University of Tennessee Athletics
Ellix Wilson Thrives as Starting Linebacker
September 10, 2008 | Football
Sept. 10, 2008
By BETH RUCKER, Associated Press Writer
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Ellix Wilson has waited behind some talented linebackers for his chance to start for Tennessee.
His performance at UCLA showed that he's learned a lot in the past four years.
"It's been long, that's all I can say," Wilson said as he drew in a deep breath. "God has blessed me and just told me to hang in there and (offensive coordinator John Chavis) has told me to hang in there. And I did."
The 5-foot-10, 225-pound redshirt senior led the Vols (0-1) with 12 tackles and a sack in their 27-24 overtime loss to the Bruins. It was a performance that drew praise in a week when coach Phillip Fulmer was not quick to hand out compliments.
"Ellix Wilson played one of the best football games that a linebacker's played here in a long time against UCLA," Fulmer said. "That's a real plus when you're trying to replace a guy like Jerod Mayo."
As a freshman in 2004, the Memphis native played mostly on special teams and recorded seven tackles. He took a medical redshirt the next season to allow his knee to heal after surgery.
In 2006, he played in every game behind starter Marvin Mitchell and recorded 13 tackles, including five against LSU.
Wilson had thought he might get his chance to be a starter in 2007 until coaches decided to switch Mayo from weakside linebacker to the inside slot.
Mayo recorded 140 tackles there -- more than any other Southeastern Conference player -- and earned All-SEC honors while Wilson resorted to backup duty again.
Wilson still found ways to shine even behind Mayo. He blocked a punt against Georgia that set up a touchdown and recorded three sacks in season that was fairly low on sacks.
He finally earned his first start in the Jan. 1 Outback Bowl, filling in for an academically ineligible Rico McCoy and recording six tackles.
"They always say you're only one player away," Wilson said. "You practice hard and you just keep your head in there and when you step into the role you take full advantage of it. They tell you never to look back."
There were times during the past four seasons that he wanted to give up. He talked to his brother Cedrick Wilson, a former Vols and Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver, even though the elder Wilson started much sooner.
But Cedrick Wilson told him the same thing that Ellix had heard from Chavis: Hang in there.
"Playing in coach Chavis' system, he's always going to try to play five linebackers so I was always the next one in line. I've been the next one in line for the last maybe two or three years," he said.
"And here I am now starting at the University of Tennessee."
