Former Redhound playing integral role for EKU Colonels

EKU tailback Caleb Watkins scored a touchdown last week in Eastern’s decisive win over Robert Morris University to open the season. Watkins is a graduate of Corbin High School.

As a senior Corbin Redhound in 2009, running back Caleb Watkins accumulated 1,900 yards rushing and 37 touchdowns.  He also totaled 110 tackles and four interceptions on the defensive side of the ball as a linebacker.  That year the two-time Cumberland Falls Pigskin Classic MVP helped lead his team all the way to the quarterfinals of the KHSAA class 2A state championship tournament against Louisville Central.

Since that time, Watkins has been working hard to make a name for himself on the football field.  Only now he’s doing it while wearing the maroon and white at Eastern Kentucky University.

Last Thursday night the EKU Colonels opened their season in Richmond against the visiting Colonials of Robert Morris University.  The crowd inside Roy Kidd Stadium was treated to a 38-6 beat down courtesy of the home team, and the former Corbin star Watkins, now a redshirt junior, recorded his first ever touchdown at the college level.  The score came with only :02 left in the first half, and after the extra point it put Eastern on top 28-6.

“It’s very exciting,” Watkins said of his first trip into the end zone as a Colonel.  “I’ve been waiting for a while to get the opportunity to run the ball in a game.  To finally be able to do that and score, to play a role in a win for this team, it’s all just really exciting.”

“It actually brought back memories of my days at Corbin,” he added.  “Whatever my coaches need me to do in order to help the team win, that’s what I want to do, but to be able to carry the ball and be in a position to score points is always more fun.”

Saturday the Colonels will be on the road as they look to upset top ten nationally ranked Louisville inside Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium.  The game will be aired on ESPN3 at noon ET.

“It’s exciting to have the opportunity to play a BCS team,” said Watkins.  “And we’re not worried about being the underdogs.  We are focused on the task at hand.  We plan on playing hard, taking it to them, and winning.  We’re not intimidated.”

As for his future at Eastern, Watkins said, “I just make it a goal to prepare myself for each game the best I can.  I want to make the most of every opportunity that I am given, and I always strive to play my best so that I can help the team win.  It’s a team sport, and it takes a team effort to score touchdowns.  That is the only reason why I was able to get my first score, because of my team.”

Watkins’ former high school head coach, Steve Jewell, said of his former star running back, “I am extremely proud of Caleb.  He has worked his tail off up there.  He has always had great character, and with his work ethic I knew he would eventually get his shot.  It sounds like he’s doing really well, and I will have to get up there soon to watch him in action myself.”

Watkins’ final comment that he wanted to add was, “Above all else, my main goal in life is to bring glory to God, and I give Him the credit for everything.”