Maryland High School Player of the Year: CJ Eley, Howard High School

There was no magical moment or special ingredient that made CJ Eley into one of the region’s best football players. Rather, according to Eley and Howard High football coach Ross Hannon, it was simply a matter of development and maturity that helped Eley realize how to use his special talents.

“It was him maturing and expecting more from himself,” Hannon said. “He didn’t grow six inches or put on 40 pounds. It was a natural progression and development. We’ve had some great players before him and great teams and he saw what it took to be successful: Hitting the weight room and taking care of your body.”

As the traditional fall season was delayed until spring, Hannon challenged Eley to be ready if and when the Lions were able to take the field. Eley learned how to play multiple positions on offense and moved from cornerback to safety on defense.

The results spoke for themselves. In five games, Eley rushed for 550 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 10.2 yards per carry. He also caught 23 passes for 417 yards and two touchdowns and returned a punt for another score. Most opponents avoided kicking the ball to Eley; he had three returns for touchdowns as a junior.

“I think it all clicked because of my teammates and the environment around, and I probably became a little more confident in my ability and my leadership skills,” said Eley, who is the younger brother of NFL player Tavon Austin, regarded as one of the greatest players ever in Maryland high school football history. “And that helped me play better.”

“Everybody in Howard County knew he was getting the ball when we needed it and he didn’t disappoint,” Hannon said. “He’s just a dynamic kid, more explosive than everyone else. I wish there was some magic formula [to explain his improvement] – he’s had it in him. I think he was more determined this year, played with more confidence and realized he could dominate.”