What TSU football coach Eddie George liked about transfer QB Draylen Ellis in Tigers' scrimmage
After two very successful seasons as the starting quarterback at Austin Peay, Draylen Ellis said the transition to Tennessee State's offense has been nearly seamless.
"There's not that much difference in the two offenses," Ellis said. "There's great chemistry here. We grind from the time we clock in until the time we clock out. I really like the atmosphere here. It feels like a family."
The Olive Branch, Mississippi, native, who threw for nearly 4,000 yards and 33 touchdowns the past two seasons at Austin Peay, looked at ease as the starting quarterback in TSU's first scrimmage Saturday at Lipscomb Academy.
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The unit was crisp, committed no penalties and moved the ball consistently against the first- and second-team defense on two of the three drives it was on the field.
"Draylen had some good throws and the offense looked very efficient with him out there," coach Eddie George said. "It was clean and that's something you really like to see in your first scrimmage. It was much better than our first scrimmage last season."
George also pointed out that Ellis was sacked three times, including twice in the two-minute drill.
"You can't take sacks in those situations," George said. "That's something coming in that I was mindful of; he took a lot of sacks at Austin Peay. He's very mobile. He prefers to sit in the pocket and throw it and sling it. But if he has to get out and make plays with his legs he can do that. I want to see him make better decisions in the pocket."
Ellis' best throw was a 17-yard completion to tight end Josh Trueheart which moved the ball to midfield.
Chayil Garnett, a transfer quarterback from Auburn who started in the last game for TSU last season at Mississippi State, worked with the second unit. He tossed a 25-yard pass to wide reciever JJ Holomon, a transfer who played at Georgia and Florida International.
Among other quarterbacks:
Tucker Pope, a sophomore from Walker Valley, was with the third team.
Deveon Bryant, who started in one game last season, saw time with the second and third teams and ran 64 yards on an option setting up his own 11-yard touchdown run..
Heath Williams Jr. from Northeast, Martino Owens from Pearl-Cohn and Edwin Rhodes III also appeared.
Another offensive highlight was a 51-yard touchdown run by Jalen Rouse,
Along with the sacks, the defense came up with several big plays, including a 71-yard interception return for a touchdown by safety Bryce Phillips, a transfer from Santa Ana College.
Linebacker Ausitn Yelder picked off Owens at midfield on the final play of the scrimmage.
"I'm never quick to judge it until I go back and watch the tape but it looked like we affected the quarterback a lot," defensive coordinator Brandon Fisher said.
"That's not easy with (Ellis). You can see what we're afraid of. When that ball goes downfield it usually ends up in the right spot. That's his biggest strength. That's why he's here. Going against him at Austin Peay you were terrified of the deep ball. That's what he does."
Reach Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee State football coach Eddie George on QB play at first scrimmage
