There was a lot on the mind of Oakland football standout Stephen Ellison entering the 2023 season.
One concern was playing his senior season after suffering a severe concussion the previous year. It not only kept the 5-foot-11, 185-pound safety off the football field the entire season, but also led to a six-month road to recovery after spending several days in the hospital.
Another thing that weighed on him was the death of former teammate Jeremiah Collins, who was killed in an automobile accident in late July while driving to Austin Peay, where he had signed to play football.
Ellison did play in 2023, leading the Patriots to a 12-3 season and fourth consecutive trip to the Class 6A BlueCross Bowl.
Ellison has been named The Daily News Journal All-Sports Travis Weber Courage Award winner for the 2023-24 school year.
Stephen Ellison had big decision to make with football career
A Grade 3 concussion suffered on the first day in full pads in 2022, coupled with stress, put Ellison in the hospital for five days. He was unable to respond to those around him when initially admitted and couldn't walk, talk or use his hands.
Months later, after recovery and rehab, the college prospect had to make a decision on his future, one that ultimately led him back to the football field.
"I just kept taking advice from my parents and coaches and going out there and doing what I know how to do," Ellison said. "It was around game three or four (when the nerves went away). I realized I know I still got it and can still do it. I got back in the swing of it."
Late in the season Ellison suffered a knee injury that kept him out of the playoffs before returning for the BlueCross Bowl, where he had an interception in the team's 24-9 loss to Houston.
"After the first injury I knew I could overcome anything," said Ellison, who finished the season with 37 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and five pass deflections.
Death of Jeremiah Collins hit Stephen Ellison harder than others
Like the rest of his teammates, Ellison was stunned over the death of Collins, an all-area defensive back in his one season with the Patriots.
But it struck Ellison, who was planning on being teammates with Collins at Austin Peay, a little harder than most on the team.
"It was very difficult," said Ellison, who was friends with Collins before he moved to Murfreesboro from Louisville. "The worst thing about it is, the day I heard about the news, I was heading down to Austin Peay to visit with him.
"It hit different."
Ellison, along with fellow senior Duce Hewitt, carried a jersey with Collins' No. 12 onto the field prior to the 2023 BlueCross Bowl.
"It definitely made us closer," Ellison said. "It gave us more of a purpose on why we were playing the game and why we were doing the season."
Stephen Ellison ready for fresh start at Austin Peay
Oakland coach Kevin Creasy appreciated how Ellison overcame numerous obstacles to finish out his high school career.
"After seeing what he went through, sitting in the emergency room, then having the courage to come back and work and get back to playing," Creasy said. "Because of that (injury), a lot of people, even myself, might not have played anymore. But he worked his tail off to get back. He really appreciated football after that and had a heck of a senior year."
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Ellison is healthy again and ready for fall football practice at Austin Peay, where he signed as a senior. He is already taking summer classes there.
"With all of this behind me, I'm looking for a fresh start for the next four years," Ellison said. "Hopefully I'll do my best and go off the best I can."
Cecil Joyce covers high school sports and MTSU athletics for The Daily News Journal. Contact him at cjoyce@dnj.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, @Cecil_Joyce.
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