by By Dan Ninham
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College competes at the NJCAA level. Last season in 2019 the Norsemen had a 4-5 record. One of the new recruits on Signing Day 2020 was Chayton Ellick, 6’1, 280 lb. offensive lineman from Stroud High School, Stroud, Oklahoma.
Chayton Ellick is enrolled in the Quapaw Nation. He is a member of the Elk Clan. His mom is Lana Ellick and his dad is Shawn Ellick. They live in Stroud, Oklahoma.
“I compete for my family and my tribe,” said Chayton. “I like to tell people that I’m part of the Quapaw Nation and show off my tribe the right way! I played football and baseball for four years, basketball for three years, and track for two years. I got the Freshman of the Year award in basketball, and Offensive Lineman of the Year and First Team All District my junior year in football. My senior your I got the District A-7 Offensive Lineman of the Year, and Class A Offensive Lineman of the Year. During my junior year I got the Junior of the Year award in baseball.”
“Chay has been the leader of his O-line since his junior year,” said dad Shawn Ellick. “His older brother Billie Ellick was the starting center before him. When Chay took over he converted from tight end to center and he wasn’t too thrilled with at first. But after the first couple of games he fell in love with it. He started taking the time to craft his skills by attending Trench Mafia and is led by JR Conrad. Chay was taking what he was learning from there and going back to school and passing it on to the other linemen during practice. He said that he showed the other guys things that he was learning and that they were all trying to do these things also.”
“During this time he would go to the junior high practices and show the young guys some of the techniques that he was learning to help them out a bit. And there were a few times that he even went to talk and show the pee-wee teams things he was learning,” added Shawn.
“On the field he was the guy the other linemen would come to when they had questions,” said Shawn. “You could see him directing what to do pre-snap pretty much telling his line what to do. He learned a lot about his position pretty quick.”
“Off the field he was helping with the JCC, FCA, FFCLA, and pretty much anyone that needed anything. Whether it meant decorating for a dance, or moving tables and chairs for a banquet, or hanging Christmas lights at our downtown pavilion for the Christmas Parade, he was there. He also would go to the grade school and read to the little kids,” added Shawn.
“What is rewarding about this is when we are out and about some little kid comes by and says ‘hi’ to him or gives him a fist bump,” said Shawn. “He may have been in their classroom reading to them or he took the time to talk to them when he was showing them things at their practices. These were just a few things that I could think of that describes his leadership skills, and he is building on day-by-day.”
James Robert (J.R.) Conrad was the first Oklahoma Sooner football player to start at center as a true freshman in 1992. He played on the offensive line for four seasons. The Sooner’s compiled a 25-18-3 record with two bowl appearances. He didn’t redshirt and not only played in, but started 46 college games.
In 1996 J.R. was drafted by the New England Patriots and played in Super Bowl XXXI in 1997. The team lost to the Green Bay Packers 34-21. J.R. also played for the New York Jets under Coach Parcells and the Miami Dolphins. After pro football he coached Oklahoma high school football.
He now runs the Trench Mafia, a training facility that specializes in developing offensive linemen in a group training method. J.R. also worked at the Eastern Oklahoma OL/DL Camp for many years.
“I have watched Chayton grow into such a fine young man,” said J.R. Conrad, Trench Mafia and Eastern Shawnee Tribal member. “I watched him and his older brother carry waters out to the drum for years, he comes from a very traditional family. Chayton has grown into such a leader for us, he first started coming I think it was only about football, but he found that the best thing is the brotherhood. I have seen his confidence and skill level soar. He is a servant leader, he shares and mentors the younger guys and he is always building others confidence, and carried back what we do to his own locker room.”
“Chayton is a multi-sport athlete at Stroud High School, he has earned a scholarship to NEO A&M Junior College which is one of the best junior colleges in the country,” said J.R. “No doubt he will graduate and have more opportunities leaving NEO to further play and obtain a college degree. My favorite picture was him in his football jersey surrounded by elementary kids reading on a game day, that’s Chayton the same young man I have seen at ceremony carry endless cases of water to others.”
“One of the coolest things I spoke recently with him was about becoming an uncle and he smiled and you could tell he was so proud and happy for his older brother Billie. The Ellick’s should be proud, Shawn and Lana have raised two great young men, who honor tradition, love family and represent the Quapaw Tribe in a great way. Trench Mafia is better for having Chayton be a part of it,” added J.R.
“I think about the people before me and the little one’s coming after me to set a good example,” said Chayton.
“I am the girls basketball coach at Stroud,” said Jake Jobe. “I never coached Chayton directly. I have always enjoyed being around him and conversations we have had. He is a really good kid. I have a five-year old son and he loves Chayton. Chayton has included him with the older kids and played with catch and shot baskets with him. I loved watching Chayton play in high school and his passion for football and his love for his teammates showed on and off the field. Chayton has the mindset of empathy and this is a positive strength for all people.”
“Chayton was one of the reasons we had success as a football team,” said Terry Williams, Offensive/Defensive Line Coach at Stoud HS. “We needed a leader on the OL/DL and he filled that need. He motivated his teammates and helped the younger guys with techniques. He is a great young man to be around.” Coach Williams is Pawnee and Arapaho.
Chayton continues to want to improve his skills. “I just gotta keep working out and running to stay in shape if I want to play college football,” said Chayton. “I have to work on staying focused during practice and getting more reps at my position.”
“I like to compete, I hate losing,” said Chayton. “I won’t let anyone out work me! I like to joke around and have fun. I’m a different person beyond the lights,” said Chayton.
Photo Credit: Jennifer Young and Maxx Williams
