Ellis Lankster

Ellis Lankster (born June 3, 1987) is an American football cornerback for the New York Jets of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at West Virginia.

He has also been a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

College career
Lankster played his freshman and sophomore years at Jones County Junior College. He finished his collegiate career at West Virginia University. He also played in the 2009 Senior Bowl.

Buffalo Bills
On August 15, 2009, in a preseason game against the Chicago Bears, Lankster intercepted Bears' backup quarterback Brett Basanez twice within a span of 64 seconds. Both turnovers led to touchdowns for Buffalo, ultimately helping them win the game 27-20.

Lankster got some playing time in the 2009 season as a cornerback in nickel defense situations, due to injuries to other defensive backs. Head coach Perry Fewell said of Lankster, "we think he's gotten better every week for us." He finished the 2009 season with five tackles.

Buffalo released Lankster on the deadline for final roster adjustments in the 2010 preseason, September 4.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Lankster was signed by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on October 11, 2010. He did not play for a period while learning the intricacies of Canadian football.

New York Jets
Lankster signed a future contract with the New York Jets on January 5, 2011. He was waived on September 2. He was re-signed to the active roster on October 11. His playing time greatly increased in 2012, including significant assignments covering fast receivers, following an injury to Isaiah Trufant.