official visit to Oregon, five-star defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy was presented a U.S. Army All-American Bowl

Premium content
 • Gerard Martinez
Army All-American McCarthy names new leader

Army All-American McCarthy names new leader

It has been a hectic few days for five-star DT Ellis McCarthy, who not only made news by receiving his Army jersey but also on the recruiting front wh

 • Adam Gorney
Big visit weekend for Oregon

Big visit weekend for Oregon

The Oregon Ducks will play ASU on the field Saturday night, but in the stands will be some VIP attendees in Oregon's biggest recruiting weekend of the

 • A.J. Jacobson
Around the West: Big numbers for Bruggman

Around the West: Big numbers for Bruggman

Phoenix (Ariz.) Brophy Prep junior QB Tyler Bruggman recently picked up another offer and is featured by Adam Gorney in this week's Around the West.

Premium content
 • Adam Gorney
West whispers: Californias best still looking

West whispers: Californias best still looking

It could become an interesting few months leading up to National Signing Day in California with top prospects such as five-star defensive tackle Ellis

Premium content
 • Adam Gorney
Armstead to show DL skills at Army Bowl

Armstead to show DL skills at Army Bowl

Elk Grove (Calif.) Pleasant Grove standout and U.S. Army All-American Arik Armstead discusses the honor and his football future.

 • Adam Gorney
Recruit of the Week: Ellis McCarthy

Recruit of the Week: Ellis McCarthy

The latest Recruit of the Week features Ellis McCarthy, a DT from Monrovia, Calif., who is ranked in the top 10 nationally.

External content
 • Rivals.com
Video: Ellis McCarthy, the hit

Video: Ellis McCarthy, the hit

Monrovia (Calif.) five-star defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy was a hit in his first senior game against Glendora High School Thursday. McCarthy was a h

Premium content
 • Gerard Martinez
Five-star sets first official visit

Five-star sets first official visit

MONROVIA, CA - Defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy opened the season with a bang. Playing against a Glendora team that beat Monrovia 21-7 last season, the

Premium content
 • Gerard Martinez
The Evolution of Ellis

The Evolution of Ellis

Monrovia (Calif.) defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy was a recruit before he was a star football player. Four years ago, a Bishop Amat High School track

Premium content
 • Gerard Martinez
Video: Zeus is Loose

Video: Zeus is Loose

Monrovia (Calif.) five-star defensive lineman Ellis McCarthy got his first taste of inter squad football Thursday. USCFootball.com has exclusive video

Premium content
 • Gerard Martinez
Five-star still at six

Five-star still at six

Monrovia (Calif.) five-star defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy has six top schools, but those six schools are not his final options. While McCarthy is in

Premium content
 • Gerard Martinez
Rival regions: SoCal vs. NorCal

Rival regions: SoCal vs. NorCal

Sure, Southern California is a recruiting hotbed. But right now, it's not even the most talent-laden area in its own state, as stars such as Zach Klin

 • Adam Gorney
2011 Southern California Defensive Tackle Watchlist Part Two

2011 Southern California Defensive Tackle Watchlist Part Two

Monrovia's Ellis McCarthy is a man among boys at the high school level, and the mammoth defensive tackle has a chance to one day dominate the game on

Premium content
 • Kevin Scarpati
Rivals.coms All-Camp Team - Defense

Rivals.coms All-Camp Team - Defense

Heading into our next set of evaluation meetings and a new set of rankings due at the end of August, here is a look at our all-camp defense from the s

 • Rivals.com recruiting staff
Summer wrap series: The strong men

Summer wrap series: The strong men

The Rivals.com summer wrap series continues today with the biggest and strongest prospects this summer, led by Zach Banner, one of the biggest prospec

Premium content
 • Rivals.com recruiting staff
Surprise teams highlight team recruiting rankings

Surprise teams highlight team recruiting rankings

Once again as Rivals.com releases its first team rankings of the recruiting year, Texas is on top as Mack Brown and his staff got off to their usual q

 • Rivals.com recruiting staff
McCarthy to make Fall visits

McCarthy to make Fall visits

The Opening in Beaverton played host to many of the nations top football recruits. One of the best of the group was Monrovia five-star Ellis McCarthy,

Premium content
 • Jackson Williams
What we learned: The Opening

What we learned: The Opening

Five-star Landon Collins certainly showed his talent at The Opening last week, but some five-star prospects were not as dominating as they should have

Premium content
 • Adam Gorney
Calif. ranking strong at multiple positions

Calif. ranking strong at multiple positions

The top player in the California preseason Top 100 is defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy, but the state is loaded at several positions.

 • Adam Gorney
Ruffin the recruiter gets good news

Ruffin the recruiter gets good news

Jabari Ruffin of Downey (Calif.) has been all over the map this summer, showing exactly why he is rated as the nation's number four outside linebacker

Premium content
 • USCFootball.com Recruiting
The Opening: Day 2 notes

The Opening: Day 2 notes

One of the great things so far about The Opening is that it's so loaded with talent that no one slacks off. But Pio Vatuvei doesn't need to worry abou

Premium content
 • Adam Gorney
McCarthy breaks down recruiting

McCarthy breaks down recruiting

Other programs are involved but it appears two Pac-12 teams will battle it out for five-star defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy, who said Thursday at The

 • Adam Gorney
From the road: The Opening

From the road: The Opening

Questions come nearly every day for Bri'onte Dunn about whether he's still committed to Ohio State, which again became a hot topic at the first day of

Premium content
 • Adam Gorney
Will questions get answered in Oregon

Will questions get answered in Oregon

We look ahead to The Opening, an event that will feature five-star Ellis McCarthy and other top players from across the country.

 • Adam Gorney
USC Rising Starr

USC Rising Starr

The Rising Stars Camp has provided a platform annually for some of the nation's top talent, committed and uncommitted. This week was no different; wi

Premium content
 • USCFootball.com Recruiting
Recruiting Special: Talent on the Line

Recruiting Special: Talent on the Line

For the past three years, the West Coast has suffered through a drought of offensive line talent. The numbers have been few, and the talent has been s

Premium content
 • Gerard Martinez
Two visits penciled in for five-star

Two visits penciled in for five-star

Standing 6-foot-5 and tipping the scales at 307-pounds, Monrovia (Calif.) Monrovia five-star defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy has had quite the Evaluat

Premium content
 • USCFootball.com Recruiting
Line groups stand out in position rankings

Line groups stand out in position rankings

The Rivals.com positional rankings have been released and they are highlighted by a stellar crop of defensive and offensive linemen, led by the nation

 • Mike Farrell
Roundtable: Stoops among best

Roundtable: Stoops among best

What is it about Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops that makes him such a strong recruiter? Rivals.com analysts debate that topic, along with several others, i

 • Rivals.com AMP
Roundtable: Stanford goes nationwide

Roundtable: Stanford goes nationwide

New Stanford coach David Shaw has been beating the heavyweights on the recruiting trail, turning in one of the most impressive offseasons so far among

 • Rivals.com recruiting staff