READY AT EKU

Hard work has never been an attribute people question when talking about Corbin’s own Caleb Watkins. 

And even though he’s one year removed from a stellar senior season, where he led the Redhounds to a 10-3 record and playoff berth, nothing has changed with the runningback. 

Good thing too, because after the conclusion to his redshirt freshman season with Eastern Kentucky University, all hasn’t gone according to plan. In one of the first spring practices, Watkins suffered a severe ankle sprain, which set him back significantly. 

“At first it didn’t seem like that big of a deal so I finished practicing on it,” Watkins said. “But then the next day it was badly swollen and found out it was a high ankle sprain.”

The injury kept Watkins sidelined for the majority of the spring season.

“It was really disappointing when he got hurt, for him and us,” Eastern’s Head Coach Dean Hood said. “Because he looked really really good his redshirt year and we were excited to get spring ball started to see what he could do.”

Watkins did attempt to play in the EKU spring game, but his injuries kept him from being 100 percent. 

“I guess I did okay in the spring game,” Watkins said. “The couple of month summer break we got really helped me able to get back to full strength.”

Which is good timing, as Watkins and the Colonels head into the first week of training camp. 

“We’ll see how camp goes, but I’m just going to keep doing my best and working hard and showing them what I can do.”

EKU will have a noticeably different look on offense this season, something that could play into Watkins favor. 

Dane Damron, the Colonel’s special teams coach last year, has been promoted to offensive coordinator this season and has said he will run the ball more than in the past. 

“Coach Damron pulled me and another running back aside last Friday and told us that he wanted to start doing more two-back sets with a tailback in the slot and an H-back or fullback in the backfield, which is what I’d be playing,” Watkins said. “He wants a bigger body and someone who can block as well back there.”

Right now, EKU doesn’t lack depth at the running back position, but employing a two-back system would possibly open up the doors for Watkins. Veterans Kyle Lumpkin, Matt Denham and juco transfer Jeremiah Williams are the three backs that display more of the speed aspect reserved for the slot, while H.B. Banjoman is the only back ahead of Watkins who brings the power game.

“Like I said, I don’t know exactly where I’m at on the depth chart, but I’m just going to keep working hard.”

Hood knows that an athlete like Watkins isn’t a commodity you can just waste.

“We’re just trying to get him on the field anyway possible,” Hood said. “It’s because of the work ethic he showed last year…we have a barn full of runningbacks, all of which we want to get on the field. So with us going to a more running attack I wouldn’t be surprised if you see Caleb at some pure full-back, doing all the blocking and then the inside and outside zone plays.”

Watkins’ hard work last season in practice as a red-shirt earned him the offensive MVP award for the “futures” team, which is solely made up of reserves and voted on by the players. Something Eastern’s head coach Dean Hood took notice of.

“It’s a great award because it’s a player award,” Hood said. “He definitely deserved that. 

Watkins also continued the hard work in the weight room; something that he thinks gives him an advantage over his opponents.

“I’ve always loved to work out,” Watkins said. “Back when I was in high school I knew I was undersized and they kept telling me I’d have to get bigger and stronger to be able to compete.”

Last season, Watkins broke three different all-time EKU runningback weightlifting records. As a freshman he set the bench press record at 410 pounds, the power clean record at 342 pounds and the squat record at 575 pounds. 

His hard work in the weight room didn’t go unnoticed by Hood and his staff.

“Each year our strength coaches have a little workout to test your man, on the morning of homecoming, “ Hood said. “And there’s a lot of times were carrying kids out of there across the hallway to the trainer’s room. But Caleb went through that thing like he was walking at the fair. You know, grabbing a cotton candy here. Then going over to the next stand to grab a caramel apple. Then going over there to get on a ride. It was just another day at the fair for him.”

Watkins also has had to adjust to the differences from high school and college football.

“Mostly the biggest difference is the speed of the game,” Watkins said. “In high school you could just outrun people, but not here. You might be fast but in college the defense is just as fast. 

“And you have to be a smarter runner too. We have a saying here that’s ‘slow to the hole, fast through it.’ In college you can’t just take the handoff and run straight ahead, you have to know how the play should develop and be able to read your blocks. It’s something that takes adjusting too.”

The college life was also different for Watkins, who like most from this area was accustomed to small town life.

“Coming from a small school, I didn’t know if I’d like Eastern or not. But I’ve enjoyed it so far and have fit in well here. It’s not that hard to make friends here.”

Watkins, who’s majoring in political science with an English minor, even finished his first year with a successful GPA, a 3.88.

“I think I did pretty well my first year here,” Watkins said. “But this year I’ll be traveling with the team, which I didn’t do last season. So I wont have as much free time to work on my homework. We’ll see how that goes.”

Despite the injuries and lack of action in the spring, Hood and company are still high on Watkins. Mainly, because as Hood said, he is the “total package.”

“He’s everything you want in a Colonel,” Hood said. “He’s a hard worker, a great human being off the field; he’s a great student and a really talented and tough football player. He’s the total package. If you had 95 Caleb Watkins on your team you’d win a national championship every year and sleep real good at night.”