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Recruit of the day: A true hero

Original Source: http://www.fannation.com
Author: Andy Staples
Original Publication Date: 3 September 2009

Even if he makes the Super Bowl, Kaleb Eulls will never make a tackle more important than the one he made Tuesday morning. Eulls, a defensive end/quarterback from Yazoo County High in Yazoo City, Miss., risked his own life to bring down an angry, gun-wielding 14-year-old girl who had threatened to open fire on a crowded school bus.

“I got it! I got it!” Eulls yelled after bringing down the girl, who had pulled a .380 caliber semiautomatic pistol and loaded it on the bus. There were 22 people on the bus, including Eulls and his three younger sisters. Many were elementary schoolers.

“The type of kid Kaleb is, he’s always going to step up and do what’s right,” Yazoo County coach Matt Williams told SI.com. “When everybody else does something wrong, he’s going to do what’s right. … It’s rare to see that in a young man.”

Eulls was sleeping when the girl boarded the bus. When she pulled out the gun, one of his sisters woke him. He asked the girl to put the gun down and helped direct students off the bus. Then, when he saw an opening, he tackled her.

“I kept my distance for a second, she kind of glanced away or blinked and I got to her,” Eulls told the Jackson (Miss.) Clarion Ledger.

Click the embedded link to watch a video of the incident, obtained by WLBT-TV.

Williams said in spite Even if he makes the Super Bowl, Kaleb Eulls will never make a tackle more important than the one he made Tuesday morning. Eulls, a defensive end/quarterback from Yazoo County High in Yazoo City, Miss., risked his own life to bring down an angry, gun-wielding 14-year-old girl who had threatened to open fire on a crowded school bus.

“I got it! I got it!” Eulls yelled after bringing down the girl, who had pulled a .380 caliber semiautomatic pistol and loaded it on the bus. There were 22 people on the bus, including Eulls and his three younger sisters. Many were elementary schoolers.

“The type of kid Kaleb is, he’s always going to step up and do what’s right,” Yazoo County coach Matt Williams told SI.com. “When everybody else does something wrong, he’s going to do what’s right. … It’s rare to see that in a young man.”

Eulls was sleeping when the girl boarded the bus. When she pulled out the gun, one of his sisters woke him. He asked the girl to put the gun down and helped direct students off the bus. Then, when he saw an opening, he tackled her.

“I kept my distance for a second, she kind of glanced away or blinked and I got to her,” Eulls told the Jackson (Miss.) Clarion Ledger.

Click the embedded link to watch a video of the incident, obtained by WLBT-TV.

Williams said in spite of his wild week, Eulls still plans to play Friday against Jackson. Wednesday, Williams texted Eulls to ensure that was still the plan. Eulls texted back that he was ready. “I sent back, ‘Well, I guess you can kick,’” Williams said. “He texted back, ‘LOL.’”

Forgive Williams if he isn’t too tough on his star player from this point forward. After that act of heroism, anything Eulls might do on the football field will pale in comparison.

“Whatever he does on the field is a blessing,” Williams said. “I couldn’t ask for anything out of him anymore. … He didn’t do it for himself. He did it for everybody else on that bus.” his wild week, Eulls still plans to play Friday against Jackson. Wednesday, Williams texted Eulls to ensure that was still the plan. Eulls texted back that he was ready. “I sent back, ‘Well, I guess you can kick,’” Williams said. “He texted back, ‘LOL.’”

Forgive Williams if he isn’t too tough on his star player from this point forward. After that act of heroism, anything Eulls might do on the football field will pale in comparison.

“Whatever he does on the field is a blessing,” Williams said. “I couldn’t ask for anything out of him anymore. … He didn’t do it for himself. He did it for everybody else on that bus.”

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