Naperville North senior William Eloe knew things were going to be vastly different in the offense this season, and he couldn’t be happier.
The 5-foot-8, 198-pound running back didn’t get many carries last season in the Huskies’ prolific passing offense led by quarterback Jacob Bell.
“Last year we had Jacob Bell, and we had multiple talented receivers,” Eloe said. “So of course we’re just going to throw the ball all the time and sling it around.
“We’d run maybe one inside zone play at the start of the drive, and then I’d be out in pass the entire time.”
Not anymore. Bell is a freshman at Indiana, and all of those receivers have graduated too.
“Now we’ve got more of a scrappy team,” Eloe said. “We’ve got some good backs in the backfield and a little more of an edge, more of like we’re going to go out there and damage the defense.
“If we’re not going to score on them, we’re going to damage them and wear them out throughout the game and run the ball. It’s a completely different look.”
It’s a look that suits Eloe, who was thrilled with the message he got from Naperville North coach Sean Drendel this summer.
“Sophomore year, when I played on the sophomore team, all we did was run the ball,” Eloe said. “I had like 1,300 rushing yards. This kind of takes me back to how that was.
“Coach told me this season, ‘I expect a lot out of you. I want you to have a big year.’ We’re going to just run the ball and be a completely different team, so I’m just trying to step up to the occasion.”
Eloe has done a good job so far. Through three games, he has rushed for 283 yards and five touchdowns on 54 carries to lead the Huskies’ ground-and-pound offense.
Eloe carried 14 times for 77 yards and a career-high three touchdowns as the host Huskies routed Metea Valley 35-14 in a Southwest Valley Blue opener in Naperville on Friday.
Eloe capped Naperville North’s first three possessions by scoring on runs of 5 yards, 10 yards and 1 yard. The Huskies (2-1, 1-0) took advantage of short fields set up by two poor punts and an interception by senior linebacker Drew Murphy.
“In short yardage, when we’re close to the end zone, I’m just going to try to break every tackle I can until I get there,” Eloe said. “That’s where I really thrive.
“I’m a bigger back. I’m not that tall, but I’m like 200 pounds, so I’m going to lower the shoulder and try to get to the end zone.”
Eloe can get there in multiple ways. So far, it’s by being a battering ram.
“He’s a tank,” Drendel said. “He’s one of the strongest kids on our team. He’s hard to tackle, and he’s done a great job for us. So we’re going to keep feeding him, and we’ve got other good guys behind him, so at times we don’t have to rely on him all the time. It’s keeping him healthy and ready to go.”
As a sophomore, Eloe qualified for the state meet in the 100-meter dash, but he missed last track season with a hamstring injury.
Eloe is healthy and eager to show off that track speed, which is a family trait. His mother, Becky, is a former five-time Division III All-American in track who won an indoor national title in the long jump at Wisconsin-Whitewater, where she’s a member of the Hall of Fame.
Eloe’s older brother, Danny, also played running back at Naperville North, was a state medalist in track and runs at North Central College.
“I was looking for the breakaway today,” Eloe said. “I didn’t get it, but that’s OK. One of these days, I’m going to hit it and show my speed. It’s been all power so far.”
But Eloe’s teammates have witnessed his blazing speed. Murphy ran track to get faster for football and has run sprints with Eloe.
“But I haven’t caught up to him, though,” Murphy said. “He’s super fast.
“Just watch him at track, or just watch him hit the edge and turn that corner. You’re like, ‘That’s track speed right there. That’s not football speed.’ He’ll just run someone over, too, at the end. He’s all muscle.”
Naperville North senior right tackle Will Harvey said Eloe’s contributions go beyond the physical.
“It’s awesome blocking for Eloe because that guy just brings the energy to every game,” Harvey said. “He cares so much about his guys up front. He puts his head down and keeps his feet running, and he makes us look better than we are.”
That’s not Eloe’s only positive trait.
“Whatever it is, Eloe is always the guy you go to talk to and get advice from,” Harvey said. “You enjoy being around him.”
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
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