DT D'Von Ellies set for Penn State official visit
Penn State will host one of its top remaining Class of 2019 prospects, DT D’Von Ellies, this upcoming week for an official visit.
A four-star prospect from McDonogh in Owings Mills, Md., Ellies earned an offer from the staff at the end of July. He’s been on campus a few times over the past year, most recently in September for the game against Ohio State. Now, he’s set for what will likely be his final visit to University Park before he makes a decision in December.
“I think Penn State has a lot of momentum,” said McDonogh head coach Hakeem Sule. “I think there’s a lot of buzz in the air around their program the past few years. There have been a lot of local kids going there and obviously he has a connection with PJ Mustipher. Sean Spencer and Coach Franklin have been really aggressive lately with their efforts. They’re making it very clear to D’Von that he’s an excellent prospect for them. They’ve done a great job at explaining the role that he could have in their program.
“So, I think they’ve done a very good job at painting the picture of all the different things that he can benefit from at Penn State. They believe that he can not only fit into their rotation, but would be an excellent fit for just the entire program and university.”
With early playing time being important to Ellies, his connection with Mustipher has only helped the Lions in recent months, as the freshman has played in eight of Penn State’s 10 games so far this season.
“He’s definitely seen what PJ Mustipher has done there, especially when it comes to early playing time and fitting into their rotation as a freshman,” Sule said. “Obviously, for any kid coming out of high school, whenever you have a path to playing early, especially at a top school, it’s more attractive than sitting on the sidelines and waiting a few years. I think what they’ve done with PJ has definitely caught D’Von’s eye.”
Now that McDonogh’s season is over, Ellies is expected to be on campus Friday evening and stick around town until Sunday. He already has a good feel for the game day atmosphere in and around campus, but hopes to get another taste this upcoming weekend.
“He’s been up to Penn State’s campus a bunch of times now, so I know one thing he really likes is the atmosphere,” said Sule. “Obviously, they have an excellent game day atmosphere in Happy Valley, so getting the chance to play in that kind of environment, in front of a crowd that’s so passionate about football, is very appealing.”
As for what he brings to the table, Sule added that Penn State is intrigued in Ellies both on and off the field.
“D’Von’s a great guy, so his personality is definitely something they like, but aside from that, on the football field, I know they love his athleticism. He doesn’t have the height that PJ has, but for his frame, he’s incredibly strong and incredibly quick. He’s a really athletic young man. At nearly 300 pounds, he’s able to dunk a basketball with ease, so that just shows his explosion and athleticism.”
As of now, Ellies has just one additional visit set to Ohio State for its game against Michigan at the end of November. He’s considering an official visit to Florida, but nothing is set at this time. Those two schools, along with with the Nittany Lions, appear to be the top options with just a little more than six weeks remaining until the early signing period.