WR Caleb Eagans (Mary Hardin-Baylor) Interview

Caleb Eagans
Wide Receiver / Mary Hardin-Baylor

Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?

Caleb Eagans: Right now, I am 5’9, 172 pounds and I ran a 4.28 official forty time on laser.

Alex Khvatov: How are you currently preparing for the 2020 season with no offseason training?

Caleb Eagans: We have workouts sent to us. I actually have a gym at the complex. I am working at the gym as well. I flew to CA to train last summer. I trained with DeSean Jackson and his trainer. We did it at the Orange county facility.

Alex Khvatov: How was it training with DeSean Jackson?

Caleb Eagans: It was actually really good. I thought that he was going to be way ahead of me at first. I caught on quick. I was very explosive. I know that DeSean was surprised. His trainer Gary has seen me before. I sent him videos before. We did explosive work. Coming out of breaks and getting separation at the top of the route. It was a track workout. A lot of NFL guys do it.

Alex Khvatov: Besides football, what other sports did you play in high school?

Caleb Eagans: In high school, I played basketball. I was a top 100 player in Texas. I was really good. I was all-state in football. I did baseball. I also ran track. I ran 100 meters. I was a big-time hurdler in 110 and 300. I went to state. I ran under 40 seconds in 300-meter hurdles. I ran the 100m in 10.42 seconds and 200m in 21.27 seconds. I also did the long jump, triple jump, and relays. I was named Texas Track Male Athlete of the Year.

Alex Khvatov: What positions did you play in high school?

Caleb Eagans: In high school, we ran a wing-T offense. I was a WR and a running back. I played DB. Everyone looked at me as a DB.

Alex Khvatov: Coming out of high school, what programs showed interest in
you?

Caleb Eagans: During my freshman year and sophomore year, I wanted to play basketball. Texas A&M-Corpus was looking at me for basketball. Kansas, Kansas State and Texas A&M were looking at me for track. Texas A&M was looking at me for football.

Alex Khvatov: Why did you choose Texas A&M?

Caleb Eagans: I was going there for track. I enrolled in August. The football coaches found out that I was there. I committed early to run track in 2013. I was on a track scholarship. You can’t be on scholarship for football and track. I became a preferred walk-on for football. Coach Sumlin took care of me.

Alex Khvatov: Tell us about what you accomplished with the Aggies.

Caleb Eagans: They got me there during fall practice of 2014 on the football field. They put me in everything at practice. I blossomed. They had Myles Garrett, Armani Watts, Josh Reynolds and Speedy Noil. Texas A&M was big at the time. This was right after Johnny Manziel and Mike Evans left the program. They were at the top of the SEC. I traveled with the team the first year, but they ended up redshirting me. They had me at RB and then moved me to WR. I went against No.1 DB’s in practice and was making plays. I stayed with the WR’s to catch balls after practice. I was putting in the extra work. Then my dad called me and told me that my mom wasn’t doing well. She was about to die. She was diagnosed with cancer in February of 2015. She had Stage 4 cancer. She passed away pretty quickly. I went back home. I was the only kid in the family. I was helping my dad. I did home stuff and football. My grades were dropping at the time. I thought about dropping out of school. Before my mom passed away, she told me to stay in school. I talked to the coaching staff and the track coaches. We all decided that I should sit out the season. I never returned to football, but I kept doing track. It wasn’t the same again. My mom was always in the stands for track and basketball. I ran 60m indoor and did indoor long jump. I did a couple of outdoor tracks. I won a couple of meets in the long jump. Coach Sumlin left and Director of Operations for football was also leaving. The guys that I came in with were all gone for the NFL. I got my GPA up from 2.1 to 3.5. I graduated with honors. I got my bachelor’s degree.

Alex Khvatov: Why did you transfer to East Central University? Describe your career there.

