Bob Eason recognized there
was something special about Joseph Womack the first time he saw Womack
on an athletic field.
“It was in middle
school,’’ said Eason, the head varsity football coach at Northside High
School in Jacksonville. “He was already taller than a lot of the kids
and he was making plays. Our middle school had a pretty good football
team and he stood out over there. So he was a kid I noticed almost
immediately.’’
What Eason knew way back
then has become common knowledge in Eastern North Carolina over the last
three years as Womack has emerged as one of the state’s premier
three-sport athletes. But it’s in football that the 6-foot-2,
185-pounder has received the most notice.
As a three-year starter at
quarterback for the Monarchs, Womack has developed into an
all-conference and all-area performer on the gridiron. His talents are
so impressive that East Carolina extended an early scholarship offer.
Womack accepted that offer
soon after attending ECU’s annual spring football scrimmage on April 14.
“It was just a good fit
for Joe,’’ Eason said. “He has a great family and a great support
system, and knowing they won’t be too far away will be great for him.
“He didn’t go into
recruiting with any preconceived notions about any school. But he
visited East Carolina, watched some practices and felt like he fit in
there.’’
The Pirates were the first
school to offer Womack a scholarship, although Duke, UNC-Chapel Hill and
N.C. State were also showing interest.
Womack hails from an
athletic family that had already contributed to Northside’s athletic
success even before he arrived on campus.
Older sister Joanna Womack
was a standout in basketball, cross country and track and field for the
Monarchs. “She could have played college basketball somewhere, but she
was serious about education and has focused on that,’’ Eason said.
Joanna is now attending UNC-Greensboro.
Joseph Womack’s athletic
career began as a ninth grader. He played quarterback for Northside’s
junior varsity football team before moving in as a the varsity starter a
year later.
“I think I’ve gotten
better every season,’’ Womack said. “That’s my goal every time I step on
the field, to improve my performance and to help my team win.’’
Womack was successful at
both endeavors as a junior. He completed 55 of 124 passes for 934 yards
and 11 touchdowns. He also added 478 more yards rushing on 126 carries
for 10 more scores in sparking Northside to an 11-4 overall record.
Eason said ECU hasn’t
decided where Womack will play in college. But he expects Womack will
begin his career at quarterback.
“He’s played quarterback
for us, but he also played a little at wide receiver for us last year
and defensive back as well,’’ he said. “He’s just a really good athlete.
“He can really move. He’s
got great moves. What’s hurt him (as a quarterback) is we run the
football a ton. We throw it some. So he’ll have to get used to a
different style of offense when he goes to college.
“I don’t think they’ve got
any preconceived notions where they’ll play him. They’ll bring him in as
a quarterback and give him a look. He’d make a heck of a receiver, too.
He’s got great hands.’’
Womack becomes the first
member of ECU’s recruiting Class of 2008.
