Clarence Ellis starred in track and field as well as football at Central High School, became an All-American defensive back at the University of Notre Dame and played three years in the NFL as the first-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in the 1972 draft.
He was a long-time record holder for the long jump in the City League and won the 1968 Class B individual state championship in long jump with a leap of 23-feet, 1 ½ inches. He also starred on the football field and accepted a scholarship offer to Notre Dame.
Notre Dame’s legendary coach, Ara Parseghian, called Ellis the best defensive back he coached in his years at Notre Dame. Ellis, a three-year starter, earned All-American honors in 1971, his senior season. In his junior year he intercepted seven passes for the Irish.
He’s best remembered in Notre Dame lore for being the Most Valuable Defensive Player in the 1971 Cotton Bowl Classic. In that game the Irish stopped the 30-game winning streak of defending national champion Texas, 24-11. Joe Theismann led the offense with two touchdown runs and a touchdown pass, and Ellis led the defense against the vaunted Texas option attack as the Irish forced nine fumbles.
Atlanta selected him in the first round at pick No. 15 overall and he played three seasons with the Falcons. In the 1975 training camp with the Denver Broncos he suffered a knee injury that ended his career. He had eight interceptions in his three seasons with the Falcons.
Ellis moved back to Atlanta following his NFL career and embarked on business career.