South Carolina Football: Former 2-sport Gamecock honored as Hall of Famer

Former South Carolina football and South Carolina basketball player Bruce Ellington is one of the best athletes the state has ever seen. That is why it comes as no surprise that he was recently elected to the Berkeley High School Hall of Fame.

A star at Berkeley High School, Ellington was a must-watch player when he had the ball in his hands. Because he was the quarterback of the football team and also the Stags’ point guard on the hardwood, that meant fans couldn’t take their eyes off the field or the court at any time.

Out of high school, Ellington was considered a 4-star prospect and top-100 player in the country in both sports but elected to sign with the South Carolina basketball team as the star point guard in a highly-touted 2010 recruiting class.

After playing just basketball as a freshman (and starting every game as the team’s point guard), Bruuuuuuuce joined Steve Spurrier’s squad and played both sports for the Gamecocks.

After taking a year to get acclimated to the college game, Ellington put together two more excellent seasons as a wide receiver for the South Carolina football team and became one of the best to ever wear garnet and black. He put up over 1700 yards of offense and 17 touchdowns in his three-year career, including over 1500 yards and 15 touchdowns in his final two seasons.

Ellington was also part of the Gamecock basketball team when they transitioned from the Darrin Horn era to having Frank Martin at the helm of the program. He was a starter and leader for both coaches and averaged over 11 points and 3 assists for his career while playing excellent defense.

After a strong junior season on the gridiron, NFL scouts were dismayed to learn that Ellington was going to play for Martin’s basketball squad between the Clemson football game and the Capital One Bowl against Wisconsin, but that’s the type of competitor Bruce Ellington was. There was no quit in #23.

Until an all-time great performance against the Badgers (6 catches for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns, 1 9-yard touchdown pass to Shaw, 2 4th-down conversions) resulted in a steep climb in his NFL Draft stock, he had planned to play the whole season. However, millions of dollars were on the line, and Ellington’s basketball career came to an end.

He was drafted in the 4th round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers. His 5-year professional career had several bright spots, especially his 2017 season with the Houston Texans, but injuries ultimately ended his playing days earlier than expected.

For many South Carolina football fans, though, Ellington is best known for his clutch play against the Missouri Tigers in 2013. Down 17-0 late in the 3rd quarter, injured quarterback Connor Shaw entered the game, and he and Ellington went to work.

Shaw’s efforts combined with a ridiculous Ellington 6-yard touchdown catch on the sideline, another diving catch from #23 in the middle of the field, and the pairing’s 4th-and-goal from-the-15 connection in overtime were the catalysts to one of the best comebacks in South Carolina football history.

Perhaps one day Ellington will receive a similar honor from the University of South Carolina, but for now, he is very deserving as the most recent inductee into the Berkeley High School Athletics Hall of Fame.