Corcordia Stingers add versatile Ontario defensive star

Today CFC profiles class of 2013 Lo-Ellen Park Knights star defensive back and recent Concordia Stingers commit, Eric Donaldson.

Eric Donaldson

Height/Weight:

6’1 185 lbs

Positions:

Defensive Back, Wide Receiver, Slotback, Running Back, Linebacker, Special Teams

Teams:

Lo-Ellen Park Knights (high school)

Sudbury Gladiators (varsity:  OVFL)

Commitment:

Concordia University

Class:

2013

When Eric was younger, he would hear stories of cousins getting scholarship offers to universities. He wanted to be included in those stories. Now the Concordia University commit can cross that goal off his list.

“I just always remember hearing of stories about my cousins playing football and one of them getting offers from universities and I grew up always playing sports myself so I wanted to have that one day; I wanted my own sports scholarship,” said Eric.

Now that it’s out of the way Donaldson can focus on the game itself.

“My goal has always been to go to university on a sport’s scholarship,” said Eric.  “I have done that. Now I want to physically play on the team.”

“I don’t just want to be a practice body or a second string player, I would like to eventually earn that starting spot and represent the team on the field. I understand my role as a first year player, and I’m willing to do what it takes to make it at the next level.”

Eric has played almost every sport there is out there but there is something special about football, and the bond that comes with playing on the team.

“You’re together every day during the season, you see each other more than you would your actual family and when it comes to game time, it actually feels like you’ve got to fight for each other in order to survive,” said Eric.

Since he began his football career in grade 9, the defensive back  has played a wide range of positions.

Ever since that first time he took the field, he has dedicated himself to the game.

“I’ve dedicated almost every day to training for football,” said Eric.  “I’ve thought about football every day since I started playing it and I’ll continue to think and train daily for the game.”

“It’s been my life for the past five years and I wouldn’t change that for anything. It’s been the reason for most of my actions and I can’t think of anything else I’d rather do than play football.”

While hard work has got him in physical condition to go out and play the game he attributes everything he has learned to his role model, his head coach.

“My mentor in football has been Coach Ellsworth as he was also my teacher so I had the opportunity of listening to his stories of when he played and it had a big influence on me,” said Eric.

Eric ended the 2012 season on a high note, and hopes to bring that success and winning attitude to the Concordia Stingers in the fall.

“I have a lot of great memories from football; most recent of these was winning the city championship of my last year in high school,” says Eric. “We were down at halftime and ended up pulling together and winning a championship.”

Eric will look to improve as a player in his upcoming years with the hope of making the pros.

“Playing at the next level would be the greatest trophy of all,” said Eric.

Awards/Achievements:

-2010 Junior Boys Football Defensive MVP – Team (Lo-Ellen Park Knights)
-2010 Senior Boys Defensive Back All Star Award – League (Lo-Ellen Park Knights)
-2011 Senior Boys Defensive Back All Star Award – League (Lo-Ellen Park Knights)
-2012 Gladiator of the Year – Team (Sudbury Gladiators)
-2012 Senior Boys Defensive Back All Star Award – League (Lo-Ellen Park Knights)
-2012 Senior Boys Punt Return All Star Award – League (Lo-Ellen Park Knights)
-2012 Senior Boys Most Outstanding Player of the League Award – League (Lo-Ellen Park Knights)

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