- Deavion McBride and Atonnis Ross signed with Trinity College of Florida to play college football at its Clermont satellite campus.
- McBride was a four-year starter at tackle for Eastside High and played multiple offensive line positions during his senior season.
- Ross, who joined Eastside as a junior, earned a starting guard position through hard work and contributed to the team's successful 9-3 season.
- Eastside High won the Class 3A-District 5 title and relied on strong offensive line play and standout teammates during the past season.
A pair of offensive linemen from Eastside High School are moving on to the next level.
On Wednesday, Deavion McBride and Atonnis Ross held a signing ceremony at the Eastside Media Center in front of family, teammates and friends.
The duo, who were both offered in February, signed with Trinity College of Florida, formerly Power Source U (PSU), a private interdenominational evangelical Bible college. They will attend the satellite campus in Clermont.
The Tigers teams are members of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA).
“They were seniors that we relied on,” said Eastside football coach Harold “Gator” Hoskins. “Atonnis turned into a spot guy, but when he got in, he did his job. McBride pretty much played every spot on the offensive line.”
According to McBride (6’2, 320), Trinity College considered him a “top of the list kind of guy.”
“They gave me a scholarship and threw money at me, and then I visited the school and it was really nice,” he said.
McBride, whose primary position was at tackle, was a four-year starter for the Rams and he played for three district championship teams.
“He probably had the most starts since I’ve been here at Eastside, worked his tail off,” Hoskins said. “He was a guy that we leaned on this year as a senior and we were able to run the ball behind a great pass blocker. I think we had to put him at center sometimes this year, guard, tackle, but he has that experience, been starting as a freshman, so I’m really, really proud of that kid.”
That versatility has become an asset for McBride, who projects to play guard and maybe center at the next level.
“It was good for me because wherever you put me, I was able to play,” he said. “I was comfortable. I wasn’t trying to fit in.”
Eastside finished 9-3 this past fall, including another first round playoff victory, and the Rams won the Class 3A-District 5 title.
Sophomore running back Javaris Gardner was a first team All Area selection after running for 1,183 yards (8.8 yards per carry) and senior quarterback Nelson Tambling threw for nearly 1,500 yards with 21 touchdowns and only three interceptions.
“This year we played spectacular,” McBride said. “Our running back had over 1,000 yards. We played a great run game up front, and I’m pretty sure we had great pass protection. We were able to get the ball out.”
Ross (6’1, 350), who played guard, took a little bit of a different path, but he ended up at the same destination.
“Kid came in as a junior, and I told him that he had to do a couple of things in order to get on the field,” Hoskins said. “He did those things, worked his butt off, showed up every single day, put the work in, and was another guy that we were able to run the ball behind this year.”
The hard work paid off thanks to his offensive line coach, Chris Phillips.
“Coach Chris got on us, hard work, running after practice and stuff like that,” Ross said. “Coach kept telling us, pushing that sled, but it just kept motivating us and we came far this year.”
Ross is excited about joining McBride at the next level and continuing the success they had with the Rams.
“We can change the program next year,” he said. “I feel like me and him can dominate the O-line like we did at Eastside High School.”