August 21, 2012

James Wood High School 17-year-old senior

Sport: Football

Position: Linebacker/Running Back

Parents: Andy and Kathy Eubank

Hometown: Winchester

Nickname: A lot of my family and some of my friends call me “JoJo.”

When did you start playing football: I first started when I was 9 in Winchester city ball on the Redskins. My parents got me into it.

What you love about football: Just the camaraderie, and all the teamwork and intensity that comes with the sport.

Biggest strength and weakness in football: [Strengths], probably my size and my speed, and my ability to move on after a play. You’ve just got to get back at it. Don’t let anything hold you back. [Weakness], I don’t have a lot of varsity experience. I only played three games last year (because of a season-ending broken leg).

Most memorable moment in football: Finally getting to play with my [older] brother (A.J.) in high school again, then having him break my leg last year. That was in the third game of the season last year at Musselman. We were on the punt block team, and we were both on opposite sides, and he dove and hit my leg. He felt pretty bad, but I think he got over it quicker than I did.

Favorite athlete: [NFL Hall of Fame defensive end] Bruce Smith. He used to play at Virginia Tech, and was really successful on defense there and went on to play well in the NFL. He plays with a lot of intensity, and he’s always been a really good player and fair.

Favorite sports team: Virginia Tech football

Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: Bruce Smith, [actor and director] Clint Eastwood, actor John Wayne. I like Westerns and old war movies, so I think [Eastwood and Wayne] would be interesting.

Favorite Quote: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” That’s been my motto since last year, moving on since breaking my leg. Everybody tells me that, and it’s really just pushed me.

Favorite subject in school: I really like history, because of how much you can learn by looking back. I like learning about World War II, and learning about other wars and battles.

What’s on the iPod: I’ve got a lot of country, a little bit of rap, and some rock, but mostly country.

Pregame routine/ritual: I listen to my iPod, and if it’s a home game a lot of the team goes to the weight room, and we just turn the lights off and relax. Take a nap, get your mind focused. I just put my iPod on shuffle and get my mind focused.

Plans after high school: I’d like to go on to college, and I’m thinking about studying architecture or engineering. If I get the opportunity to play football at the next level, I’d enjoy that.

— Compiled by Robert Niedzwiecki