He was born on January 8, 1987 in Inglewood. The passion for sports runs in this family. His brother, Keith, was a linebacker at Oregon State in 2004 and 2005 while his cousin, Dominic Ellison, played basketball at Washington State and New Mexico State.

He attended Redondo Union High. In 2002, he was named South Bay Daily Breeze All-Area and All-Ocean League Co-Defensive MVP selection as a sophomore. In his career, he rushed for a school-record 3,718 yards on 578 carries and had 297 tackles.

During his junior year, he made Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass second team, All-CIF Division IV, South Bay Daily Breeze All-Area first team and All-Ocean League Co-MVP. He had 1,402 yards on 222 carries with 15 Touch Downs and 15 receptions for 161 yards with 1 Touch Down, plus 101 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 3 sacks, 2 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery in 2003.

In the 2004 season, he was named Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-West, Tom Lemming All-West, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best of the Rest, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, Cal-Hi Sports All-State first team, All-CIF Division III, Los Angeles Times All-South Bay/Westside Player of the Year, South Bay Daily Breeze All-Area Player of the Year and All-Bay League MVP as a senior running back and linebacker at Redondo Union High in Redondo Beach.

He enrolled at USC in the spring of 2005, and was headed to an impressive season as a backup strong safety and key special teams player as a first-year freshman, appearing often in extra defensive back situations. But he tore ligaments and got a fracture in his left knee while making a crucial interception late in the Arizona State game and had surgery, sidelining him the rest of the season.

In 2006, he'll likely miss spring drills while recuperating from 2005 knee surgery.