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Eakins Leads Way Toward Repeat State Title

nf eakins 5-14 01Trinity Christian Academy won the Class 3A state title in 2013, their fourth football championship in the last twelve years.  The Conquerors offense rushed for an average of 266 yards and scored 34.7 points per game last season.

And they’re supposed to be better this year.  Trinity’s defense features four players ranked in the 2015 ESPN 300, including cornerback Kevin Toliver II, ranked third overall, and outside linebacker Jeffery Holland, 24th overall.  Starting quarterback Jaquez Riles and wide receiver Isaiah Ford are graduating, but the offense still boasts one of the state’s best tackle tandems in Kendrick Norton (68th overall) and Deion Eakins.  They became fast friends as freshmen and have been mistaken for brothers by strangers on more than one occasion.

The 6’3, 295-pound Eakins is ready to assume a senior leadership role on a team with aspirations of earning a trip back to Citrus Bowl Stadium in Orlando.

nf eakins 5-14 hilite“As far as the offensive line goes, me and Norton will be leading the way, we’ll be the anchors,” he says.  “We have three underclassmen on the line this year, so we’ll teach them, mold them.  And in the summer, when newer guys come in, whether they’re transfers or ninth-graders, we’ll teach them as well.”

If you’re looking for Eakins and don’t know where he is, check the weight room first.  He gears his workouts to improve his strength while maintaining footwork and agility.  He has no preference between run and pass blocking, but approaches each technique with equal vigor.  He credits the coaching staff, particularly coordinators Gus Scott and Gerard Ross, for instilling a tough, physical mentality in him early on.

“Coming into Trinity in the ninth grade, they not only teach you about playing the game and being a better student of the game, but they also teach you as a lineman that you have to have tenacity,” he says.  “As those two always say, the play’s never done until [the opposing player] is on his back.”

Eakins’s tenacity on the field has caught the attention of college scouts across the nation.  There are over 40 letters sitting on top of a plastic box full of even more letters in his dining room.  His first offer came from Florida International University, the alma mater of Jaguars starting strong safety Johnathan Cyprien.  He’s also gotten serious interest from Cincinnati, South Florida, Purdue, South Carolina, and Arkansas.  And this is just the start.

“A lot of those schools said they want to see me one more time in the spring before they pull the trigger and give me an offer,” he says.

He would prefer to stay close to home for the sunny weather, but his decision ultimately comes down to a combination of the school’s academic and athletic programs.  He plans to study either sports management or physical therapy.

Eakins’s other passion is music.  He’s been playing the drums since he was five years old and participates in his church’s band.  He grew up around gospel and R&B, because his brother, aunts and uncles all play instruments.  A few of his favorite artists are Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin and John Legend.

Eakins might not yet have the same national recognition as a few of his teammates, but he is an integral part of the Conquerors’ chances of repeating as state champions.  He’s focused on getting better every day and doing whatever it takes to help his team win.  The rest will take care of itself.

nf eakins 5-14 sshow

Favorite Athlete: LeBron James
Favorite Subject: History
Least Favorite Subject: Spanish
Ideal Place to Travel: France
Gatorade or Powerade: Gatorade
Favorite Movie: Friday Night Lights
Last Song Played: I’m Goin’ In by Drake
Superpower: Read Minds


Player Spotlight/ Jacksonville/ April 2014
Deion Eakins
Trinity Christian Academy
Jacksonville, FL
Brandon Ibarra
Eakins Leads Way Toward Repeat State Title

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