The Donna News

By RAUL GARCIA JR. | The Donna News

DONNA — Eduardo Rosas doesn’t shy away from an opportunity that comes knocking.

And when Elmhurst College Football Head Coach Jeff McDonald called him to ask him to come play for him and join the team, he knew it was an opportunity of a lifetime, and one he was not going to pass up.

“It was a decision of a lifetime,” Rosas said. “I was happy with the outcome.”

He said he visited the school and one of the coaches traveled to Donna soon after to watch him play during the season.

110% committed🙏🏾 @CoachLehto @EUCoachMac @CoachG3300 @donna_redskins @Donna_ISD pic.twitter.com/AIwWZn3CJ6

— Eduardo Rosas Jr (@BigE_79_) March 16, 2021

“It kind of made my decision a little bit easier,” he said. “Coach McDonlad told me he had the right coaches and the team was heading in the right direction and that I would make a good fit into the lineup.”

The Elmhurst 2020 season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In their 2019 campaign the Blue Jays were (1-9), (1-8) in conference competition.

Happy 18th Birthday to Right Tackle #79 , Eduardo “Big E” Rosas! 😈🔥 pic.twitter.com/GlDjifadhg

— officialdonnaredskins (@donna_redskins) September 10, 2020

Elmhurst University is a Division III school located in Illinois, and is a 30 minute drive from Chicago.

Rosas said he plans to major in kinesiology.

“I want to be around sports when I grow up,” Rosas said.

Rosas stands at six foot five inches and weighs 345. He said playing at the next level was not on his radar after joining the team, much less heading into his senior season.

“I was in shock and speechless when I got my first letter from the school,” Rosas said.

Rosas entered his senior season on the Donna High football team knowing it was going to be a short one, and had only a little time to work and adjust to the new coaching staff before kicking off the season.

“This football season was a good one despite getting new coaches and stuff,” Rosas said. “I felt it was pretty good and if we had the full 10 game schedule we would have been up there.”

The transition was bumpy at first, and the football season was fast and on the go, he said.

Donna High ended its 2020 campaign 2-4, 1-3 in District 32-5A.

“I wasn’t sure if I had enough film for the school because we only played five games this season,” Rosas said.

Rosas has been a starting offensive lineman at Donna High since being moved up to the varsity his sophomore year. His main duty was to protect the quarterback and block for the running back.

He got his first chance on the varsity offensive line in week three of his sophomore year. That game pitted him against a ferocious Mission Veterans team that went four rounds deep into the Texas High School Playoffs and featured that year’s Mr. Football at quarterback.

“My position is the first to blame and the last for fame,” Rosas said about his position jokingly.

This year he helped lead Donna High’s offensive line and he did so good it earned him a spot on the Blue-Grey All American Bowl held in January at Texas Stadium.

Here’s a closer look at the East team pictures taken prior to opening kickoff of the #BlueGreyFootball All-American Bowl at Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium. pic.twitter.com/xR447XigyW

— Blue-Grey Football (@BlueGreyFB) December 15, 2020

“My first play I took my kick back and blocked my defensive man and the quarterback passed the ball to a receiver near the sideline and he took it to the house,” Rosas said, recalling one of his memorable moments on the gridiron. “It was a beautiful thing to see, especially at Cowboys Stadium.”

He said he was also recruited by Sull Ross University.

“I’m going to have to get used to the cold weather.” Rojas said about moving to the Midwest and playing at the college level. “I’m going to go up there and work my behind off for a starting spot.”

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