Ferris State's DeRen Ellis Receives Invitation To 2003 Cactus Bowl

Bulldog Defensive Back Will Represent East Team In Annual NCAA Division II All-Star Game

Ferris State University senior cornerback DeRen Ellis (Detroit/Harper Woods Notre Dame) has been invited to play in the third annual Whataburger Cactus Bowl All-Star Game Friday, Jan. 10, at Texas A&M University-Kingsville’s Javelina Stadium in Kingsville, Texas. Opening kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. (EST).

The Whataburger Cactus Bowl, formerly known as the Snow Bowl and played in Fargo, N.D., features the top 80 NCAA Division II football seniors in the nation and will be played with a East/West Team format. The Shriners Hospitals for Children, a non-profit charitable organization, is the designated charity for the Whataburger Cactus Bowl football game and proceeds from the game will go to the Shriners’ 22 children’s hospitals throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The 2003 Whataburger Cactus Bowl will be televised on Fox Sports Southwest television network with coverage starting at 7 p.m. (EST). Direct TV subscribers may tune to channel 643 to watch the contest while Dish Network subscribers should tune to channel 416.

Ellis is among 40 senior standouts selected to the East All-Star Team, which includes four other Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) representatives all from Grand Valley State University – quarterback Curt Anes, tight end Phillip Condon, wide receiver David Kircus and tackle Dale Westrick.

A 2002 All-GLIAC First-Team pick, Ellis was honored with FSU’s Most Valuable Defensive Skill Player Award for the second straight season this campaign. The defensive back placed 11th among the Bulldogs’ top tacklers with 30 stops (23 solos) to go along with a team-leading five pass interceptions for 101 yards and a touchdown in 10 contests. His five pass thefts ranked second among the 2002 GLIAC leaders in that statistical category. Ellis also recorded three pass deflections, two quarterback hurries and a blocked kick this season. He posted a season-high eight tackles (seven solo) in Ferris’ 24-3 home win over nationally-ranked Saginaw Valley State (10/26) after intercepting a season-best two passes for 68 yards, including a 68-yard touchdown return, at Mercyhurst (10/19).

The 6-0, 170-pound Ellis accumulated 132 career tackles (101 solos), which includes six tackles for a loss of 18 yards. He compiled 39 pass deflections and three blocked kicks during his four-year career. Ellis, who currently ranks third among FSU’s all-time pass interception leaders with 14 career thefts for 227 yards and two touchdowns, holds the school’s single-season record for most interceptions with eight thefts (71 yards) in the 2000 campaign and is tied with two others for most interceptions in a game with three against Wayne State (9/23/00).

Ellis joins a group of seven former Ferris State standouts – Rich Eash (1994), Ed Philion (1994), Chadd Richard (1995), Jerry Prys (1996), Doc Proctor (1999), Dennis Strey (1999), Dave Zuiderveen (2000) and Clarence Coleman (2001) to participate in the NCAA-II Cactus Bowl All-Star Game. Last season (1/11), Coleman was named the Cactus Bowl’s Most Valuable Back in leading the East All-Stars to a 42-12 victory over the West. Coleman had four receptions for 102 yards to go along with touchdown catches covering 12 and 45 yards. The FSU All-American also had four punt returns for 56 yards, including a 42-yard scoring return as the win was only the second for the East squad in the game’s nine-year history.