Height is the only thing limitless Ellis is lacking

Judge: Dorsey's health, not talent, the question

INDIANAPOLIS -- As Sedrick Ellis stood at the podium meeting the media at the NFL's Scouting Combine Saturday, two things became abundantly clear: This kid believes in himself and he sure as heck doesn't look like a potential high first-round draft pick.

Sedrick Ellis has many thinking he's a better prospect that Glenn Dorsey. (US Presswire)

Maybe it's the former that has helped make him the latter.

At just over 6-feet (6.04) and 309 pounds, Ellis, a defensive tackle from USC, is more square than long. He's a powerfully built, thick-bodied player who might just be the hottest player in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Ellis is pushing LSU's Glenn Dorsey to be the top defensive tackle taken, one of them possibly even being the top overall pick of the Miami Dolphins. With news spreading that Dorsey's injured leg might be more problematic than expected, Ellis might be ready to seize the top spot among defensive tackles.

Dorsey is taller (6-1½) and lighter (297), but currently higher ranked. That could change based on information that a leg injury he suffered last season might still be a concern for some teams. That could vault Ellis past him.

I thought he was better anyway.

Ellis has the ability to not only hold in against the run, but also get inside pressure on the passer. That has scouts buzzing about him.

"I like Dorsey better," one NFC defensive coordinator said. "But the other kid (Ellis) will be a heck of a player, too. He's short, which is why some people are concerned about him."

Dressed in a sweat suit, a USC hat on his head, Ellis looked as square as the podium in front of him when he spoke the media.

"A lot of people like taller tackles but I think my height is just great," Ellis said. "You get these big 6-5 linemen and I can get up underneath them and uproot them out of what they're trying to do. Great feet work, great hands and the leverage I think works to my advantage a lot."

Ellis took that power and leverage to the Senior Bowl and was the best player in Mobile the entire week. Some scouts said he couldn't be blocked.

In the Senior Bowl game, he was a disruptive force who clearly had the look of an NFL star down the road.

"At 309 pounds, I'm moving fast and very few of those guys who can keep up with me," Ellis said. "I have no problem playing double teams, as you guys have seen in the Senior Bowl and often in my career at 'SC when I took on double teams. I never had a problem with it before so I don't see why it should be a problem."