Ellis Hobbs

Infobox NFLactive


currentteam=New England Patriots
currentnumber=27
currentposition=Cornerback
birthdate=birth date and age|1983|5|16
birthplace=Niagara Falls, New York
heightft=5
heightin=9
weight=195
debutyear=2005
debutteam=New England Patriots
highlights=
*Longest kickoff return (108 yds)
college=Iowa State
draftyear=2005
draftround=3
draftpick=84
pastteams=
* New England Patriots (2005-present)
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Tackles
statvalue1=151
statlabel2=Sacks
statvalue2=1.0
statlabel3=INTs
statvalue3=6
nfl=HOB243174

Ellis Hobbs III (born May 16, 1983 in Niagara Falls, New York) is an American football cornerback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. Hobbs, drafted in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft out of Iowa State University, holds the NFL record for longest kickoff return (108 yards).

High school career

Hobbs attended DeSoto High School in DeSoto, Texas, where he was a standout in football and track. In track, he participated on the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams and the long jump. On the gridiron, he starred at corner as well as running back; he ran for 1,701 yards on 233 carries with 29 touchdowns and caught 18 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns.

Collegiate career

Hobbs graduated from Iowa State University in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in Art and Visual Communication. A three-year starter at right cornerback, he compiled 209 tackles, two sacks, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, and 29 pass deflections during his tenure. He also found success as a kick returner, gaining 490 yards on 24 career kick returns. He earned All-Big 12 Conference first-team honors as a senior. Hobbs also received the Academic Athlete of the Year Award and was a finalist for Christian Athlete of the Year at ISU.

NFL career

2005 season

Despite limited playing time early in the season, Hobbs made a number of contributions to the Patriots in his rookie season. A string of injuries in the Patriots secondary resulted in Hobbs starting at cornerback the final eight games of the season. Hobbs stepped up to the challenge, snagging three interceptions, and earning 371 yards on 15 kickoff returns (including a crucial 35-yard return in the Patriots' game-winning drive against the Pittsburgh Steelers).

2006 season

Although Hobbs initially won the starting cornerback job opposite Asante Samuel, Hobbs struggled somewhat during his second year in the NFL, in part because of a broken wrist suffered early in the season. Hobbs, who wore a black cast for much of the season, missed a couple of games and lost his job as starter during the second half of the season. Nevertheless, he had two interceptions for the season (one in garbage time against the Vikings, which he returned 70 yards). In addition, filling in for an injured Laurence Maroney at kick returner, he returned a kick against Miami for 51 yards, and returned a kick against the Houston Texans for 93 yards and a touchdown, the first of his career, and the first kickoff return for a touchdown by a Patriot since Bethel Johnson in 2004. For the season, he recorded 47 total tackles, 2 interceptions, and 4 passes defensed. He also recorded 14 total tackles in the Patriots' three playoff games.

Hobbs performed well in the 2006 playoffs, breaking up several potential touchdown passes, including two in the Divisional round against the San Diego Chargers, and one in the AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts. That play against the Colts was flagged as pass interference, a call that proved controversial. Although Greg Aiello, NFL vice president of communications, stated it was correctly flagged as pass interference [ [http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/01/28/nfl_hobbs_call_was_correct/ NFL: Hobbs call was correct] ] in January, the NFL ultimately issued a letter of apology to Hobbs, stating that he had not, in fact, committed a foul. [ [http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1013840&srvc=sports NFL apology Colt comfort for Hobbs] ] Hobbs also returned a kickoff 80 yards in the AFC Championship Game.

2007 season

On September 9, 2007, Hobbs broke the record for the longest kickoff return in NFL history when he ran a Mike Nugent kickoff back 108 yards for a touchdown against the New York Jets at Giants Stadium. At the time, it also tied the record for the longest play in NFL history.

In Week 3, against the Bills, Hobbs recorded his first NFL sack when he brought down J. P. Losman on a blitz; he also forced a fumble, which was recovered by Patriots defensive end Jarvis Green. In Week 10, in the rematch at Buffalo, Hobbs recovered a fumble by Bills running back Dwayne Wright (forced by Patriots safety James Sanders), and returned it for his second return touchdown of the season.

In week 17 against the New York Giants, Ellis Hobbs intercepted a pass by Giants quarterback Eli Manning in the fourth quarter, which ultimately led to the Patriots' go-ahead touchdown in the game that completed New England's perfect 16-0 season. [ [http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/12/30/hobbs_picks_great_time_for_first_int/ Hobbs picks great time for first INT - The Boston Globe ] ] He also intercepted a pass by Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers in the AFC Championship Game.

In Super Bowl XLII, Hobbs again intercepted a Manning pass that deflected off the hands of New York Giants rookie wide receiver, Steve Smith. Near the conclusion of the game, wide receiver Plaxico Burress beat Hobbs on a 13-yard touchdown pass with 35 seconds left to give the Giants the winning score.

Hobbs played in the Super Bowl with a torn labrum in his shoulder in addition to the chronic groin pain previously reported. Hobbs had Dr. James Andrews repair the shoulder, which was originally injured in Week 9, on February 12. Andrews says that Hobbs should be fine by Week 1. It's the second straight offseason Hobbs has had to rehab from surgery. He had a procedure to fix the groin in early February.

Hobbs is also an avid Madden player in his free time. On January 20th Ellis defeated the Branford (CT)Patriots 27-20 in the Elite 8 of the Broadband Madden League in which he plays in. He was eliminated one week later by the Tampa Bay (FL)Chargers in the Final Four. Hobbs finished the season 15-7.

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.patriots.com/team/index.cfm?ac=playerbio&bio=30939 Official biography on Patriots.com]