NFL dream materializes for Jonathan, Ellis Wade
By Brian Vernellis June 15, 2008
Like most proud parents, Ellis and Victoria Wade display all the certificates, awards and trophies of their son Jonathan throughout their west Shreveport home.
Proclamations of outstanding athletic achievement hang on the walls of his bedroom. An athlete of the week award from a local television station adorns the mantel. One corner of the family room is devoted to the SEC honors he accumulated while at Tennessee.
The piece de resistance though is Jonathan's framed St. Louis Rams jersey hanging over the fireplace.
Jonathan, a star at Evangel and Tennessee, was selected by St. Louis in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft ahead of former Eagles teammates Chase Pittman and Keyunta Dawson.
Ellis, a star at Grambling under head coach Eddie Robinson, signed a free-agent contract with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1969. He attended one minicamp, but the U.S. Army drafted him and sent him to Germany before his pro football career had a chance to begin.
"I'm living out my dream and living out his dream too," Jonathan said. "I fell in love playing the game, and I'm representing myself and my family every time I'm on the field."
His father played a large part in his journey trip to the NFL, though Ellis never had visions of pro football for his son. It was all about Ellis preparing his son for adulthood.
"College was fine for me," Ellis said. "If he got his college degree, and did well in school, that was super. That's all I ever wished for."
But, when Jonathan was a sophomore at Evangel, Ellis noticed how his athletic ability was maturing. Most notably, Jonathan's blazing speed caught Ellis' eye.
"I kept noticing that speed, and I knew then he was going to a major school," Ellis said.
That's when Tennessee came calling, and where Jonathan blossomed. A two-sport star for the Volunteers, Wade anchored the 4x100 team that won the SEC title and was NCAA runner-up in 2003.
Two years later, he was an All-American in indoor and outdoor track.
For the football team, his role switched from receiver to cornerback to utilize his speed. He made 28 starts and was second-team All-SEC his senior season.
His speed attracted the Rams, who selected him with the 84th overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft.
"I don't think he had a big dream of playing in the NFL," Ellis said. "He got off into track, and he was mostly concerned about track.
"We talk and laugh about it now because he watches football all the time. He's watching film or watching his technique."
Jonathan had a solid rookie season, appearing in 16 games and making one start. The Rams expect him to play a bigger role, and everything his father instilled from a young age is guiding him through life of professional football.
"He always had a direction for me," Jonathan said. "I learned that you never quit from an early age.
"Every time I made a play at Tennessee, I felt that I had made him proud."
Jonathan has become the consummate professional in his second season, constantly poring over film, working on his technique and hitting the weight room.
"There was a lot of adjustment for him," Ellis said. "He played a lot because people got hurt. He got a lot of experience. He did good. He had a good rookie season.
"He's got his head on straight, I'm done with my job. I don't have to worry. He wants to be the best cornerback they got."
And Jonathan hasn't forgotten any of the lessons from his father.
"He showed me that you do what you have to do to be successful," Jonathan said. "There will be time to go out later, but I didn't understand that when I was K-12.
"Now that I'm a 24-year-old man, I understand that completely."
By Brian Vernellis June 15, 2008
Like most proud parents, Ellis and Victoria Wade display all the certificates, awards and trophies of their son Jonathan throughout their west Shreveport home.
Proclamations of outstanding athletic achievement hang on the walls of his bedroom. An athlete of the week award from a local television station adorns the mantel. One corner of the family room is devoted to the SEC honors he accumulated while at Tennessee.
The piece de resistance though is Jonathan's framed St. Louis Rams jersey hanging over the fireplace.
Jonathan, a star at Evangel and Tennessee, was selected by St. Louis in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft ahead of former Eagles teammates Chase Pittman and Keyunta Dawson.
Ellis, a star at Grambling under head coach Eddie Robinson, signed a free-agent contract with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1969. He attended one minicamp, but the U.S. Army drafted him and sent him to Germany before his pro football career had a chance to begin.
"I'm living out my dream and living out his dream too," Jonathan said. "I fell in love playing the game, and I'm representing myself and my family every time I'm on the field."
His father played a large part in his journey trip to the NFL, though Ellis never had visions of pro football for his son. It was all about Ellis preparing his son for adulthood.
"College was fine for me," Ellis said. "If he got his college degree, and did well in school, that was super. That's all I ever wished for."
But, when Jonathan was a sophomore at Evangel, Ellis noticed how his athletic ability was maturing. Most notably, Jonathan's blazing speed caught Ellis' eye.
"I kept noticing that speed, and I knew then he was going to a major school," Ellis said.
That's when Tennessee came calling, and where Jonathan blossomed. A two-sport star for the Volunteers, Wade anchored the 4x100 team that won the SEC title and was NCAA runner-up in 2003.
Two years later, he was an All-American in indoor and outdoor track.
For the football team, his role switched from receiver to cornerback to utilize his speed. He made 28 starts and was second-team All-SEC his senior season.
His speed attracted the Rams, who selected him with the 84th overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft.
"I don't think he had a big dream of playing in the NFL," Ellis said. "He got off into track, and he was mostly concerned about track.
"We talk and laugh about it now because he watches football all the time. He's watching film or watching his technique."
Jonathan had a solid rookie season, appearing in 16 games and making one start. The Rams expect him to play a bigger role, and everything his father instilled from a young age is guiding him through life of professional football.
"He always had a direction for me," Jonathan said. "I learned that you never quit from an early age.
"Every time I made a play at Tennessee, I felt that I had made him proud."
Jonathan has become the consummate professional in his second season, constantly poring over film, working on his technique and hitting the weight room.
"There was a lot of adjustment for him," Ellis said. "He played a lot because people got hurt. He got a lot of experience. He did good. He had a good rookie season.
"He's got his head on straight, I'm done with my job. I don't have to worry. He wants to be the best cornerback they got."
And Jonathan hasn't forgotten any of the lessons from his father.
"He showed me that you do what you have to do to be successful," Jonathan said. "There will be time to go out later, but I didn't understand that when I was K-12.
"Now that I'm a 24-year-old man, I understand that completely."