2024 Preview: Central Eagles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jonathan Eason has seen the top of the mountain for Central.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As a player, he was a part of the state championship team that won it all in 2003. And now he has the opportunity to lead his former school and get the Eagles back to playing winning football after finishing 3-8 in 2023.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“I got to coach my first five years at Central so it's good being back home, being back around people that I grew up around so it's been a good, smooth transition,” Eason said.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Eagles offense will be designed to spread it out and get the ball to the playmakers with 8 starters back, including the core group up front with <strong>Jordan Caldwell</strong>, <strong>Brandon Rollins, Malik Gaskins </strong>and <strong>John Wallace </strong>all back on the offensive line. <strong>Jeffery Bines </strong>will be one of the returners at wide receiver.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On defense, the Eagles will base out of a 3-4 scheme and also have 8 starters back headlined by <strong>Caleb Blakeney</strong>, who Eason is expecting a lot of big things from. <strong>Daniel King </strong>returns at linebacker along with <strong>Jaiden Hillian </strong>on the defensive line.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>So what does Eason want to see out of his group as the start of fall camp approaches? Competition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>“The beginning of our schedule, the scrimmages and the jamborees, we're playing 4A and 5A teams so we're going to find out who we are really quick and then in Week Zero, we've got Lewisville who was a very tough 1A team so, the big thing I talk to these guys all the time is just going out and competing, playing the next play if something bad happens, we've got to be able to respond and get back and just keep our heads up and keep fighting.”</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Central will open the 2024 season on the road against Lewisville on August 23.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>STARS SET TO SHINE</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Trey Wilson</strong> RB/FS, 2025 – Wilson is special at the running back position. Eason says he's been one of the best players in the region the last few years and he is only going to continue to grow. He can break tackles and quickly get to the second level with his speed. He went to camp at Johnson C. Smith University over the summer and had great conversations with the coaching staff.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Improvements heading into 2024: “(I'm) trying to become a better person while at the same time, becoming a better athlete. I've really been busting my tail in the weight room.”</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1664364' first='Dwayne' last='Louallen']</strong> QB, 2027 – At 6-foot-2, 110 pounds, Eason says Louallen (pictured above) has all the tools to play at the next level and can make all of the throws and is excited for him to take over as the starter. He's also impressive with his feet and making plays on designed keepers. He went to camp at the University of South Carolina earlier this summer. Louallen has been pleased with the buy-in and seeing what it can lead to in 2024.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Improvements heading into 2024: “I've been trying to get to know all the receivers and the lineman and where they're supposed to be and how to adjust to any and everything.”</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>MJ Allen </strong>LB/RB, 2026 – A multi skilled athlete who is a great leader on the field who Eason expects to have a big year in 2024. Allen has been pleased with the effort in how everyone is coming together&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Improvements heading into 2024: “I've got to handle adversity (better). Push myself in the weight room (and) on and off the field just to get better from last year.”</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dontavias</strong> <strong>Covington </strong>DL, 2025 – Covington is a guy who Eason expects a big year from and who he thinks could be one of the one of the best defensive linemen in the state. He is aggressive at the point of attack and causes havoc for opposing lineman.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>FILM REVIEW</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1639669' first='Ashten' last='Wilson'] </strong>RB/LB, 2026 – Wilson is a dynamic athlete with the ball in his hands. He can catch the ball out of the backfield and make people miss with great speed. He is also a game changer on special teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18198165/664e3747652b42ca53d51e7c' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-669e4ef1b9a9d"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>THREE POTENTIAL RISING STARS</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brandon Rollins</strong> OL, 2026 – Rollins is aggressive at the point of attack from his center position. He has good knee bend and can move and get out in front of the defensive lineman in helping keep the offense on schedule.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jaiden Hillian </strong>DL, 2025 – Hillian is a guy who can chase down ball carriers in space and he can turn and make plays in space.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1639749' first='Sean' last='Davis']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"null","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Central","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-669e4ef1bb2f1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Davis can make plays with the ball in his hands and has good speed to boot. He can make plays on the jet sweep and he is patient while waiting for the hole to open up.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/hudl {"name":"acf/hudl","data":{"embed_code":"u003ciframe src='https://www.hudl.com/embed/video/3/18158430/630a4d807bdd2006304eb918' width='640' height='360' frameborder='0' allowfullscreenu003eu003c/iframeu003ern","_embed_code":"field_62daf7995fd8c"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-669e4ef1bb328"} /--> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->