The Eastside football program is sending another player to the next level.
On Feb. 28, senior offensive lineman Jaquez Whitehead signed with Monmouth College, a Division III school in Monmouth, Illinois.
Eastside football coach Harold “Gator” Hoskins talked about the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices that Whitehead has made over the last three years.
“Not only is Jaq a student-athlete, Jaq is out in the community,” Hoskins said. “His dad does a great job of making sure that Jaq is giving back. I think just last week they went out and fed the homeless so that’s a kid that you can look up to.”
He is a leader on and off the football field.
“Colleges, they look at that,” Hoskins said. “It’s not only about your grades. They look at your community service.”
Whitehead (6’, 240) was an honorable mention All Area selection this past year.
He helped anchor an offensive line that helped pave the way for an offense that averaged 21.4 points per game.
Although he didn’t have a speech prepared, he addressed his teammates and those in attendance with words of wisdom.
“Take the classroom serious,” Whitehead said. “Just go on the field and give it all you’ve got, every play, every day. In practice, give 100%, 110%, and you’re going to get what you need to go after.”
Hoskins praised Whitehead for helping to turn the Eastside football program around.
“Before I got here to Eastside, they went 2-8, but Jaq has been a part of a program that has turned Eastside around from his sophomore year going 8-3, 8-4 and 7-4, two-time district champ and one-time district runner-up. He never missed a game. You talk about being reliable.”
In the past three seasons, the Rams are a combined 23-11, with three straight playoff appearances.
Last year, the Rams overwhelmed Santa Fe (Alachua) to win their second straight district title.
This past season, Eastside opened up district play with an upset of state-ranked Dunnellon in a Class 3A-District 5 game before falling one game shy of a third straight district championship in a 21-7 loss at South Sumter (Bushnell) in November.
He was also part of three straight wins against rival GHS and a 38-9 win against Class 7A Sandalwood (Jacksonville) on Senior Night.