Summer Feature: Eaford’s Effort Gets Him To His Dream School

Posted on June 20, 2019 by Marcus Benjamin

“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” — Walt Disney

Landing a scholarship offer for an amateur athlete is one of the steps toward the ultimate goal of becoming a professional. Most athletes have a dream school, but only a select few receive the offer of their dreams. Last Saturday at the Manny Diaz Camp at the University of Miami, 2021 wide receiver Fred Eaford experienced his dream becoming a reality.

“After I caught the one-handed catch I spoke to Coach Diaz and he said I had a full scholarship to the University of Miami,” said Eaford. “I always wanted to go there since I was a little kid. I worked really hard to get here.”

Eaford wasted no time in making his commitment to the Hurricanes as he made his decision public two days later. Eaford previously received offers from Louisville and Indiana but made clear that he is all in with “The U.”

“I’m 100% committed. Out of my top three schools, I only have a top one.”

Since his commitment, Georgia, West Virginia and Oregon reached out to Eaford in hopes to flip the three-star wideout. Fred’s brother, four-star linebacker Ge’mon Eaford, is an Oregon enrolee and is expected to compete for playing time this fall. Ge’mon watched his brother dazzle spectators during the seven on seven tournament and experienced another special moment with his younger brother.

“He said to keep doing my thing and I got more to get,” said Fred Eaford. “He pushes me to get in the weight room all the time. He helped me to get my first offer which was from Louisville in the 8th grade.”

Saturday was a great moment for the Eaford family as this was the second commitment to a power five school in less than a years time. The Eaford family knows that their father, who passed last summer, would be more than happy to know that Fred is on his way to Coral Gables.

“My dad had a pre-existing condition. It’s been tough for me and my family. We were really close. I know he would have been happy to know that Miami offered me and I committed to the U. Miami was his favorite school.”

Like many receivers, Eaford is confident in his abilities and felt he should have been playing varsity since his first year of high school. Seeking varsity playing time, Eaford is at his third school in as many years starting at Deerfield Beach for his freshman year and transferring to Cypress Bay (Weston) in year two of his high school career. Eaford feels he’s finally found a home at Hialeah High.  The addition of Eaford and rising quarterback Jaylon Tolbert will likely put T-Breds into the playoff picture.

Coach Gary Sanchez and the Thoroughbreds earned the seven on seven championship over Miami Carol City last Saturday inside the friendly confines of the Hurricanes indoor practice facility. Hialeah made the playoffs last year in 8A and has been reclassified to 16-7A in a winnable district with Doral, Homestead, Mater Academy (Hialeah Gardens), Miami Beach and North Miami.

“I met coach at the Battle at the Bottom seven on seven tournament,” said Eaford. “I feel like I can help Hialeah to a championship.”

The 6’0” 162-pound incoming high school junior does plan on taking visits to other colleges in the future but does not have any scheduled at this time. Eaford plans to be at Paradise Camp this Saturday.

Paradise Camp will be held at the campus of the University of Miami where Hurricane alums help with the facilitation of combine drills.

About Marcus Benjamin

Marcus Benjamin works as the senior writer and editor for FootballHotbed.com. He attended Florida A&M and Florida Memorial University completing a bachelors degree in communications in 2010. He's covered high school football in the South Florida area since 2010 for the Miami Herald, Miami Sports Tribune and ShawSports.net. He is married and lives in Fort, Lauderdale, FL.
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