ELDORADO, TX — The Eldorado Eagles lost a lot of firepower from last season’s team with the graduation of quarterback Jonnie Rae Adame and the transfer of running back Kane Brock.
Now they’re taking their top receiver out of the mix and moving him to quarterback.
Garrett Walling, a 6-foot-2, 230-pound senior who had been the team’s tight end, led the Eagles last year with 52 catches for 655 yards and seven touchdowns.
Head coach William Robledo said Walling has a similar skillset to Adame, so he doesn’t anticipate the offense changing too much, with the exception of losing such a big target in the passing game.
“He could’ve probably been the starting quarterback since he was a sophomore,” Robledo said. “I think he’s done a great job taking over the offense. Nothing’s really changed, and I don’t see much of a drop off, except for the experience.
“He has a great arm, and he’s familiar with the offense. He just needs more game reps.”
Overall, Eldorado has five returning starters on offense and six on defense.
Walling will throw to a group of receivers that includes senior Charlie Mac Griffin (6-0, 155), junior Cole Meador (6-1, 160) and sophomore Brindon Gamez (6-1, 155).
Gamez was a first-team all district player last year, while Griffin was a second-teamer, so there is some returning experience there.
Another big loss, however, came with Brock transferring to Miles. He produced over 1,000 yards of offense as the leading rusher and second-leading receiver.
Robledo said he envisions a committee at running back to replace Brock, led by Andrez Gomez and Tyler Proffitt.
The biggest question for Eldorado this fall may be on the offensive line, where the Eagles are inexperienced and undersized. Junior Bradon Criswell (6-3, 260) is an exception with his size.
Defensively, Eldorado returns some impact players like Proffitt on the defensive line (71 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 2 sacks) and Walling at linebacker (61 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 2 sacks).
Gomez at linebacker and Chuy Martinez at defensive back are other defensive leaders.
“I’m not worried about the defense,” Robledo said. “We just need more bodies. We only have 25 kids, so there’s not much depth after that first set.”
Eldorado went 6-5 last year and finished in second place in District 4-2A Division II, highlighted by a 45-42 win over Iraan in which the Eagles erased a 20-point deficit.
Eldorado is picked to finish third in district this year by Texas Football, behind Wink and Iraan and ahead of McCamey and Van Horn.
“Some of the goals we set for ourselves are of course a district title, and the next step is to get that playoff victory,” Robledo said. “And then staying healthy is the biggest goal for me, simply because our numbers are so low.”
Eldorado’s season begins Friday, Aug. 28, at rival Christoval. The Eagles’ home opener is the next week against Brackettville.
Eldorado Eagles
2026 schedule
Aug. 28 at Christoval
Sept. 4 Brackettville
Sept. 11 Sonora
Sept. 18 Miles
Sept. 25 Coleman
Oct. 2 at TLCA San Angelo
Oct. 9 McCamey*
Oct. 16 at Van Horn*
Oct. 23 OPEN
Oct. 30 Wink*
Nov. 6 at Iraan*
*District 4-2A Division II game
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