Starting Lineup: Do-it-all performer Drew Eisenhower knows the score at Wyo
To recognize the top players in Berks football MikeDragoSports.com has selected the “Starting Lineup,” a preseason All-Berks team that includes the 12 top linemen, backs, receivers, linebackers and specialists.
“Starting Lineup” is presented by GoBigRecruiting.com.
Players were selected based on past performance, expected performance this season and college potential. Two-way players were given special consideration. One player will be introduced each day, in random order (the players are not ranked 1 thru 12). Former NFL lineman and recruiting expert Ross Tucker offers comments on each selection.
Drew Eisenhower, Wyomissing
| 5-10 | 185 | Senior | HB/S/KR |
BACKSTORY: For a program known for its productive ground game Wyomissing doesn’t produce a whole lot of 1,000-yard rushers: Just five in the last decade. The Wing-T is designed for its balance, with each of the three backs getting a nearly equal number of touches. That’s the way longtime coach Bob Wolfrum likes it.
“We’re not sharing the ball just to be nice,” he said. “That’s just the way our offense is.”
Drew Eisenhower didn’t get a lot of touches as a junior but he made the most of them. The halfback, who had 116 carries in 16 games, rushed for 871 yards and scored 19 touchdowns. The fact that he scored in five different ways shows his versatility. He had:
- an 84-yard kickoff return against Schuylkill Valley.
- a 65-yard fumble recovery against Southern Columbia.
- a 27-yard interception return against Northern Lebanon.
- three touchdown receptions.
- and 13 rushing TDs.
Wolfrum calls him the perfect Wing-T halfback because of his vision, footwork, balance and ability to cut off his blocks.
“Nobody’s raising an eyebrow because he’s running a 4.4 40 or anything like that,” said Wolfrum, “but he’s fast enough that he doesn’t get caught from behind.
“He’s like his dad,” Wolfrum said, referring to Chad Eisenhower, an All-Berks running back and kick returner in 1993 who owns the program record for longest scoring reception (95 yards). “His dad was a really good back, too. You can see the genes there; he runs very similar to the way his dad did.”
Eisenhower’s all-around skills show up in special teams, where he returns kicks, and on defense, where he plays safety. He had four interceptions last season, second-most in the league.
“He’s like our quarterback on defense,” Wolfrum said. “He knows what’s going on and he helps everybody else out. At safety we can bring him down into the box when we want the extra hat (against the running game). He’s not afraid to stick his nose in for tackles in the run game; he tackles very well.”
Eisenhower came up big in the postseason with 134 rushing yards in a 35-14 win over Scranton Prep in the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals and a pair of touchdowns and 112 rushing yards in a 42-6 win over Neumann-Goretti in the semifinals.
He’s also an outfielder on the Spartans’ baseball team and a starting guard in basketball. He was a finalist for Defensive Player of the Year in the West Reading Summer basketball league, where he earned a spot on the All-Star team.
ROLE: Team leader, starter at safety and halfback and key special teams performer.
COLLEGE PROSPECTS: Will take his versatile game to the Division III level.
TUCKER’S TAKE: “Not as physically gifted as some of the Division I prospects on this list but makes up for it with superb body control and balance that make him extremely effective on both sides of the ball. Ideally suited as halfback for Wyomissing Wing-T, with patience and vision while possessing tremendous instincts as a safety on defensive side of the ball. Was one of Wyo’s best players a year ago and should be again this season.”
Starting Lineup 2022
| Anthony Caccese | Exeter | T/DT |
| Drew Eisenhower | Wyomissing | HB/S/KR |
| Cam Jones | Wilson | WR/CB/KR/LS |
| Josiah Jordan | Berks Catholic | HB/CB/KR |
| Matt Kramer | Wyomissing | FB/OLB |
| Ayden Martin | Gov. Mifflin | RB/S |
| Delsin McNeil | Gov. Mifflin | QB/S |
| Xander Menapace | Hamburg | QB |
| Lucas Palange | Exeter | G/LB/DE |
| Jven Williams | Wyomissing | G/T/DT |
The “Starting Lineup” team was selected by MikeDragoSports.com, with input from Berks coaches and Ross Tucker, co-founder and CEO of GoBigRecruiting.com and a former NFL lineman. Tucker, who played at Wyomissing, has deep contacts throughout college football and remains dialed into Berks football.
After the “Starting Lineup” team has been announced MikeDragoSports.com will present the “Berks Watch List,” which will include 50 more other top players to watch this season.