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East Chicago: ‘Whatever it takes’
Updated: May 9, 2012 9:42AM
Everett Coleman can see the finish line, the light at the end of the tunnel.
He is a senior at East Chicago Central, and he realizes his post-high school future in athletics lies in football.
So Coleman made the difficult decision to not play basketball for the Cardinals this past season, instead focusing on football activities.
“I wanted to get bigger and stronger, so my body can be physically ready,” Coleman said. “Telling the coaches I couldn’t play was hard. But I think it will pay off in the end.”
Coleman added about 15 pounds of muscle to his 6-foot-3 frame.
East Chicago coach Stacy Adams noticed his quarterback’s enhanced physique, as well as his elevated attention to detail.
“He was in the weight room the whole winter,” said Adams, the former Valparaiso University coach. “He’s doing whatever it takes to get to where he wants to get — and that’s Division I. It’s not just throwing; it’s the pre- and post-snap read. Colleges want a quarterback who can tell you what’s happening on the field.”
Adams said virtually all of the schools in the Mid-American Conference have come through East Chicago, though none had offered Coleman — yet. The likely plan for the Cardinals is to send out additional tapes after the first three games this season.
“He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the area,” Adams said. “He’s 6-3, 6-4, he can throw the ball 65 yards in the air. He just needs protection.”
In his first season as a full-time starter at the position, Coleman completed 82-of-177 passes for 1,569 yards with 15 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He has every intention of improving upon those numbers this season.
“My senior year, I’m taking everything really serious,” said Coleman, who added 286 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on 67 carries last season. “I’m putting a lot of pressure on myself. Everybody’s goal is to win, to have a better record than last year, and I’m taking that personally.
“I want to be able to stand in the pocket and deliver the pass instead of panicking. I’m not going to rush it. I’m willing to be patient and make better decisions.”
Coleman actually didn’t begin playing quarterback until his sophomore season, when he gained limited starting experience. Before, he had been playing primarily safety, as well as a little bit at wide receiver.
“Everett has a bright future ahead of him,” Adams said. “He’s continuing to grow and develop as a quarterback, he’s a 3.0 student. He does everything the right way.”
Coach
Stacy Adams
record
At school: 5-5 (second year)
Overall: 5-5 (second year)
Last season
Lost 61-22 to Valparaiso in
sectional opener
Key returnees
QB Everett Coleman
WR Montel Smith
WR/MLB Martayveus Carter
DB Demetrius Cousins
RB/OLB Jakar Bufford
OL/DL Michael Henney
Key losses
RB/CB Arion Clanton
WR/DB Tyree Purham
OL/DL Anthony Burns
College prospects
QB Everett Coleman (MAC schools)
WR Montel Smith
RB/OLB Jakar Bufford
Season outlook
East Chicago Central went 5-5 in Stacy Adams’ first season, after a 3-7 2009. And the Cardinals aim to make further strides, with Adams believing a winning season — which would be the program’s first since a 7-3 2004 — is well within reach. Also, EC will be pursuing a victory in a sectional game for the first time since 2000, seemingly another attainable goal especially considering the Cardinals are now in Class 4A. Former Valparaiso University coach Adams said the players have adjusted to his expected discipline level, and he in turn has adjusted to the difference in maturity level between college and high school players. Everett Coleman is a talented quarterback, and Montel Smith and Martayveus Carter, just a sophomore, give him a pair of dangerous targets. Jakar Bufford, who started at outside linebacker last season, also was expected to succeed Arion Clanton (925 yards, 10 TDs) at running back.
Postseason
Class 4A Sectional 9 (East Chicago, Roosevelt, West Side, Griffith, Hammond, Clark, Morton, Highland)
Schedule
Aug. 19 Hammond
Aug. 26 at Lake Central
Sept. 2 Roosevelt
Sept. 8 Gavit
Sept. 16 at Clark
Sept. 23 at Boone Grove
Sept. 30 Lew Wallace
Oct. 7 Bowman
Oct. 14 at Griffith
HISTORY LESSON
Season Record
2001 5-5
2002 3-7
2003 5-5
2004 7-3
2005 3-7
2006 2-8
2007 5-5
2008 4-5
2009 3-7
2010 5-5
Sectional titles: None
Roster
No. Name Ht. Wt. Yr. Pos.
1 Trequan Burnett 6-3 210 10 TE
2 Martayveus Carter 5-11 190 10 WR/LB
4 Jacques Hall 5-10 160 12 WR/DB
5 Larunte Fairley 5-9 160 11 RB/DB
6 Anthony Hunt 5-11 190 10 RB/LB
7 Everett Coleman 6-3 170 12 QB
8 Montel Smith 6-1 180 12 WR/DB
9 Charles Bornett 5-7 150 10 WR/DB
11 Demetris Cousins 5-11 165 11 WR/DB
13 Carlos Fernandez 5-10 165 10 QB
20 Richard Caldwell 5-10 150 9 WR/DB
21 Ikeam Simmons 5-11 150 9 RB/DB
22 Robert McClellan 5-7 150 9 WR/DB
24 Jakar Bufford 5-11 190 12 RB/LB
25 Jacob Pollard 5-7 150 9 RB/LB
30 Jovione Perry 5-11 160 9 RB/DB
31 Wallace Hunter 5-10 160 9 RB/DB
35 Jesus Camarillo 5-10 200 10 RB/LB
42 Rayshun Williams 5-11 220 10 FB/OL
43 Patrick Shaw 5-11 200 10 RB/LB
45 Alex Garcia 5-10 160 12 RB/LB
50 Edgar Rivera 5-7 210 9 OL/DL
51 Cesar Menchaca 5-10 210 9 OL/DL
52 Avery Miller 6-1 230 12 OL/DL
53 Luis Perez 5-10 160 12 OL/LB
54 Allan Upshaw 5-11 230 12 OL/DL
55 Damon Ellison 6-6 250 10 OL/DL
56 Keon Brown 5-11 240 10 OL/DL
57 Joseph Perez 5-8 170 10 OL/DL
59 Elinice Perez 6-0 250 10 OL/DL
60 Josh Toodle 6-2 240 9 OL/DL
61 Denzel Thruston 6-3 260 10 OL/DL
62 Xavier Villalobos 5-11 210 10 OL/DL
63 Kevin Williams 6-3 280 11 OL/DL
64 Delashawn McCray 5-10 280 9 OL/DL
65 Alejandro Cruz 5-8 240 9 OL/DL
70 Michael Henney 5-11 220 10 OL/DL
71 Erik Gavura 5-10 270 9 OL/DL
72 Corey Jefferson 6-4 280 10 OL/DL
74 Madison Hawkins 6-3 265 9 OL/DL
75 Antwoine Harris 5-11 250 12 OL/DL
81 Anthony Williams 5-7 150 10 WR/DB
82 Stephen Brice 5-9 150 10 WR/DB
83 Darshawn Sanders 5-10 160 10 WR/DB
84 Cory Larkins 5-10 160 12 WR/DB
85 Brion Person 5-10 180 10 TE/LB
86 Jalen Alston 6-3 210 11 TE/DE
87 Kenny Clark 6-2 195 9 TE/DE
88 Keithan Cleveland 6-1 200 9 TE/LB
90 Curtis Douglas 6-1 180 12 RB/LB
91 Devonte McKnight 6-2 210 12 TE/DE
92 Jalen Morris 6-1 210 11 TE/DE
93 Christian Guerrero 6-7 260 10 TE
94 Justin Grant 6-1 170 9 DE
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