Prep Football: Eldorado's Traxler gives Hill, Salukis verbal commitment
He's a kid described as someone who is a "true hard hat lunch pail guy" and when that description comes from someone like Southern Illinois University head football coach Nick Hill, you know you're doing something right.
Hill had that to say on twitter Monday night, minutes after Eldorado's Jacob Traxler gave Hill and the Salukis a verbal commitment.
At the beginning of August, Traxler picked up an offer from SIU, by months end he gave the school his verbal.
Traxler talked about his appreciation of Hill and assistant coach Craig Paulson.
"I love what they are trying to build over there," Traxler said. " The culture, the type of football, putting SIU back on the map, it's all something I want to be a part of. It's close and anytime I go over there, the coaches are super friendly and always make me feel welcomed."
Traxler said his conversation with Paulson has been limited, but the times they have talked, the dialogue has centered around Traxler concentrating his efforts on the defensive side of the ball.
"It sounds like they want me to play linebacker or possibly defensive end. Like I said, there haven't been many conversations, but as far as putting on weight or getting bigger, if that's what they want then that is what I will do."
Traxler knows going in that his strong suit will be his hard work and determination, but he also realizes the speed and pace of the college games and knows that is where he will need the most work.
"That's who I am," Traxler said. "The lunch pail, hard hat kind of guy that coach Hill described. I go to work every day and just try to get better. I'm always ready to work, but I definitely have to be faster and work on my speed and strength."
Traxler arrived on the scene - so to speak - last season and primarily late as one of Brandon Hampton's go-to guys in the Eagles' playoff run.
Traxler had 28 carries for 226 yards, averaging 8.07 a carry and 37.67 yards a game. In the air, Traxler had two catches for 81 yards and a combined three touchdowns.
It didn't take the 6-foot-4, 22-pound senior long to eclipse that mark this season.
In the first game, Traxler had two TD's, balling out for 112 yards on 11 carries on the ground and catching one pass for 32 in a 42-22 win over Chester. In Saturday's 34-15 win over Vienna-Goreville, Traxler had three more touchdowns, going for 126 yards on 10 touches.
Eldorado head coach Joe Clark said that Traxler's perspective on football on and off the field, which is what's going to be his biggest benefit moving forward.
"He's a super kid with god-given abilities, he's humble and he appreciates things a lot more than most typical kids in his position would. SIU got a good one," Clark said. "I don't know where he fits in with (SIU) plan right now, but I'm happy for him and Jake is in a position to stay local and find a comfort zone still being close to home."
When Traxler signs his National Letter of Intent with Southern Illinois he will be the first Eldorado football player to sign with a Division 1 school in recent memory. Nate Questelle played at Southeast Missouri State University in the early '90's but at the time, SEMO was a D2 school. The Goodley twins, Ashton and Taylor, signed golf scholarship papers with Austin Peay State University and are the most recent D1 players from EHS, prior to that, Daniel Etienne played baseball for SIU from 2008-2010.
Traxler will also join southern Illinois natives Coleton Jeralds, Nico Gualdoni and Max Edwards (Johnston City), Aaron Lence (Anna-Jonesboro), Devin Jones (Du Quoin), Hunter Milligan (Marion), Lane Pegram (Massac County), Jordan Berner (Chester) and Nick Wolf (Nashville).
Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Register, Eldorado Journal & The Gallatin County Democrat. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.