GENTRY -- Zach Ellis wasn't sure what to expect when he attended a football camp at Arkansas-Monticello about a month ago.
He certainly didn't foresee a college scholarship offer coming his way. But that's exactly what happened.
2014 Gentry Pioneers Football Schedule
Sept. 5^at West Fork
Sept. 12^at Charleston
Sept. 19^Greenland
Sept. 26^Pea Ridge*
Oct. 3^at Berryville*
Oct. 10^Huntsville*
Oct. 17^at Shiloh Christian*
Oct. 24^Prairie Grove*
Oct. 31^Lincoln*
Nov. 7^at Gravette*
- denotes 4A-1 Conference games.
All games start at 7 p.m.
The 6-foot-2, 295 pound seniors wasn't sure what to think when UAM coach Hud Jackson called him over between drills.
"He came up and said, 'We'd like to offer you,'" Ellis said. "I was a little confused. I was like, 'What does that mean?'"
A smile came across Ellis' face as he recalled that moment again. He was one of two players offered out of 32 who attended the one-day camp on the UAM campus.
"It was really cool," Ellis said.
Gentry football coach Brian Little's face lit up too when hearing about Ellis' reaction. He credited Pioneers defensive coordinator Daniel Ramsey with encouraging Ellis to attend a camp or two for the opportunity to be seen by college coaches.
"Ouachita Baptist had one, too, but it was the same day as UAM," Little said. "We just wanted him to go and have the opportunity and low and behold something like that happens."
The scholarship offer to play football is a tangible reward for hard work in the weight room during the offseason. Ellis weight over 300 pounds a year ago, but got down to 285 in order to wrestle in the heavyweight division last winter. He's currently a much more fit 295. Better mobility to go with added strength are some benefits he can take to the football field.
But Little said it wasn't a case of Ellis needing to get in much better shape.
"It wasn't like he had major changes to make," Little said. "He's always been athletic. As a youngster, he was ahead of his peers in size. It was more like the natural maturation process took over."
"He lost a little of that youthful body fat and converted it to muscle. He's becoming a young man. That doesn't happen sometimes until they get out of high school.
But there's not disputing Ellis is more nimble these days, Little said.
"He's interested in playing on the basketball team this year and watching him at our senior retreat, he's got some touch and can move," Little said.
He's also got a little more confidence that comes with a college scholarship offer.
"He's got a little of the confidence that goes with knowing that somebody may really want me," Little said. "That goes a long way for a kid and I think that will continue to come out."
Ellis will also start on the defensive line for the Pioneers this season and he acknowledged the coaches at UAM didn't specify where they would like him best.
"The offensive coach talked to me, but he and defensive coordinator were arguing," Ellis said with a laugh.
Little also pointed to some growth emotionally and mentally that should help him be a better player, too, Little said.
"He's made some personal statements that he wants to dedicate himself to performing at a high level and grinding it out on every snap," Little said.
Sports on 08/23/2014