Athlete Spotlight: Eddie Lackey

The Californian | Posted: Monday, November 23, 2009 11:00 pm

Update: The senior safety is drawing Division II interest after racking up 76 tackles, two blocked kicks, a sack and an interception in the regular season. He has also rushed for seven touchdowns this year, including a 2-yard score in the Broncos' 38-17 win over Corona Santiago. Vista Murrieta (11-0) will play at Redlands (9-2) on Friday at 7:30 p.m. in the second round of the CIF Southern Section Inland Division Playoffs.

Age: 17

Birthday: May 30, 1992

What's practice going to be like on Thanksgiving morning? "That's our favorite. We love practicing on Thanksgiving. We wake up real early have our run-through and afterwards (the coaches) treat us to a nice breakfast. Sometimes we'll watch an inspirational film together and then we'll go back home and watch some football and eat our dinner."

What's your ideal Thanksgiving Day meal? "Mom cooks a good turkey. Mashed potatoes and corn, and cranberries, and stuffing is a must-have."

And for desert? "Got to go with pumpkin pie and have to have whipped cream on it."

What are you thankful for? "For my family, my friends and definitely my teammates and what God has done for us."

Vista Murrieta has yet to advance out of the second round. What will be different this year for you and your teammates? "The chip on our shoulders from our last three years. It's something we'll have mentally in our heads. It will make us push that much harder and come out with a different attitude. It's like a sickness of wanting to win so badly. It gets in your head and you so badly want to win. We're that team. We're going to push until we can't push anymore, and I think we're ready to go."

Favorite team: Philadelphia Eagles

Favorite player: Ravens safety Ed Reed

Favorite movie: "'Step Brothers' ---- I love that movie."

Does Will Ferrell make a bad movie? "I don't think so. Some say he can be cheesy, but he's still a funny guy to me."

Last movie you saw in a theater: "'Paranormal Activity' ---- It gave me the chills. But other than that, I do think it was pretty fake."

Favorite TV show: "I watch a lot of music videos or ‘Wildboyz.' The things they do crack me up."

On your MP3 player now? T.I., Lil Wayne, As I Lay Dying.

Favorite class: English

Least favorite class: Math

Any hobbies? "Snowboarding is definitely one of my hobbies. But I'm not as crazy as I used to be because I'm not trying to get hurt. I have to stay healthy."

What would coach Coley Candaele say if he heard you were headed to Mountain High last weekend? "Oh man, I would have an earful. I don't even want to imagine how that'd be."

Future plans: "I'm still undecided on what I'll major in, but I do want to go into the Air Force after college and I'm looking to go into special forces to become a para-rescue man."

Coach's quote (from Candaele): "He's a linebacker with defensive back speed. He' s got the speed and agility to cover and the toughness to be a defense back who can come up (to the line of scrimmage) and make plays, and with what we do, we need a guy with his speed and ability."

---- Jeff Sanders