JUSTIN HAMILTON

If one of the overlooked positions on a football team is that of a lineman, then being a scout team lineman would be almost impossible to be on, but for one Eisenhower Knights player he truly embraces his role on the 4-0 Knights team.

Justin Hamilton, the son of Pat and Angie Hamilton of Russell, is respectfully known as “Hammy” to his teammates and almost everyone else. Justin is a senior offensive and defensive lineman and while he yearns to be on the field more, he has been an important piece to the team’s success, and is considered one of the top scout team players by the coaching staff.

“We are lucky to have a really good group of scouties, and Justin has taken the role of leader of them,” head coach Jim Penley said. “The thing that sets him apart is that he comes prepared everyday and he makes sure they are as well. He works incredibly hard, has a great attitude and is always smiling.”

The role of any scout team player is to play the role of the varsity opponent during game week, a job that typically falls to junior varsity players and provides an opportunity to catch a coach’s eye and prove they deserve a shot on Friday night. “Really good teams are good because they have a really good scout team,” Penley said. “What sets him apart is that he is always there for the young guys, he is always pushing them to be better and picking them up when they need it.”

Over the years players come and go, and some make a bigger impact on a team and coaches than others, but the players who stick in a coach’s mind are the ones with heart.

Penley added: “As a coach, he’s the type of kid you want to root for, the kid I love to coach.”

While Justin starts on special teams, make no mistake, he wants to be on the field and takes every opportunity to use his size and style of play to impress his coaches. For now, however, he is doing what he does best — preparing his teammates for Friday night.