D1 Special Commitment Report: Deven Eastern (Shakopee-2021)

Despite an elongated absence from posting content for Northstar Football News over the holiday break which included my birthday on Jan. 3rd, my excitement over the commitment of Shakopee 2021 defensive lineman Deven Eastern has grown much like my gut after Xmas and New Years. Eastern, a 6'5, 260 lber., posted 43 tackles, 10 TFL's, 2.5 sacks, and a FR according to MNFootballHub in 2019, had a whirlwind of a recruiting process as communications with Iowa State, Northern Illinois, and various Missouri Valley schools throughout the 2019 regular season quickly built into a Big 10 offer from Nebraska in the middle of December and shortly thereafter the U of M and Coach Fleck got in the mix. As we should all know by now, PJ Fleck is a very persuasive man, and Eastern committed to the hometown Maroon and Gold on December 19th. A great Christmas pickup for the U of M, it is all pretty crazy considering the fact that Eastern told me at NFN that "at the beginning of mu junior year I didn't think nothing of the recruiting process (and) no schools were giving me looks and that's what it was." In that post-commitment madness I was lucky enough to score some of Eastern's time where we discussed his crazy Fall, what it means to represent the home state, and Shakopee's state playoff run last fall. I hope you enjoy! <a href="http://www.hudl.com/v/2Cb9ts">Junior Year Hudl</a> NFN: Hello and congratulations on the commitment process, Deven! Start by telling us about the recruiting process as a whole. When did you start hearing from schools, how did that happen, what did it feel like, and were some interesting/important parts of the recruiting process for you? You mentioned in an article that you were hurt your sophomore year, how did that affect things? Eastern: "At the beginning of my junior year I didn’t think nothing of the recruiting process. No schools were giving me looks and that’s what it was. About halfway through the year a couple schools started getting a hold of me. My coach would always tell me that was only the beginning of the process. I’ve never been through or experienced the recruiting process due to an injury game 2 of my sophomore year. I was torn from the injury and at one point I thought about quitting football for good! I was eating the wrong foods and wasn’t hitting the weight room. About three months before my junior year is when summer lifting started. I couldn’t bear the thought of not playing football. So I got busy. I put on good weight within those three months.The year before my sophomore I lost about 60 pounds putting on weight and losing weight wasn’t problem. [caption id="attachment_16496" align="alignright" width="387"] Eastern mauls a QB.[/caption] As my junior year went on I continue to put on more weight and grew a little bit. I started to learn how to play the game. At the end of my junior year more schools started to reach out more. Right about this time Nebraksa gave me my first offer. The next day I went to a bowl practice at the U of M. The coaches and the players greeted me like I was one of them. I felt at home, their academic and athletic program is like no other. After the practice Coach Fleck invited me to his office. It was a very personal conversation, I could tell he cared about me and my well-being. He wanted me to succeed on the field and off. The practices were well instructed and no horse play! But at the same time the players were enjoying themselves and I was too when I was watching. I was blessed to get offered by such an amazing school that’s close to home. My intentions weren’t to stay close they were to go to a good school and succeed." NFN: Well said, Deven! So what is in store for the Shakopee Saber football team in 2020? How does it feel to be a Saber? Eastern: "I can’t wait for my senior season to come! Most of our offense were juniors and sophomores so we’re only going to climb the ladder from an offense of standpoint. A lot of senior defense of players left us, but we definitely have the right guys to fill those positions. Everyone’s been in the weight room and working on improving their game. This year is going to be no joke! When other teams see Shakopee sabers on their roster they should fear for what’s coming Friday night!!! I am proud to be a Saber!"