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RT, 6'6, 315, 5.1, 300 BP
Leighton, AL
Nickname: Donnie
Birthday: 2-29-80
High School: Colbert County
HS Mascot: Indians
HS Coach: Jimmy Moore
HS Position: LG
HS Number: 76
Official Visits: AL, AU, MSU, GA, KY
Second Choice: Georgia
Host During Alabama Visit: Chris Samuels and Will Cuthbert
Committed: 1-29-99
Roommate To Be: Dennis Alexander
Family Ties: Nephew of Leon Douglas
Stats
HS Junior Season
Blocking
HS Senior Season
Blocking
Honors
- Three-time All-Area
- Three-time All-State
- Parade Magazine All-American
- Prep Star Dream Team
- Birmingham Post-Herald Ten Most Wanted
- State's 3-A Lineman of The Year
- Area Lineman of The Year
- Tuscaloosa News Sweet 16
- USA Today All American
- Pigskin Preps Super South 75
- Forrest Davis All South
- SuperPrep All American
- Prep Star All American
- AL MS HS All Star Game
SBR Scouting Report
Dante has excellent size, good speed, and a strong work ethic. He can execute every type of block. One of a limited number of offensive linemen that could be effective in both a pull/trap or zone blocking offensive scheme. Exceptional drive (base) blocker. Dante projects as a guard but could also play tackle.
[Observation: live as a senior, and junior game film.]
Stories
It Added Up To Alabama
Over the weekend, Dante Ellington went from uncommitted to committed to de-committed.
On the weekend of January 15th Ellington made an official visit to Tuscaloosa.
SBR
Ellington |
"I had a great visit and thought my mind was made up," Ellington recalls. "I went to Coach DuBose's office on Sunday afternoon and told him that I ready to announce. So I publicly committed."
But late that night, while in his hotel room in Tuscaloosa, Ellington started having second thoughts.
"I was wondering if I might fit in better or possibly get earlier playing time somewhere else. I started getting nervous that I'd made up my mind too soon."
So Ellington took a second look at Georgia, Kentucky, Auburn, and Mississippi State. For a while, it looked like Georgia or Auburn might pull off the surprise.
"I liked Auburn a lot. But there's no doubt that if it weren't for Alabama, I'd have gone to Georgia."
On Friday, January 29th, Ellington re-committed to the Crimson Tide.
"It came down to the plusses and minuses of all the schools. And when I added everything up, Alabama was on top."
It Was Tough To Turn Down Garner
Dante Ellington makes no bones about it. It was very tough for him to turn down Georgia.
"I really liked Rodney Garner a lot," Ellington says. "We hit it off from the first time that he called."
What was so impressive about Garner?
"He comes from a background like mine," Ellington says. "You know, a family that really doesn't have a lot. That made it easy for us to relate to each other."
Ellington says the rumors about Garner being a shady recruiter aren't true.
"When I committed to Alabama and then changed my mind, some people said I got offered something. That's not true."
The most difficult part of the recruiting process for Ellington might've been the night that he made his second commitment to Alabama. Garner showed up at Colbert County that night to watch Ellington play basketball.
"After the game I had to tell him I was going to Alabama. I thanked him for recruiting me, but my decision was final. It was tough, but I had to do it."
Ranking The Facilities
Dante Ellington took official visits to Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi State, Auburn and Kentucky.
Which school has the best facilities?
"They're all pretty nice, but Kentucky's facilities are awesome. They have an unbelievable weightroom and a 100-yard indoor practice facility."
Who's number two?
"Auburn. They're renovating their weightroom. The stadium and the fieldhouse are really nice. Their entire football complex is top notch."
Number three?
"Overall, Georgia is close to Auburn. I liked their weightroom."
Four?
"I'd say Alabama is fourth. Bryant-Denny Stadium ranks up there with the best of them. The game day atmosphere there is great, especially with that jumbotron. But the weightroom at Alabama is smaller than everyone else's."
Mississippi State's facilities rank last on Ellington's list.
"But that's mainly because their stadium is so small. Their weightroom is huge."
Sounds like Alabama's weightroom needs an overhaul.
Ellington Paves The Way
In 1996, the road to the state championship was paved sophomore offensive guard Dante Ellington.
"In the championship game against UMS-Wright it was tied 19-19 in overtime," recalls Ellington. "We had a third and goal at their one."
Everyone knew that the play was going behind the 6'4 290 pound Ellington.
"We called a quarterback sneak," recalls Ellington. "I just loaded up and with one big thrust drove my man into the end zone."
Quarterback Tyron King took the snap and angled to his left behind Ellington.
"He landed right next to me about three or four yards deep in the end zone," Ellington says. "All I can remember after that was the celebration. It was an unbelievable feeling."
Q&A
TI: You played left guard in high school. Where do you expect to play at Alabama?
DE: I'll start out at right tackle, but I think I'll move to the left side when Chris Samuels leaves.
TI: Will it be a transition moving guard to tackle and from the left side to the right side?
DE: I played every position on the line in high school, so I already have experience. And I'm athletic enough that it won't cause me any problems.
TI: Talk about your strengths as an offensive lineman.
DE: My size, of course, is a big factor for me. Next to my size, I'd say my quick feet and athletic ability are very important. I can move pretty good.
TI: What do you need to work on?
DE: My overall strength. I've got a strength program and I'm working hard already. My goal is to improve my strength quite a bit before I get to Alabama.
TI: Do you expect to play next year?
DE: I just want an opportunity to play. But I'm not against redshirting if it's the best thing. It's a big adjustment for an offensive lineman to come in and play as a freshman, mainly because it takes some time to mature and get stronger.
TI: Let's talk about your decision to choose Alabama. I know that you live with your uncle. There's a rumor that he strongly pushed you to Alabama.
DE: I live with him and he's an adult, so he had some input. He gave me some advice and things to think about, but he didn't push me to Alabama. I made my own decision.
TI: How about Leon Douglas [also an uncle of Ellington's], did he influence you any?
DE: He came down and talked to me. He told me about his recruiting experiences and how much he enjoyed his time at Alabama. I listened to him and took what he had to say into consideration because he had experienced it.
TI: By the way, how's Leon related to you?
DE: He's my mom's half-brother.
TI: How do you feel about being a part of one of the nation's best recruiting classes?
DE: I'm happy about it. It sounds like we got a lot of great players coming in. Several of us became friends during our visit to Alabama. I'm a pretty good friend of Dennis Alexander's. We visited Alabama and Mississippi State the same weekend.
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