‘The first to teach me.’ How State High helped Keaton Ellis become a captain at Penn State
Keaton Ellis doesn’t have to go far to get back to his high school stomping grounds. The trip to State College Area High School is a short one for the Nittany Lion, but after his first four years at Penn State, he wishes he’d have made it more often.
“I wish I would have done better, if we’re being completely honest,” Ellis said Wednesday at Big Ten Media Days. “... I try to give back when I can. But I think I could do better.”
That drew a chuckle from his former head coach at State High — Matt Lintal — when it was relayed to him. Lintal told the Centre Daily Times he couldn’t think of a time where Ellis didn’t answer the phone when he called. Whether it was helping at a camp, staying involved in the high school community or just keeping in touch, Ellis answered.
His humble nature was apparent early on when he played for the Little Lions, eventually leading him to be one of the high school football program’s captains.
Now, entering year five at Penn State, Ellis has once again found himself at the forefront as one of the Nittany Lions’ captains heading into the 2023 season.
Despite his father, Bruce, being a former walk-on football player for the program, it was not a guarantee that Ellis would head down this path. In fact, he was a soccer player growing up and came to football late.
That’s one of the reasons he gives so much credit to the staff at State High.
“They were a great support system for me,” Ellis said. “I kinda got into football late, so they were really my first coaches. Obviously my dad was my main one, but I didn’t really have any little league or coaches like that. They were the first to teach me the ins and outs of the game. I really owe a lot to them for my development through high school. I really appreciate them.”
For all the staff gave to him, Ellis is giving just as much back. All of those little things he did to help Lintal and State High are part of what the head coach and his staff strive to instill in the Little Lions.
It’s always been about more than just football for Lintal, and Ellis is a shining example of what it looks like when a talented player leads with empathy, something at the core of the Little Lions’ football program.
“It’s not just about winning games,” Lintal told the CDT. “It’s trying to do it the right way and build people with character and empathy that will go out and lead the world for good. ... Keaton is certainly one of those guys that we expect big things from long after he’s done playing football.”
His development off the field is going to be crucial for a Penn State team that was looking for leadership when it came into the offseason. Penn State head coach James Franklin mentioned the need to find it at the beginning of spring ball and it seems it’s rounding into form thanks to players like Ellis.
That will help bring the cohesion necessary for a successful team, but it’s even more meaningful when it comes from a player that is showing why they can lead with their production, too. Former Nittany Lion safety Ji’Ayir Brown was a leader and backed it up by being one of the best to ever do it at the position for Penn State.
With him gone, Ellis is going to be tasked with replacing him, and on the field he’s starting to show the flashes of upside that could lead to a breakout campaign this season.
“Keaton has played a ton of football at Penn State,” Franklin said this week in Indianapolis. “He really started out as a playmaker who could play wide receiver or defensive back. And although he’s had a ton of success and played a lot of games, that playmaking is not what we thought it was gonna be the first couple of years. This spring, I saw that from him. Those skills that he had as a wide receiver from high school, I saw that coming back. I saw him playing fast and making plays.”
Ellis’ playmaking, as Franklin noted, was prevalent throughout his high school career. It was one of the things he excelled at most because he played wide receiver and cornerback for Lintal and the Little Lions and made those plays on both sides of the ball. If that starts to show itself this year, he can take a big step forward.
And he’ll need to take a step. There will be — much deserved — hype around other safeties on the roster.
Zakee Wheatley is a ball hawk who could lead the country in interceptions. Jaylen Reed is a big hitter who continues to improve in coverage. K.J. Winston is entering his second year with a chance to take an enormous leap and try to find his own way down the same path Brown did before him.
In front of all of them will be Ellis, entering his final season playing for the school his dad suited up for and the one he played his high school football just a few miles away from — leading the school he dreamed of playing for as a child.
