Eachus, others find Patriot League a good football home

by dan burda (sports writer dan_b@newsitem.com)

Published: August 29, 2010

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Hazleton's Nate Eachus rushed for more than 2,100 yards his final year in high school. He racked up 28 touchdowns and was an all-state first team running back.

At Colgate University, Eachus has made a name for himself as being a hard-nosed runner and a disciplined worker who has amassed 1,851 yards in his first two years.

And still the question comes, why didn't you go to Penn State?

It's a question that's asked more than one can imagine, but at Colgate, Eachus is doing just fine.

"I was out, knocking on doors for my dad's campaign, and I go door to door and people ask why I didn't go to Penn State," Eachus said at the Patriot League media day in Bethlehem earlier this month. "I have to tell them that they didn't really recruit me hard and things like that. Other people can't really live with that, and to those people I say that Colgate's a great school, we're in the top 10 for liberal arts. Most kids are starting to realize that they aren't going to go pro, and it's about getting a good education."

Eachus signals a continuing trend for talented players, running backs in particular, from Pennsylvania, who don't want to go to a big school to be practice-field chum for the big fishes.

Schuylkill Haven's record-breaking running back Zach Barket chose Lehigh University, and after gaining nearly 150 yards as a freshman, is expected to contribute even more. Steelton-Highspire's Jeremiah Young blew out his knee during an all-star game after his senior year and will make his debut at Bucknell University this fall after running for more than 9,000 yards in high school.

Both were thought by many fans to really have what it takes to play big-time college football. The Patriot League, which had its first player drafted in 15 years (Fordham quarterback John Skelton went to the Arizona Cardinals), has always been known for its high standard of academics.

But the football isn't too shabby, either.

Eachus was selected as a preseason all-American among Football Championship Subdivision teams after being named the Patriot League Rookie of the Year in 2008. This season, after splitting carries for the Raiders, the back cover and the inside color page of the media guide tout the junior running back for even more honors.

"I don't get caught up in the hype," Eachus said. "I take it one game at a time, and as long as I stay healthy and we're playing well together... It's more about the team than me, but if I get those great post-season awards then I'll be happy with it."

In the meantime, Eachus will continue taking each opponent, on or off the field, one at a time, impressing them with his talent to break tackles or his school's academic highlights.

"I was just talking to a group of pee-wee kids," he said, "and they don't get the whole classroom thing yet, but hopefully they'll understand."

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