Meet The Saints Legend Sedrick Ellis

A three-year starter at defensive tackle for USC, the Saints traded up with the New England Patriots from 10th 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 spent five seasons with the Black and Gold, starting all 70 of the games he appeared in while recording 174 tackles (99 solo), 12.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss and 13 passes defended. He started all six post season contests as well for New Orleans with his most memorable performance coming in Super Bowl XLIV, where he totaled a postseason career-high six tackles helping the Saints defense hold Indianapolis to 17 points in the win.