The Chargers moved to add more depth to their secondary from the Pac-10 talent pool with their sixth-round pick, this time adding strong safety 
In the fifth-round, the Chargers took a pure cover cornerback in Oregon State’s
Ellison, the 189th pick overall, was a first-team All-Pac-10 pick that made 34 starts in his career for the Trojans. He’s a Los Angeles-area native and the younger brother of Bills linebacker Keith Ellison. What knocked the younger Ellison down in the draft to the later rounds were questions about his speed and three knee operations during his college career.
“He’s a strong safety that is real big and physical and strong against the run,” said John Spanos, Director College Scouting. “He’s a very instinctive and aware player that plays faster than his 40 time. He played on one of the best college defenses in the nation.”
USC was touting Ellison as an All-American candidate and he was on the Bronko Nagurski Award watch list before injuries limited him to eight games. But he was still sixth on the team in tackles with 47 for an average of nearly six a game.
Ellison was a running back and linebacker in high school and rushed for1,661 yards as senior at Redondo Union High. He’s expected to have special teams value while he finds a niche on defense.
“We think he can improve our depth at the position,” Spanos said. “He had good production in college, and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do."
