Home water: Kerr Lake, North Carolina

Favorite water: Santee Cooper, South Carolina

First tournament: 9 years old — Tuesday night jackpot with my school bus driver

NPFL debut: 2024 — 11th at Logan Martin, Alabama

Sponsors: Goatwood Farms; Fogleman Landfill and Mine; Nitro Boats; Strike King; Lew’s; Carolina Waters; Finish Line Pest Control; Owens Livestock

First fish: Bluegill from a farm pond at age 3

First bass: Largemouth from a farm pond at age 7

Biggest bass: 10-09 largemouth bass from Jordan Lake, North Carolina on a Strike King spinnerbait during a tournament on a Strike King Pro 38 Special spinnerbait

Favorite lure: Strike King Popping Perch (Bone)

Fishing strength: Stubbornness

Fishing weakness: Stubbornness

Fishing hero: Thomas Ellis (grandfather) and Greg Hackney

Fishing goals: Make a career out of professional bass fishing

Best fishing advice: Don’t believe everything you read or hear.

Off-the-water work: Operations manager for Goatwood Farms, a landscape supplier and custom sawmill

Hobbies: Fishing and family

Favorite movie: “Gladiator” (2000)

Favorite music: “I’m Gonna Be Somebody” by Travis Tritt (1990)

Superstitions: none