Chevis Elliott of Russellville has been named a first-team defensive back overall by the Courier-Journal. He was the only Class 1A player among the 24 first team all-staters in a vote of the state’s coaches.
He was third-team all-state last season. RHS football historian Greg Owens says Elliott is only the third Panther in the program’s 87-year history to be named all-state twice, joining linemen Tommy Wilkins and David Britt.
Elliott was one of 14 seniors who led the 2021 Panthers to a 12-2 record and a spot in the Class 1A state championship game. He was one of nine players who were repeating their senior seasons, thanks to another year being granted by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association because of last year’s COVID-19 pandemic and its effects.
Of the 24 first team all-staters—counting kickers, eight on Class 6A teams, five 4A, two 3A, four 2A, and Elliott. That’s an average of a 4.3 classification.
Earlier Elliott wasnamed an all-state defensive back by Kentucky Sports Radio.
This season Elliott made 9 interceptions and returned them for 130 yards and a touchdown, led the team in solo tackles with 57 and was second overall with 82, caused a fumble and recovered one, rushed 65 times for 471 (over 7 yards per carry) for 4 touchdowns, and caught 5 passes for 42 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Coach Mikie Benton told The C-J’s Jason Frakes, “Chevis Elliott is the epitome of what it means to be a teammate who is all in. Amazing work ethic, hunger, film study and ability to lead. Chevis is someone who sees the entire field and in a blink of an eye can get anywhere on the field to make a play. Open-field tackling, ability to make the big hits, big-play ability and intuitiveness have all led to him leading the state in interceptions this year.”
For his 50-game career, Elliott has accumulated 17 interceptions, 215 solo tackles, 90 assists, 305 total tackles, 1,270 rushing yards on 192 carries (6.6 yards per rush), 23 receptions for 157 yards, and scored 110 points.
In his first senior season on Benton’s district runner-up team, Elliott led the 2020 Panthers in interceptions with 6, solo tackles with 69, and total tackles with 83. He also caused three fumbles, recovering one of them and returning it for a touchdown. On offense, he was the second leading rusher with 315 yards on 31 carries—an average of 10 yards per carry—and scored three touchdowns.
He was also the Panthers’ leading tackler as a junior with 54 solos and 75 total tackles. He was more involved in the offense that year, carrying the ball 61 times for 276 yards and catching eight Lennon Ries passes for 77 yards. All four of his touchdowns came as a receiver.
As a sophomore he had 33 solo tackles and 49 overall, both third on the team. He was the third leading ground gainer with 190 yards on 33 carries, and he caught 10 of Jacob Naylor’s passes for 80 yards. He scored a rushing TD and one on a reception.
Coach John Myers used Chevis in four games as a freshman.
Chevis’ dad, Chris Elliott, was a solid football and basketball player for the Panthers as was his uncle, Daniel Elliott, one of the RHS football coaches. His grandmother, Deborah Elliott, was the Lady Panther volleyball coach for several years.
Greg Owens of the R Club said last year, “Chevis is an honor roll student, multi-sport athlete, leader among peers, and above all else, a tremendous person of high character!”