As a rookie punt returner last year, Bruce Ellington’s mind-set gradually changed: The wide receiver went from praying he wouldn’t make a mistake to preparing to make a play.
In his first eight games, Ellington had 15 returns and nine fair catches. In his final five games, he had eight returns and three fair catches. Ellington, who didn’t return punts at South Carolina, said he was hoping to avoid disaster before he fielded his first punt in last year’s season opener against Dallas.
“At the beginning, you’ve got guys coming at you. I was like, ‘Man, I’m going to fair catch it.