The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
2025 Football Roster
Ennis, Eli

Jersey Number 44
Eli Ennis
- Prev School:
- Nicholls
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 220
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Ohatchee, Ala.
- High School:
- Ohatchee
Bio
2024 Season at Nicholls (Junior): Led the team with 111 total tackles...7.5 TFL and two sacks...five QB Hurries, three PBU, three interceptions, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries...recorded 10+ tackles in six games...career-high in tackles (14) against UIW and Houston Christian...13 tackles against LSU on September 7
- Buck Buchanan National Defensive Player of the Year Finalist
- Stats Perform FCS All-America Second Team
- Associated Press (AP) FCS All-America Honorable
- All-Southland First Team
- All-Louisiana Second Team
- Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week (9/2)
2023 Season at Nicholls (Sophomore): Finished sixth on the team with 44 tackles... had 5.0 tackles for loss with 1.0 sack... posted a high of eight tackles in River Bell Classic win at Southeastern... registered 2.5 TFL with his lone sack at Texas A&M-Commerce, finishing with six tackles... also had six stops in season debut against Sacramento State.
2022 Season at Nicholls (Freshman): A Jerry Rice Award Finalist, was a two-time Southland Defensive Player of the Week in his rookie campaign... finished with 45 tackles (26 solo) and was fourth overall in the SLC in tackles for loss with 10, despite playing in only nine games... recorded 2.5 sacks... forced one fumble and had four passes defended... led the league in conference games with 9.0 TFLs, helped by two games where he had 2.0... named player of the week for the first time following the Colonels' win over McNeese where he had 11 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble... after recording the game-winning safety and totaling eight tackles against Texas A&M-Commerce, garnered his second league honor and was named FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman of the Week... also had two TFLs with six stops in River Bell Classic... named Southland Freshman of the Year.
- Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award Finalist -- FCS Freshman of the Year (Tied for 14th in final vote)
- Stats Perform FCS Freshman All-American Team
- HERO Sports FCS Freshman All-American Team
- Phil Steele FCS Freshman All-American First Team
- Southland Conference Freshman of the Year
- Stats Perform FCS National Freshman Player of the Week (11/14)
- Stats Perform FCS National Freshman Player of the Week honorable mention (10/24)
- 2x Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week (10/24, 11/14)
HIGH SCHOOL
At Ohatchee: Garnered Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 3A All-State First Team at running back in his senior campaign... named Class 1-3A All-County as an athlete as a senior and junior... earned All-Region Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, and was All-Region Offensive Player of the Year as a junior... played in the Alabama North-South All-Star game, helping North to a win after recording five tackles with one for loss... posted a record-breaking senior season, rushing for 2,287 yards and 39 touchdowns... totaled 39 TDs after scoring on one punt return, one kickoff return, and returning a fumble for a touchdown...added 83 tackles, five interceptions, and nine TFLs on the defensive side... led the Indians to a playoff victory against Geraldine, rushing for 307 yards and five touchdowns... team posted a 45-7 record in his high school career... also ran track where he was part of the 4x200 relay state champions, positing a state record time of 1:34:08... member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Born February 17... parents are Jennifer and Gene Ennis
- Buck Buchanan National Defensive Player of the Year Finalist
- Stats Perform FCS All-America Second Team
- Associated Press (AP) FCS All-America Honorable
- All-Southland First Team
- All-Louisiana Second Team
- Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week (9/2)
2023 Season at Nicholls (Sophomore): Finished sixth on the team with 44 tackles... had 5.0 tackles for loss with 1.0 sack... posted a high of eight tackles in River Bell Classic win at Southeastern... registered 2.5 TFL with his lone sack at Texas A&M-Commerce, finishing with six tackles... also had six stops in season debut against Sacramento State.
2022 Season at Nicholls (Freshman): A Jerry Rice Award Finalist, was a two-time Southland Defensive Player of the Week in his rookie campaign... finished with 45 tackles (26 solo) and was fourth overall in the SLC in tackles for loss with 10, despite playing in only nine games... recorded 2.5 sacks... forced one fumble and had four passes defended... led the league in conference games with 9.0 TFLs, helped by two games where he had 2.0... named player of the week for the first time following the Colonels' win over McNeese where he had 11 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble... after recording the game-winning safety and totaling eight tackles against Texas A&M-Commerce, garnered his second league honor and was named FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman of the Week... also had two TFLs with six stops in River Bell Classic... named Southland Freshman of the Year.
- Stats Perform Jerry Rice Award Finalist -- FCS Freshman of the Year (Tied for 14th in final vote)
- Stats Perform FCS Freshman All-American Team
- HERO Sports FCS Freshman All-American Team
- Phil Steele FCS Freshman All-American First Team
- Southland Conference Freshman of the Year
- Stats Perform FCS National Freshman Player of the Week (11/14)
- Stats Perform FCS National Freshman Player of the Week honorable mention (10/24)
- 2x Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Week (10/24, 11/14)
HIGH SCHOOL
At Ohatchee: Garnered Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 3A All-State First Team at running back in his senior campaign... named Class 1-3A All-County as an athlete as a senior and junior... earned All-Region Defensive Player of the Year as a senior, and was All-Region Offensive Player of the Year as a junior... played in the Alabama North-South All-Star game, helping North to a win after recording five tackles with one for loss... posted a record-breaking senior season, rushing for 2,287 yards and 39 touchdowns... totaled 39 TDs after scoring on one punt return, one kickoff return, and returning a fumble for a touchdown...added 83 tackles, five interceptions, and nine TFLs on the defensive side... led the Indians to a playoff victory against Geraldine, rushing for 307 yards and five touchdowns... team posted a 45-7 record in his high school career... also ran track where he was part of the 4x200 relay state champions, positing a state record time of 1:34:08... member of the National Honor Society.
Personal: Born February 17... parents are Jennifer and Gene Ennis
Coffee with Coach | 2025 Week 3
Tuesday, September 09
Coffee with Coach | 2025 Week 4
Wednesday, September 03
Coffee with Coach | 2025 Week 2
Tuesday, September 02
UAB Football Postgame Press Conference | Alabama State
Friday, August 29