LAS VEGAS — BYU redshirt cornerback Keenan Ellis was taken to University Medical Center’s trauma center early in the BYU game against Arizona in Allegiant Stadium Saturday night.
BYU football publicist Brett Pyne said after the game that the CT scans on Keenan Ellis were normal. He will spend the night in the hospital for observation. Pyne previously reported in the fourth quarter that Ellis had movement in his extremities and was responsive upon leaving the field. He remained in the UMC trauma center.
Ellis appeared to suffer a serious injury when tackling Arizona receiver Michael Wiley on a third-down pass play that failed. Ellis fell to the ground immediately after his helmet bounced backward off Wiley. Ellis was immobile as BYU doctors rushed onto the field at the insistence of teammates near the play.
BYU’s medical staff worked on isolating Ellis and placing him on a transport board, then rolled him off the field in a utility vehicle. The procedures to secure Ellis, who appeared to leave the field with an oxygen mask and a physician holding his head, delayed the game for more than 17 minutes.
BYU players gathered and took to their knees during the long break as nearly a dozen doctors, trainers and managers worked on Ellis. When he left the field, fans in the stadium applauded loudly as both teams gave him an ovation.
Ellis started the game at left corner for the Cougars in the season opener. Ellis is from San Diego and attended Bonita Vista High School.