 As a senior in 1994, he was recognized as a consensus first-team All American, and was named the WAC Defensive Player of the Year.The Detroit Lions selected Elliss in the first round (20th pick overall) of the 1995 NFL Draft, and he played for the Lions from to .His nickname during his time in Detroit was "Pass Rushing Luther," and earned it with 324 tackles and 27.0 quarterback sacks with the Lions.