Simpson running back Cade Eiland Simpson tailback Cade Eiland is the 2011 Southern Sports & Travel Player of the Year. Eiland rushed for over 2,600 yards and 30 touchdowns and led Simpson to a perfect 14-0 season and the Class AA State Championship.
The senior, who has been at Simpson since the 3rd grade, has epitomized what football is all about under head coach Billy Wayne Hankins.
“Cade is definitely one of the three or four best backs I have coached. He has a great combination of quickness and surprising power for his size. I think the thing that sets him apart from most is his vision. He has a knack for seeing the opening and when he does he goes,” said Hankins.
Eiland’s toughness was on full display last season when he suffered a torn ACL in the regular season finale against Lamar. The junior sat out the first round of the playoffs but re-entered the starting lineup in round two and recorded yet another 100 yard rushing performance despite the bad knee. “That kind of toughness is what we preach at Simpson, 99% of players would have been finished,” said Coach Billy Wayne Hankins. “Cade is very determined and always finds a way to get things done.”
Eiland had surgery to repair the torn ACL soon after the season ended but to Eiland the injury wasn’t all negative. “It was tough at first,” said Eiland, “but my getting hurt actually made me a better running back this season. I lost a little speed because of the injury but I ran the ball much harder to make up for that loss of speed. I knew I would have to break tackles and run harder to compensate.” The improved Cade Eiland was never more obvious then when it mattered the most this season. Eiland ripped Trinity’s defense for 208 yards in a 23-7 South State championship win and in his final game Eiland punished defending state champion River Oaks for 213 yards in a 29-15 Class AA State title win.
“Although Cade wasn’t a vocal leader on the team he was a leader by example. Our other players always knew that when the lights came on Friday night they were going to get the best Cade had to give,” said Hankins.
Playing football at Simpson can be rewarding but there is always lots of pressure that comes with it. “There’s always a lot of pressure,” said Eiland. “People were predicting a state title before we had even played a scrimmage. That’s all people were talking about around town. It was the first thing people would ask us, are we going to win state?”
That kind of pressure is at times hard to manage but it comes with success. “You have got to win at Simpson,” said Eiland. "That’s how it is, we’re not going to lose. It’s a lot of pressure but we did it.” Last season’s disappointment helped elevate Simpson’s team to another level. “We had a lot of juniors last season and after our playoff loss we all made the decision that we were not going to get beat this year. We were successful at instilling that mindset in our underclassmen and they took it and went with it.”
Most casual football fans don’t understand the physical toll inflicted on arguably the best running back in the MAIS over the course of 14 games. “On Saturdays I am beat up,” said Eiland. “It takes a few days before I’m over the bruises and beating that playing running back involves but I still love it.”
What Eiland also loves is the feeling he gets late in a football game when he can sense the defense is tiring and getting worn down. “It’s the best feeling in the world when I’m lined up in the backfield and can sense the defense is getting worn down,” said the senior. “I always look at the linebackers and I can tell who is worn out and I’m running right at them and when I break that tackle and I know I’m gone, that’s a great feeling.”
While the state championship win over River Oaks was special it may not have been the most satisfying win for Eiland. That would be the south state win over much heralded Trinity. “We all knew Trinity was a good team but not many people thought we would beat them.” The Trinity win was the most satisfying but the toughest this season was Simpson’s week nine 21-14 win over Class AAA MRA. “MRA was a very fast and hard hitting team and that was our toughest game this season,” said Eiland.
This past season has also been one in which a special bond existed between player and head coach. Eiland says his relationship with head coach Billy Wayne Hankins has been special. “Over the past year Coach Hankins has been a father figure to me, he has taken care of me like his own son and he always calls to make sure I’m doing the right things, grades are good and I’m staying out of trouble.”
That sentiment is the same when talking with Coach Hankins. “Usually the really great players are also quality people and that’s true with Cade. He and my son are close and to be honest he is like another son to me. Cade is a very special player but also more importantly a special individual.”
Eiland says he will be enrolling in college after graduation but he is undecided as to where. Now that his high school football days are over Eiland can focus a little more on some things he enjoys such as hunting, fishing and his friends and family.
Eiland understands how special the moment is. “I’m a senior and it felt great to win that last game. I know that 20 years down the road it’s going to mean so much to everybody because this is the biggest thing to ever happen to us.”
Eiland finished his career at Simpson with 5,725 rushing yards and 62 touchdowns.
