Click here for highlights of No. 2 Malek Redd and No. 1 Leron Eaddy in the Hawks' Class 2A state championship win over Eastern Tech and other Hawks' victories
By Lem Satterfield
River Hill defensive back Leron Eaddy, a 5-foot-10, 185-pounder, has accepted a full football scholarship offer from Central Michigan, he informed DigitalSports a few minutes ago.
In doing so, Eaddy will join River Hill running back-defensive back teammate Malek Redd, a 5-7, 171-pounder, who accepted a full football scholarship offer from the Chippewas last week.
Eaddy became the third Hawks' player to commit to a Division I program this year, with running back-defensive back Michael Campanaro having committed to a full football scholarship in April to Wake Forest.
Eaddy, Redd and Campanaro have been close friends since eighth grade, when they starred on the Columbia Ravens' youth league champion.
"I actually met Mike in fifth grade, and I eventually started playing on the same Ravens' team with him in seventh grade. Then Malek came in the year after that, and we've been winning ever since," said Eaddy, who will be the Hawks' top returning tackler in the fall.
Redd caught the eye of the Central Michigan staff when he twice clocked a 4.27-second 40-yard dash. Eaddy, who has clocked a 4.59-second 40-yard dash, also had been offered full scholarships to Bowling Green.
"Malek's committment had an influence on me, because we've become really tight over the last few years, but it's not the primary reason I chose to go to Central Michigan," said Eaddy, 17.
"Basically, when I went down there, I fell in love with the coaches. They treat their players like they're their own children, especially their head coach, Butch Jones," Eaddy said.
"Their campus is so convenient. Everything is right near where I need it to be," said Eaddy, who carried a 3.24 grade average on his final report card. "I'm going to major in sports management, and I loved their sports management program."
Eaddy ranked second on the Hawks with 113 tackles, 13 of which went for lost yardage. Eaddy also had two each in sacks and interceptions for a team that went 14-0 with a state-record tying 11 shutouts on the way to winning their program's first-ever Class 2A state title.
"I've been playing linebacker my whole high school career, but they're looking for me to be a strong safety, and I'm really looking forward to it," Eaddy said.
"I've transitioned well into the defensive back's position during the camps that I've attended during the summer, and I'm really comfortable in pass converage," Eaddy said. "In all of the passing leagues we've been involved in, I've played safety, and I love it."
Eaddy and Campanaro were sophomores on the Hawks' Class 2A state title-winning basketball team, but opted to skip that sport as juniors in order to prepare themselves for the college recruiting process.
"We did a lot of explosive training and strength training to prepare ourselves as college football prospects. And now that we've done that successfully, we can concentrate on football," Eaddy said.
"Yes, we're both planning on playing basketball this year," Eaddy said. "I'm relieved. That's the best way to describe it. I'm relieved of the anxiety and happy that it's over and I can concentrate on the rest of my high school career."