Kenneth A. Ellis (1994) - Hall of Fame - Southwestern Athletic Conference

Hall of Fame

Background & College

Ken Ellis played college football at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
At SU, he starred in multiple roles — flanker, halfback, and punt returner
Notably, in 1968 he led the nation with a 33-yard average on punt returns while at SU.
He was inducted into the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Hall of Fame in 1994 for his football career at SU.
According to a Coursicle listing, a “Kenneth Ellis” teaches SPTH 100 & SPTH 200 at Southern University.
- Note: It’s not confirmed that this is the same Ken Ellis as the football player, so this point may require verification.

Professional Football Career

Ellis was drafted in the 4th round of the 1970 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers.
He switched positions from offense to defense early in his pro career — moving to cornerback after initially being a wide-receiver/returner prospect.
During his time with the Packers:
- He intercepted 20 passes in 83 games (82 starts) with Green Bay.
- He led the NFL in punt return average (15.4 yards) in 1972.
- He earned Pro Bowl selections in 1973 & 1974 and All-Pro honors in 1972 & 1973.
After Green Bay he played for several other teams (including the Houston Oilers, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams) before retiring.

Post-Football Life & Legacy

After his football playing career, Ellis became active in ministry. He became an associate pastor at the Bethany World Prayer Center in Baton Rouge and served as a chaplain (including for SU and other organizations).
His achievements have been recognized via hall-of-fame inductions (SWAC, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, etc.).

Why this is relevant

Ken Ellis’s story is a good example of a student-athlete at an HBCU (historically black college/university) making a transition to the professional level, excelling in multiple phases (special teams, defense), and then applying his platform in community/ministry work. His time at Southern University is a significant foundational chapter in that journey.

Additional Notes / Things to Verify

While much of his football career is well documented, there's less publicly available detail about his academic studies, specific degrees at Southern University (if any beyond athletic participation), and full chronology of his post-football work.
The listing of “Kenneth Ellis” teaching at SU (SPTH courses) may refer to him, but that is not confirmed in major biographical articles; you might want to verify with the university directory or department.
If you are seeking Kenneth A. Ellis in a different capacity at Southern University (e.g., faculty member, administrator) rather than the football player, please clarify and I can check further.