He played college football at USC and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL draft.

His 2006 season honors included 2006 Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-West, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best of the Rest, San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro honorable mention and San Jose Mercury News All-Area first team playing linebacker and tight end.

[3][4] He was recruited by several BCS conference programs and, beside USC, received athletic scholarship offers from Arizona State, Cal, Oregon and Virginia Tech.

[8] As a redshirt freshman in 2008, Ellison served as an often-used backup tight end.

In 2009, Ellison appeared in all 13 games, serving as a regularly used backup tight end while also making plays on special teams as a sophomore.

As a junior in 2010, Ellison started all season at tight end, hauling in 21 catches for 239 yards (11.4 avg.)

The steady Ellison, equally proficient as a blocker and pass catcher, started at tight end for his second season as a senior in 2011, but also saw time at fullback.

On November 24, 2013, Ellison scored his first career touchdown catch against the Green Bay Packers.

[16] He is the son of three-time Super Bowl champion Riki Ellison, a former USC and NFL linebacker.