Renegades solidify pass rush by locking up Kai Ellis

Published on March 22, 2005 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Ottawa Renegades News Release


OTTAWA – The Ottawa Renegades Football Club announced the signing of defensive end Kai Ellis, a speedy defensive end who made an impressive showing last season with the team.

Ellis, 24, was acquired by the Renegades in a trade with Calgary last January and made an impressive debut with Ottawa. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound native of Kent, Washington finished the year with 30 tackles, including seven against Edmonton on Aug. 29. As a CFL rookie with the Stampeders in 2003, Ellis finished the season with 10 tackles and two sacks in five games, after getting his first taste of the pros on Oct. 3.

"We are excited to have Kai back. He has a lot of upside and we're really interested in seeing how far he has developed," said Joe Paopao, head coach and general manager of the Renegades. "Kai has all the athleticism in the world. He's got size, power and speed – all the tools."

Ellis, regarded as a strong future prospect, re-signed with the Renegades for one-year, plus an option.

A product of the University of Washington, Ellis started all 13 games as a senior with the Huskies – a year after being named the team's top defensive player. He earned second-team All-Pac-10 honours after recoding 51 tackles, 11 tackles for losses, seven sacks, five pass breakups, three fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles and one interception in his final year.

Following last season's stellar efforts, Ellis had looks from various NFL teams before inking a deal to return to Ottawa.

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