Eneberg leads by example
The final preparations for Eastern Washington’s football game at Montana State last week included telling backup linebacker Makai Borden that an injury would keep starter Shae Emry out of the lineup.
Borden, a redshirt freshman, stepped in and the defense did just fine in a critical 19-10 victory.
That, in a round-about way describes EWU linebacker and co-captain David Eneberg perfectly.
“I prepared myself well, mainly because I didn’t want to let him down because he put so much work into it and he’s a senior,” Borden said. “I put just as much work into it by following his example. My preparation for the game was doing what he does.”
Eneberg had a career-high 13 tackles, a sack and broke up a pass to earn Big Sky Conference defensive Player of the Week.
“To me a leader is someone who can show you by example,” Borden said. “When I saw David making those plays, being relentless, that showed me what Eastern football is … blue collar, hard-working, we’re going to work harder than you are and that’s how we’re going to win the game.”
That’s been the Eneberg way since he left Kamiak High School in Mukilteo as a 5-foot-11, 195-pound two-way star who hasn’t gotten appreciably bigger (15 pounds).
“Once I was coming to Eastern I knew (running back) was not going to be part of football for me so it was easy to give up,” Eneberg said. “Defense is the more aggressive side of the ball, I like that. I knew I’d have to use my speed (and) quickness.”
Eneberg qualified for the state track meet in the 400 meters as a senior but dropped the event to concentrate on the 400 relay, again the Eneberg way.
“I decided to go with the group instead of individual,” he said. “I didn’t want to take away from those guys.”
Eneberg had some big moments as a backup early in his Eagle career but the biggest came in the second half of his sophomore season when the Eagles were in the midst of a playoff run and senior linebacker Doug Vincent broke a foot in practice.
He ended up third on the team in tackles with 57, 41 in his five starts as Eastern reached the second round of the playoffs.
“I’ve never, ever compared guys,” third-year linebacker coach Travis Niekamp said. “I played with a kid that was the school’s leading tackler and he was shorter and lighter than David. Size and weight isn’t that big of deal to me, it’s just whether he can play or not. From the first day I was here there was something special about David, just from the way he carried himself. You knew he was going to be a good player.”
He was honorable mention all-league as a junior and the general management major was all-academic for the third year. In the spring his teammates elected him captain.
“He’s a passionate kid and football is a passion for him,” Neikamp said. “He gets pretty excited about that. But on an everyday basis he’s fairly laid back. That’s probably what makes him such a good leader. When you talk to him (away from football) he’s not a psycho. He’s very approachable and I think part of his leadership is kids warm up to him because of that. They can talk to him.”
Borden said Eneberg has the intensity on-off switch but senior safety Brandon Keeler said his roommate has a different side.
“He’s a nice guy, a good roommate, but he’s the type of guy that will tell you exactly how he feels (and) he won’t take crap from anybody,” Keeler said. “He’s not real active once he gets off the field (but) get him riled up playing (video games) and you can get on his bad side.”
That’s why Niekamp came back and said, “I want to add, if there is one word I would use to describe David Eneberg it would be competitor. He’s the ultimate competitor. That’s why he’s been able to be successful with his size and weight.”
“He’s tough, he’s got a great nose for the ball, he can run, he has great football instincts and he’s been a great leader for those kids, no question,” defensive coordinator Jody Sears said. “It’s almost to the point he’s been so good that I think maybe they lean on him too much and it’s time for them guys to bite the hot biscuit for a change.”