Eyring rushes toward greatness, goals for Alta

By Tony Jones

The Salt Lake Tribune

In the pass happy system of Alta High football, it’s seldom that a running back gets a true opportunity to be a featured player in the offense.

Of course, there have been exceptions. Sausan Shakerin was one of the best players to come through Utah in recent seasons. The Class 5A MVP as a senior, one of the best running backs in the nation in 2007, and someone who gained over 2,000 all-purpose yards in his final high school season. He left big shoes to fill, and nobody’s been able to come close in the seasons since.

Taylor Eyring wants to change that. As a senior, Eyring has the quickness, the elusiveness, the moves to be one of the best backs in the state.

“He’s special,” Alta coach Les Hamilton said. “He’s got the ability to carry us. He’s great running the ball or passing it. He’s someone that we’re always going to really rely on this season.”

And for good reason. The Hawks haven’t had a 1,000 yard rusher since Shakerin. Eyring not only wants to be the first, he’s not one to shy away from the challenge.

“It’s going to be tough to get 2,000 all-purpose yards,” Eyring said. “But I’ve set the goal of getting 1,500. I think it’s something that I can accomplish.”

He has good reason to think that way. First, there is the talent. He had a breakout junior season, leading the team in rushing. He’s proven himself as a guy who can run between the tackles, and one who can run on the edges. He showed the ability to passes out of the backfield, essential for a running back in Hamilton’s offense.

Eyring can also break tackles and make people miss. He rushed for over 100 yards in Alta’s season-opening loss, and he played well in last Saturday’s loss to Bingham, which says a lot because the Miners have one of the best front sevens in Utah high school football.

But a big reason that Eyring will have the chance to rush for more than 1,000 yards is because he will see plenty of carries this season. In past years, with Ammon Olsen and Jordy Brown, quarterback draws were a big part of the offense for the Hawks. Boston Handley, the quarterback this season, is much more of a pocket quarterback, a pure passer.

That means in order to get yards on the ground, Eyring will need to play an integral role. If Alta’s going to dig its way out of an 0-2 start this season, the running game will need to come up big. And if the first two games of the season are any indication, Eyring is and will be the best option on the ground.

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