Eli Denton a Driving Force Behind Walker Valley’s Defense

Cleveland, TN-(WDEF-TV) It doesn’t take long to recogn

ize special, and Walker Valley’s Eli Denton is special on the defensive side of the ball.

An All state linebacker last year he had over 100 tackles despite missing two game due to an injury.

But in his senior year the defensive stand out has new responsibilities and already achieved new accomplishments.

Walker Valley’s Eli Denton is a defensive force.

Said Denton:”Love the game. I’ve always just felt like unknown what I’ve been doing out there and I just feel comfortable play my position.”

This years he’s picked up right where he left off. Except now he’s done something for the first time.

Said Denton:”Gotta be the pick six. It has to be the pick six because I’ve never had a pick in a game and I don’t know it was just crazy.”

After his first career INT he had one thought.

Said Denton:”Don’t fumble. I wanted to go score but I didn’t wanna fumble.”

Said head coach Drew Akins:”He’s such a smart kid. He understands and that moment the worst thing that can happen is. The worst thing that can happen from this point forward is that I lose the ball back. So he just understands the game. But I guarantee you once he realized OK I’m not gonna fumble at his goal was to get in the end zone.”

Said Denton:”It felt great I heard all the fans cheering and kinda lift me up.”

Denton and Coach Akins called it a defensive team pick.

Said Akins”Jackson Gibson has been a dominant player for us now for two years. He’s the one who tipped the ball to go in his hands. If you watch the film the guys are leading him into the end zone there was probably six guys leading him into the end zone. Try to get them there. It was definitely a defensive team play.”

And this year you will see Denton on both sides of the ball.

Said Akins:”This year you were asking him to do a little more. Come over to offensive side of all. Just as leader ship on our team is unbelievable.”