CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed to a five-year contract, 7/30/08; Selected by Saints in the first round (7^th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft.

COLLEGE CAREER – A three-year starter at defensive tackle for USC, the Saints traded up with the New England Patriots from 10^th to seventh overall to select Ellis, considered one of the top defensive players available in the NFL Draft. A first-team All-American and the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, in 48 career games he started 36 and posted 144 tackles (74 solo), 17.5 sacks and 28.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage for minus-158 yards. He also deflected 13 passes, blocked a kick, forced a pair of fumbles and recovered four. Ellis was recruited to Southern California and coached for his freshman and sophomore seasons by Saints’ defensive line coach Ed Orgeron. He is the 15^th player drafted by the club from USC – more than any other school – and the second No. 1 pick – following RB Reggie Bush in 2006.

2007 – A unanimous first-team All-American selection, and recipient of the Pat Tillman Pac-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year Award…Also won the Morris Trophy – presented to the conference’s premier lineman – for the second-consecutive year…Started all thirteen games at nose guard, leading a unit that ranked fourth in the nation vs. the run, second in total defense and second in scoring defense…Recorded a career-high 58 tackles (29 solo)…Also registered career-highs while ranking second on the squad with 8.5 sacks and 12.5 stops for losses totaling 75 yards…Added a pair of fumble recoveries and deflected seven passes. 2006 – All Pac-10 first-team choice and recipient of Morris Trophy…Recorded 34 tackles (17 solo), 4.5 sacks and eight stops for losses…Recovered two fumbles, forced one and blocked a kick…Had six tackles, including two for losses, a pass defense and a sack vs. Michigan in the Rose Bowl. 2005 – All-Pac 10 honorable mention after starting all 13 games at nose guard…Posted 50 stops, 4.5 sacks, a forced fumble and three pass defenses…Had nine tackles and a sack vs. Notre Dame. 2004 – Served primarily as a reserve, playing in 11 contests. 2003 – Granted a medical hardship and redshirted following an early-season left ankle injury.

PERSONAL – Sociology major…Attended Chino (Calif.) HS, where he earned All-State and Prep All-American honors as a senior offensive and defensive lineman…Also competed on the school’s track team.