South Carolina’s Jabari Ellis finds free agent opportunity in NFL
South Carolina defensive lineman Jabari Ellis is heading to the Big Apple.
Ellis is expected to sign an undrafted free agent deal with the New York Giants. South Carolina confirmed the news on Saturday night.
“It always feels good to be wanted,” Ellis told The State in the hours after the draft. “The Giants were the team that was here (looking at me) early through the process and they always told me how much value I was to them. It was easy for me to make that decision.”
The Giants reached out to Ellis, he said, in the sixth round with an assurance they’d like to add him to the roster, though they didn’t have any remaining picks at the time.
Ellis could exhale.
“To be honest, when I got off the phone with the Giants, I stopped watching the draft,” he quipped. “I was good. I was straight already.”
That Ellis received an NFL shot caps a winding path through college football that began at Georgia Military College and concluded with a 7-6 senior season and a win over North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl.
The Vance native evolved into a vocal leader for the Gamecocks over his four years in Columbia, including this fall as a stalwart along the defensive line.
Ellis finished the year with 41 tackles and returned a fumble for a touchdown in South Carolina’s victory over Florida. Following the game, he brought the Gators’ ball and dubbed it “’Lil Chomp” in reference to UF’s Gator chomp celebration.
“I’ve got to go find him some brothers and sisters,” Ellis said through a laugh.
In 35 games at South Carolina, Ellis recorded 81 tackles, 9.5 tackles for a loss and three sacks after signing with the Gamecocks in the class of 2018.
“I was telling my mom this feels like when I with Georgia Military, as far as like, everybody says congratulations, but they don’t really understand what’s at stake here,” Ellis joked. “But, man, personally, I’m blessed. I’m thankful for the opportunity and I’m ready to take it and run with it.”
ZaQuandre White to Dolphins
ZaQuandre White is taking the free agent route to the NFL after going undrafted.
The former South Carolina running back indicated via an Instagram video Saturday night that he was signing with the Miami Dolphins.
White came to South Carolina after a meandering path through college football that included stops at Florida State and Iowa Western Community College.
White led South Carolina in rushing during the 2021 regular season with 583 yards and two touchdowns on just 88 carries, while splitting lead back duties with Kevin Harris. He also added another 202 yards and three scores receiving. White finished his final season in Columbia with a pair of 100-yard rushing efforts that paced the Gamecocks to wins over Eastern Illinois and Florida.
He later opted out of USC’s Duke’s Mayo Bowl win over North Carolina to prepare for the NFL Draft.
This story was originally published April 30, 2022 at 7:27 PM.
