JimBob
01-22-2008, 09:21 AM
Elliott looks to future
By MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer
1/22/2008
Last Modified: 1/22/2008 9:48 AM
Team owners say the standout must be on his best behavior.
Prentiss Elliott said he wants to create a future brighter than his troubled past, and the Tulsa Talons are willing to give him that chance.
The former high school football standout has been assigned to the af2-champion Talons, almost three full years since he last played organized football.
Elliott was dismissed from the Oklahoma State squad after a promising freshman season in 2004. OSU head coach Mike Gundy said Elliott violated team policies.
"Everybody makes mistakes and I'm trying to learn from them and put them behind me. That's all a person can do," Elliott said Monday in a phone interview.
"God gave me the ability to play football and I'm thankful to the Talons for giving me this opportunity. People have gone on from (the af2) to the (Arena Football League) and NFL," Elliott said.
Hardly anyone in the Talons organization doubts that Elliott can play the indoor game at a high level.
"His big thing is going to be whether he can catch up to the speed of the game," said Talons coach Mitch Allner. "As long as he can do that, he's going to be a really good player."
The larger question is whether Elliott can overcome a past that includes several run-ins with the law, two misdemeanor convictions, allegations of gang activity and court records indicating a history of violence toward women.
"The Talons understand Prentiss' past and believe he is committed to placing 100 percent of his efforts toward making our team," said Henry Primeaux, co-owner of the Talons with Paul Ross.
Ross said the Talons can't tolerate any trouble.
"Prentiss has to be perfect. He understands that. He has to be on time, be in meetings, and compete. Hopefully, he'll do those things and this will turn into a Cinderella story," Ross said.
Tulsa attorney Richard O'Carroll said Elliott "has done a lot of growing up in the past year."
O'Carroll said he started to see a change in Elliott, 23, before June 2007 when Elliott pleaded no contest to transporting a firearm and received 15 days in jail.
"He knows what he has on the line and he realizes how quickly those doors can close," said Elliott's agent, Ellwood Ott.
Elliott said he's distanced himself from people who haven't been the healthiest influences on him in the past. He enjoys working out with younger brother Shawn Jackson, a McLain School of Science and Technology quarterback, and doing odd jobs for McLain basketball coach John Phillips.
Elliott had a legendary high school career at McLain, formerly known as Tulsa High School of Science and Technology. As a senior in 2003, he led the state in rushing with 2,513 yards and scored 32 touchdowns.
By MIKE BROWN World Sports Writer
1/22/2008
Last Modified: 1/22/2008 9:48 AM
Team owners say the standout must be on his best behavior.
Prentiss Elliott said he wants to create a future brighter than his troubled past, and the Tulsa Talons are willing to give him that chance.
The former high school football standout has been assigned to the af2-champion Talons, almost three full years since he last played organized football.
Elliott was dismissed from the Oklahoma State squad after a promising freshman season in 2004. OSU head coach Mike Gundy said Elliott violated team policies.
"Everybody makes mistakes and I'm trying to learn from them and put them behind me. That's all a person can do," Elliott said Monday in a phone interview.
"God gave me the ability to play football and I'm thankful to the Talons for giving me this opportunity. People have gone on from (the af2) to the (Arena Football League) and NFL," Elliott said.
Hardly anyone in the Talons organization doubts that Elliott can play the indoor game at a high level.
"His big thing is going to be whether he can catch up to the speed of the game," said Talons coach Mitch Allner. "As long as he can do that, he's going to be a really good player."
The larger question is whether Elliott can overcome a past that includes several run-ins with the law, two misdemeanor convictions, allegations of gang activity and court records indicating a history of violence toward women.
"The Talons understand Prentiss' past and believe he is committed to placing 100 percent of his efforts toward making our team," said Henry Primeaux, co-owner of the Talons with Paul Ross.
Ross said the Talons can't tolerate any trouble.
"Prentiss has to be perfect. He understands that. He has to be on time, be in meetings, and compete. Hopefully, he'll do those things and this will turn into a Cinderella story," Ross said.
Tulsa attorney Richard O'Carroll said Elliott "has done a lot of growing up in the past year."
O'Carroll said he started to see a change in Elliott, 23, before June 2007 when Elliott pleaded no contest to transporting a firearm and received 15 days in jail.
"He knows what he has on the line and he realizes how quickly those doors can close," said Elliott's agent, Ellwood Ott.
Elliott said he's distanced himself from people who haven't been the healthiest influences on him in the past. He enjoys working out with younger brother Shawn Jackson, a McLain School of Science and Technology quarterback, and doing odd jobs for McLain basketball coach John Phillips.
Elliott had a legendary high school career at McLain, formerly known as Tulsa High School of Science and Technology. As a senior in 2003, he led the state in rushing with 2,513 yards and scored 32 touchdowns.