A lasting legacy: Ballard emerges as a leader for Washington football

Eric Ballard has always had someone to look up to.

Growing up, it was his brother Jyrell, who taught Ballard the importance of school, family and commitment to your fellow man.

On the gridiron, it was New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, a Super Bowl MVP and one of the most successful players in the NFL.

But as a senior at Washington High School and the quarterback of the Jaguars’ squad, Ballard now finds himself playing the role of a leader for the younger athletes on his team.

Through his experience on the field, paired with the knowledge and wisdom he received from watching his brother and Brees, Ballard is hoping to become the leader Washington needs in a year of uncertainty.

“I’m just trying to lead this team,” Ballard said. “We don’t have a lot of guys, but we’re trying to stay competitive and come together as a team.”  

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Leadership has come naturally to Ballard, who has been the face of the Jaguars' offense the past two seasons.

In 2016, the Princess Anne native threw for more than 1,000 yards while tallying 12 scores. Through three games this season, Ballard has continued the trend, tossing four touchdowns and running one in.

“We always look for big things out of him,” Washington head coach Greg Lasinski said earlier in the year. “Throwing the ball and also running the ball, with the type of offense we’re running, he’s going to have the ball running a lot more, but he’s the kind of guy who can handle that.”  

Adopting a new scheme

Entering his senior season, Ballard was put to the test, getting thrown into a new Washington offense due to a lack of varsity players.

Ballard’s protection, the offensive line, was adjusted to a three-lineman formation, with receivers lining up on the wings to serve as extra blockers.

It’s been a challenging, near impossible offense to run at times given the size and speed of opposing defenses in the Bayside Conference, but Ballard hasn’t let the pressure discourage him from playing the game.

The senior is hoping to play college ball next season, making the three-lineman offense a perfect opportunity for Ballard to prove what he can do in a pressure situation.

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“I just try to stay calm — calm, cool and collective and just try to do what I do,” Ballard said. “I think things have gone pretty well, we’ve just got to keep our heads in the game and focus on winning the game.”

A leader on and off the field

Ballard and the Jaguars currently hold a 1-2 overall record, with the team’s lone win coming against Kent County on Sept. 8.

Due to the team’s small size, Washington isn’t expected to compete for a state championship or even a playoff spot.

But to Ballard, the negative comments toward the team serve as motivation.

They believe come Friday night, anything is possible.

“We’re the underdogs. Hearing people say we can’t do it, that drives us,” Ballard said. “We’ve got to let up on the mistakes and play stronger, but we’re expecting to go out and win every game.”  

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It’s that same attitude that has helped Ballard find the same success in the classroom that he's had on the football field. A model student, Washington’s quarterback also serves as an academic mentor to younger athletes.

He understands the importance of school and how colleges look at a student’s academic abilities as much as their skills with a football.

Through his dedication to the both the classroom and his team, Ballard feels he has become an overall better person, which he believes is more important than being the best quarterback.

“The main thing I preach is for them to stay on their grades because if you want to play college ball, you’ve got to have the grades,” Ballard said. “On the field, I tell them to keep calm and let the game come to them.”

A lasting legacy

When Ballard jogs onto the football field, he isn’t the first player to catch the fans' eyes.

Standing at 5-foot-11 and weighing in a 165 pounds, Washington’s quarterback isn’t the biggest athlete on the gridiron, but he may be the one with the largest presence.

His pregame ritual involves listening to any type of music that pops up in his phone and breaking out into a dance until it's time to play.

But when the first kickoff takes place and the first tackle has been made, it’s all business for Ballard, doing whatever he can to ensure a victory for the Jaguars.

“I put in a lot of preparation,” Ballard said. “I watch a lot of film, and since this is my senior year, I’m coming out here trying to put on a show, and I’m trying to take this team to the playoffs.”

He has compiled several accolades, including a 2016 All-Bayside Second Team honor, but the awards and recognition have never been what Ballard is about.

The senior would rather walk away from Washington with victories and playoff appearances — something the team can claim together.

In Ballard’s eyes, that’s what being a good leader is about, putting the team first.

It’s something he witnessed when watching his brother play for the Jaguars a few years ago.

It’s what he saw from Brees in Super Bowl XLIV when the Saints took down the Indianapolis Colts to take home football’s ultimate prize.

And it’s what he hopes underclassmen learn from him as he closes out his high school career.

Regardless if he leaves Washington with a pile of victories,  the Princess Anne native hopes he’s inspired his teammates to go out and become the best person they can be.

"We've got a good group of guys, and I relied on guys like my brother to inspire me when I got here," Ballard said. "I hope I've given these guys something to look up to."