Caleb Eagans: I knew that I had years of eligibility left. I decided to continue. I knew that I was good at the end of the day. At Texas A&M, I was right up there with everybody. I felt like I was better than some guys at Texas A&M. I dropped a lot of weight and lost muscle mass. I actually joined power lifting to get my weight back up. I needed to get more in shape and stronger. I ended up qualifying for the power lifting meet in San-Antonio, Texas. It was a Nationals collegiate meet. I placed seventh at power lifting in my state. I am very competitive. The head coach there (Al Johnson) was a center for the Dallas Cowboys. He heard about me. I wanted to go to a school where I could get a master’s degree. The classes were online. I was excited about the new coaching staff. I didn’t go on a visit. I knew that I was a one and done player. The team was rebuilding. They weren’t focusing on that year. I wanted to win right now. That first year, they didn’t use me in my full capacity. They held me back. I stayed there for a year and a half. I had spring ball the following year. I was doing really well. But I got hurt before our first game. I went to the doctor on my own. I had a tear in my groin. I had sports hernia. I got the surgery. I was graduating. We came to a mutual understanding that it was the best thing for me to leave. Last season, I was working on my second master’s degree.

Alex Khvatov: How did you wind up at Mary Hardin-Baylor for your final collegiate season?

Caleb Eagans: I decided to come out here. Aaron Sims reached out to me. He has been going through the same thing. He came out there. He told me about the program. I ran track with Sims at Texas A&M. Th school competes for National championships every year at the D-III level. I reached out to the coach. If I come, it will be all on faith. He told me that nothing is guaranteed. I might get eligibility for another year. I enrolled, and they put the waiver in. I prayed about it. I got accepted to the school. They gave me one final year. A lot of things went into that decision. I had a high GPA, no suspensions and no off the field issues during my career.

Alex Khvatov: Tell us about the school.

Caleb Eagans: Mary Hardin-Baylor Crusaders have a head coach who has been here for 22 years. He told the school when he first got here to let him run the football program the way he saw fit. The school is definitely the Alabama of this division. We have top notch facilities. It is a place where I feel comfortable. It is one hour and 30 minutes away from my family. They had a lot of success through the years. They won a national championship in 2016 and 2018. In 2019, the team went 12-1.

Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?

Caleb Eagans: My football IQ. I know how to run my route. I am very explosive, which is my number one trait. They are not catching me from behind because I have a tremendous burst after the catch. I can run deep routes, fades, and posts. With my size, I can also run digs and comebacks. They can move me around inside and outside. I am a very strong and physical player for my size.

Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?

Caleb Eagans: I can get better at anything. When I move to outside WR, I need to improve my blocking. I am a physical player. I am not selfish. I enjoy when other guys make plays. I plan on returning kicks and punts along with Aaron Sims at Mary Hardin-Baylor.

Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?

Caleb Eagans: Being in the position I am in and not giving up. I am working on my second master’s degree. I was also an indoor long jump record holder at East Central. Seahawks WR David Moore had the record before me.

Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?

Caleb Eagans: The Dallas Cowboys. I have always been a fan. I always wore #22 because of Emmitt Smith. Now I am wearing #15 because my mom passed away that year.

Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?

Caleb Eagans: A lot of scouts compare me to DeSean Jackson and Tyreek Hill. I love watching both guys play.

Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for this upcoming season?

Caleb Eagans: Inside WR Aaron Sims, safety Jefferson Fritz safety and CB Keith Gipson CB. The program is family oriented. You get that family vibe. We are a close team.

Alex Khvatov: Who is the best player that you have faced on an opposing team?

Caleb Eagans: Probably S Jamal Adams when we played LSU. On my team, it was Myles Garrett and Speedy Noil.

Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for a WR?

Caleb Eagans: Consistency. I am one of those guys. I am consistent throughout the entire game.

Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?

Caleb Eagans: Football is more team-oriented. I enjoy it.

Alex Khvatov: What can we expect from Mary Hardin-Baylor this upcoming season?

Caleb Eagans: National Championship. We are hungry guys. We are ready.

Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?

Caleb Eagans: Fishing and hunting. I like to go hiking.

Alex Khvatov: What makes you unique?

Caleb Eagans: The fact that I am relentless. I don’t give up. I continue to push. I am big on faith and trusting God.