Northwestern team captain Collin Ellis will retire from football due to medical reasons, head coach Pat Fitzgerald announced Monday. Ellis, a redshirt senior linebacker, has not suited up for the Wildcats since he suffered a concussion on Oct. 11 against Minnesota, his second of the season.
Team captain and linebacker Collin Ellis will retire from football for medical reasons. #B1GCats http://ift.tt/1pJz8V7
— #B1GCats Football (@NUFBFamily) November 10, 2014 “It’s a decision I think is absolutely the correct one,” Fitzgerald said per ESPN.com. “It’s one that he’s made with our medical team. And we’ve been in a lot of private conversations, Collin and I, and I think it’s the right decision short-term and also the right decision long-term.”
In five games played this season, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound Ellis registered 33 tackles, one tackle for loss, one sack and one interception. After playing primarily on special teams in 2011 and 2012, Ellis emerged as a starter at strong-side linebacker last season and racked up 78 tackles and three interceptions.
“It’s really sad and disappointing that he wont get a chance to put on the helmet again and the jersey and go out and play,” Fitzgerald said. “But he’s had a wonderful career. He’s doing a great job passing on his knowledge, his love, his passion.”
The possibility that Ellis would not be able to return to the field has been in the cards for a few weeks.
“My heart’s broken for him,” Fitzgerald said late last month. “My hope is that if things work out, be will get a chance to play again, but we have to do what’s right for the rest of his life.”
Ellis is now the third Northwestern player to retire from football this season due to injury. Cornerback Daniel Jones retired during the summer due to a knee injury while Dwight White, also a cornerback, discovered he has only one kidney earlier this season and announced his retirement in October.
The Wildcats lost their fourth straight game over the weekend to drop to 3-6 on the season. They will travel to South Bend to play Notre Dame Saturday afternoon.
For more Northwestern news, visit WildcatReport.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
From Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo Sports - Northwestern LB Collin Ellis retires due to concussions
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