Deacon Sports Xtra: EXTRA: Ellison Brings Tireless Effort Before, During and After Practice
7/14/2022 12:09:00 PM | Football, Les Johns
“Whenever I’m in a game, I don’t feel tired. I’ve put in the extra work. By running extra, it gives me an extra boost.” - Justice Ellison
The climb continues for third-year sophomore running back Justice Ellison.
Practice is long over, but Ellison is still working. He's moved on from the football field and has taken his training to the top of the hill past Kentner Stadium out by Wake Forest Road.
Cars slow down believing Ellison is on the verge of jaywalking, but then he sprints down the hill between the field hockey stadium and the back end of Reynolds Gymnasium, then he sprints back up the hill and does it all over again — usually getting in double-digit repetitions.
"I go up to the top, like I'm about to run through the street," Ellison said with a smile. "The cars usually stop, but then I run back down.
"Whenever I'm in a game, I don't feel tired. I've put in the extra work. By running extra, it gives me an extra boost. I'm ready to go more, more and more until I get to the end zone. It builds mental toughness."
Toward the end of spring camp, Ellison was getting the likes of defensive end Jasheen Davis and fellow running back Will Towns to join him.
"It was me by myself for a while, and I just stuck to it," he said. "Now more guys are interested in joining."
Ellison was a part of a talented three-headed monster of running backs who banded together last season to combine for 1,651 yards and 19 touchdowns for Wake Forest Football en route to a program-record tying 11 wins and ACC Atlantic Championship.
Both Christian Turner and Ellison return for the 2022 campaign, looking to bring a couple of young tailbacks along with them in the rotation.
"It's just about building culture," Ellison said. "We're just trying to get better each day. Last year was last year's team, and 2022 is a whole new team. In the running back room, we've been accepting the challenge to grow every day. It's important to get the young guys ready to go. Twelve games is a long season to play."
A third-year sophomore in 2022, Ellison is starting to take more of a leadership role in the running back room, especially after the departure of Winston-Salem native Christian Beal-Smith.
"Stepping into that role and being a leader in the room is important," Ellison said. "There's not a specific recipe, it's just every day becoming a little bit better than you were the day before. I don't know everything, and I'm still learning. We're all in this together.
"It was good attacking every single day. I know we came off a phenomenal season, but the grit comes from how hard you work. Doing it for one season is good, but you have to be able to do it again."
Ellison led the three-headed monster last season with 5.1 yards per carry, finishing the year with 541 yards and seven scores. He's excited about the direction of the offense so far this offseason.
"The offense looks smooth," he said. "We're hitting the right spots. Every time we run the ball, we want to gash it. Everybody on the offense is elevating every day."
While Ellison is taking on some leadership in the running back, the entire offense takes their cues from quarterback Sam Hartman, a third-year captain for the Demon Deacons.
"He's a team player," Ellison said. "If you're in this program and messing up, Sam is getting after you. That shows how passionate he is about this team and about the game of football. He's going to give you the truth to help the team."
It's the team approach that allowed Ellison to share running back game reps three ways last season and what pushes him to run the hills each day after practice.
"I'm a firm believer in what you do on your off time is what separates you from the rest," he said. "When I'm in a game or taking a rep in practice, I go hard each and every time. I know that every single rep matters."
Practice is long over, but Ellison is still working. He's moved on from the football field and has taken his training to the top of the hill past Kentner Stadium out by Wake Forest Road.
Cars slow down believing Ellison is on the verge of jaywalking, but then he sprints down the hill between the field hockey stadium and the back end of Reynolds Gymnasium, then he sprints back up the hill and does it all over again — usually getting in double-digit repetitions.
"I go up to the top, like I'm about to run through the street," Ellison said with a smile. "The cars usually stop, but then I run back down.
"Whenever I'm in a game, I don't feel tired. I've put in the extra work. By running extra, it gives me an extra boost. I'm ready to go more, more and more until I get to the end zone. It builds mental toughness."
Toward the end of spring camp, Ellison was getting the likes of defensive end Jasheen Davis and fellow running back Will Towns to join him.
"It was me by myself for a while, and I just stuck to it," he said. "Now more guys are interested in joining."
Ellison was a part of a talented three-headed monster of running backs who banded together last season to combine for 1,651 yards and 19 touchdowns for Wake Forest Football en route to a program-record tying 11 wins and ACC Atlantic Championship.
Both Christian Turner and Ellison return for the 2022 campaign, looking to bring a couple of young tailbacks along with them in the rotation.
"It's just about building culture," Ellison said. "We're just trying to get better each day. Last year was last year's team, and 2022 is a whole new team. In the running back room, we've been accepting the challenge to grow every day. It's important to get the young guys ready to go. Twelve games is a long season to play."
A third-year sophomore in 2022, Ellison is starting to take more of a leadership role in the running back room, especially after the departure of Winston-Salem native Christian Beal-Smith.
"Stepping into that role and being a leader in the room is important," Ellison said. "There's not a specific recipe, it's just every day becoming a little bit better than you were the day before. I don't know everything, and I'm still learning. We're all in this together.
"It was good attacking every single day. I know we came off a phenomenal season, but the grit comes from how hard you work. Doing it for one season is good, but you have to be able to do it again."
Ellison led the three-headed monster last season with 5.1 yards per carry, finishing the year with 541 yards and seven scores. He's excited about the direction of the offense so far this offseason.
"The offense looks smooth," he said. "We're hitting the right spots. Every time we run the ball, we want to gash it. Everybody on the offense is elevating every day."
While Ellison is taking on some leadership in the running back, the entire offense takes their cues from quarterback Sam Hartman, a third-year captain for the Demon Deacons.
"He's a team player," Ellison said. "If you're in this program and messing up, Sam is getting after you. That shows how passionate he is about this team and about the game of football. He's going to give you the truth to help the team."
It's the team approach that allowed Ellison to share running back game reps three ways last season and what pushes him to run the hills each day after practice.
"I'm a firm believer in what you do on your off time is what separates you from the rest," he said. "When I'm in a game or taking a rep in practice, I go hard each and every time. I know that every single rep matters."
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