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Tyler Ellis

Ellis back with Tigers

By Michael Butler

A familiar face is back with the Tallassee football team. Tyler Ellis will be in a purple and gold jersey for his senior season.

Ellis and his younger brother Brodie have enrolled back at THS after moving to Luverne over the summer. The Ellis' father Jeffrey had taken a coaching position with the Tigers down south.

"I feel back at home," Tyler said. "These are my brothers. I played with them since I was five and needed to finish out with them."

Tallassee head coach Mike Battles is glad things worked out for the return.

"We hated to see them go," Battles said. "We knew the reasons why. It was just one of those things that any boy would do. Tyler and I talked about this whole transition coming back. After he and Brody got enrolled and could start practicing, it was like they'd never not been there.

"Tyler hit on it. These guys have played together for a long time - longer than I've been here. It's important that you have that senior leadership and comradery. Tyler's been a real good Tallassee Tiger for us."

The elder Ellis is a three-year starter at quarterback. He now has competition for his old job.

"It's great competing for the job again," Ellis said. "That's going to bring the best out of me and everybody else."

Ellis (far right) with Battles and fellow senior Micah Cole at River Region Prep Media Day in Montgomery

Ziggy Holloway played quarterback some in the spring game at Russell County after Ellis' departure. He has since transferred to St. James. Cade Everson was the next man up.

"If there was anything good that came out of this is it forced us to find somebody else who could play it," Battles noted. "You never know. Somebody could go down. I went to Cade and said, 'You have all the tools. You have to be 100 percent bought in.' He had a great June.

"Just like Tyler said, now that he's come back there is competition. We've got two guys that we feel we can win ball games with. Somebody's got to step up."