Area Colleges notebook: PV's Ellis could be in on more plays

Prairie View A&M cornerback Moses Ellis^[1] might have to get used to spending more time on the field this season.

Ellis, a senior, is one of the prime candidates to handle punt return duties for the Panthers and has an outside chance of seeing action at wide receiver. He could get his first stab at the punt return job when Prairie View opens its 2011 campaign against Bethune-Cookman during Sunday's MEAC/SWAC Challenge^[2] at the Florida Citrus Bowl^[3] in Orlando, Fla.

The 5-9, 175-pound Ellis excelled in his primary role last season, leading the Football Championship Subdivision in interceptions (eight) and passes defended (22) en route to being named an All-American. He also tied for the Southwestern Athletic Conference lead in passes broken up with 14.

Ellis, the preseason SWAC Defensive Player of the Year, would have more pressure on his plate as a punt returner, but he's more than willing to take on the extra responsibility.

"In high school, I never came off the field," said Ellis, who grew up in Fort Worth. "I actually liked punt returning, and I have a good feel back there for it. I've been waiting for the opportunity to (return punts), and I'm glad coach (Heishma Northern) finally put me back there. I'm definitely going to show what I can do."

Ellis might also have a chance to show what he can do on offense.

Northern said the coaching staff would consider using Ellis at receiver in certain situations. Ellis, who played both cornerback and receiver at Everman High School^[4], saw limited action on offense during the April 15 Purple and Gold spring game. He recorded an interception and a touchdown reception in that game.

Northern, a former defensive coordinator, said he could see Ellis functioning well as a two-way player.

"If Charles Woodson^[5] can play both ways at Michigan, Moses Ellis can play both ways at Prairie View," Northern said.

HBU adds recruits

Houston Baptist men's basketball coach Ron Cottrell rounded out his 2011 recruiting class earlier this month, signing center Joe Latas and wings Ronald March and Marcus Davis to national letters of intent.

Latas is a 6-11, 275-pound transfer from Cleveland State who is taking graduate school courses at HBU. Latas, who averaged 1.9 points and 1.9 rebounds in 34 games last season at Cleveland State, has one season of eligibility remaining.

March, a 6-5, 175-pound freshman guard, tallied 17 points, nine rebounds, 2.5 assists, four steals and three blocks per game during his final season at Thunderbird High School^[6] in Phoenix.



Davis, a 6-5, 190-pound junior transfer swingman, averaged 14.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 2.9 steals and 1.5 blocks per game as a sophomore last season at South Mountain Community College^[7] in Phoenix.

Latas, March and Davis join guards Marcel Smith, Tyler Russell and Dustin Hobaugh and forward Arthur Bernardi in the Huskies' recruiting class.

Odds and ends

The Sam Houston State volleyball team beat Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Louisiana Tech on Saturday to cap a 4-0 weekend at the Bearkat Invitational. The Bearkats are 4-0 for only the second time since 1983. The Lamar women's soccer team beat Grambling State 7-0 on Friday night in Beaumont, establishing school single-game records for goals and margin of victory. Freshman midfielder Kristin Bos set a program single-game mark with six points on two goals and two assists. The Stephen F. Austin^[8] volleyball team is off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 1992, when the program won its first six matches.

ronnie.turner@chron.com^[9]

References

1. ^{^} Moses Ellis (www.chron.com)
2. ^{^} MEAC/SWAC Challenge (www.chron.com)
3. ^{^} Florida Citrus Bowl (www.chron.com)
4. ^{^} Everman High School (www.chron.com)
5. ^{^} Charles Woodson (www.chron.com)
6. ^{^} Thunderbird High School (www.chron.com)
7. ^{^} South Mountain Community College (www.chron.com)
8. ^{^} Stephen F. Austin (www.chron.com)
9. ^{^} ronnie.turner@chron.com (www.chron.com)