2020 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Trace Ellison, OL, University of Louisiana at Monroe

• Name: Trace Ellison
• Height: 6’4
• Weight: 295
• Position: OG/OT/C
• College: University of Louisiana at Monroe
• Twitter: @TraceEllison

Tell us about your hometown, and what you love most about it?

• I was born and raised in Frisco, Texas. The thing I liked the most about growing up in Frisco, is that it was an up and coming city and there was always new things to do.

List these three in order of importance and why: Film Study, Strength and Conditioning and Practice?

 • Film Study, Practice, Strength and Conditioning. The reason I have these in the order that they are is because without film study you wouldn’t know your opponent or how to prepare for them so you wouldn’t be practicing effectively. The reason I chose practice to be more important than strength and conditioning is because if you are practicing properly, the way you should be, then you will become more conditioned.

What do you worry about, and why?

• I worry about not being successful enough in life to not only support myself and my family, but to help others in my community whether it’s financially or educationally.

Give me an example of when you failed at something. How did you react and how did you overcome failure?

• During my time in college as I was working on getting my business degree there was one class that I had found myself really struggling in which was business finance. I ended up not passing the class and when I did I felt embarrassed and ashamed. I went on later to try and take it again but when I did this next time, I made sure to put my all into the class and got help understanding the material even if I felt like I didn’t need it. I ended up passing the class with a B and was proud of myself that I didn’t let that one class deter me from getting my degree. 

What do your teammates say is your best quality?

• My work ethic

Who is the best player you have ever played against in college?

• #21 from Florida State Marvin Wilson because he was a big physical guy who had great speed of the ball and good hands

What would your career be if you couldn’t play football? 

• I love to cook, so I would like to start my career of as a chef, and work my way into owning a few different successful restaurants

Room, desk and car – which do you clean first?

• Desk, car, room because the desk is easiest to clean and I like to keep a neat and organized work environment. It wouldn’t take much energy out of me so then afterwards I could move on to another task and be more productive.

If there was a disaster and you could either save three strangers or one family member, which would you choose and why?

• God willing, I hope I will never be in the situation where I have to save one individuals life over another but if it did come down to it I would chose to save a family member because blood is thicker than water. The family that I have is extremely important to me, and has been there for me through good times as well as hard times so I wouldn’t be able to turn my back on them. I am extremely grateful for them and love them.

If you could be any television or movie character, who would you be and why?

• Tony Stark because he is a successful entrepreneur who uses his knowledge and wealth along with his admirable moral values to help as many people around him as possible.

Tell me about your biggest adversity in life and how you’ve dealt with or overcome it?

• Learning how to work hard, do what’s right, and become a man without having a consistent father figure in my life to guide me and show me how to do so. This is why football has had such a huge impact on my life, because that spot had been filled by the various coaches I have had throughout middle school, high school, and college.

What was the most memorable play of your collegiate career?

• The most memorable play for me in my college career was when we played Iowa State my senior year. This play was so memorable to me because it was my first collegiate tackle as an offensive lineman. Our quarterback threw an interception and I was chasing down the guy who had picked it off. As I was chasing him I remembered he hurdled our quarterback as he tried to make the tackle, and as he did he kicked up a big chunk of grass and mud that flew into my facemask and got into one of my eyes, but I didn’t let that stop me from taking him down and making a play.

What song best describes your work ethic?

• “Eye of the Tiger” -Survivor

What is the most important trait you can have (Physical or Non-Physical) to help you succeed at the next level? 

• At the position I play both size and strength are extremely important, but in order to be successful at the next level I think being able to have the knowledge to understand what is happening on the opposite side of the ball and being able to predict what some of the players are going to do before they do it. 

If you could bring one person back from the dead for one day, who would it be and why?

• I wouldn’t want to disturb anybody’s eternal rest, but if I had to I would love the opportunity to meet my grandmother.

If you were to open a dance club, what would you name it? 

• “Raise The Bar”

Would you rather be liked or respected, and why?

• Respected because that means others appreciate what I do instead of liking me for how I do things

What player who had his career derailed by off-field issues do you feel for the most and why?

• Colin Kaepernick because he was doing what he believed in and stuck to his moral code and his values even though it cost him his career in the NFL.

Do you love to win, or hate to lose?

• I hate to lose, I am a competitor. 

Who has been the biggest influence on your life and explain why?

• My mother has easily been the biggest influence and inspiration in my life. For as long as I can remember my mother has always made my brother and I as her top priority. She taught me that whatever I do, do it to the best of my ability and work hard at it every day. Looking back on my childhood it has been inspirational remembering how much she has done for me especially being a single mother and how she has always found a way to take care of me and I am extremely grateful for her.