Winchester football coach Mike Jones readily admits that, historically, Indiana is very much a basketball state.
But, football continues to makes strides at the high school level among Hoosiers, and no strides were greater this season for the Falcons than those taken by Kiante Enis.
Add another accolade to the growing list of accomplishments for Winchester’s two-sport standout. He is currently starring on the basketball court, but Enis recently picked up another honor for his fall exploits. The running back was selected as a MaxPreps 2014 Football Junior All-American.
The website, which compiles high school statistics from around the country, called Enis “the nation’s leading junior rusher.” He finished with 3,189 yards and 49 rushing touchdowns.
“We are talking about obviously an extremely elite group of football players,” Jones said. “He is the only Indiana kid on the (junior) list, anywhere. To be the first running back listed is just a tremendous honor, just another tremendous honor for the season that young man had.”
Enis made a run at Indiana’s single-season rushing record, instead finishing with the state’s fourth-best number.
Enis was also a First Team all-state selection in Class 2A, and the Palladium-Item’s Offensive Player of the Year led the Falcons to their third sectional final in program history.
Enis received a football scholarship offer from Indiana in the fall, and also has a Division I offer in basketball from IPFW.
Other running backs featured on MaxPrep’s Junior All-American team were Trevor Speights of McAllen Memorial (Texas) and Jeremy Larkin of La Salle (Cincinnati, Ohio).
“I think that it speaks to the recognition that Indiana football has gained throughout the nation,” Jones said. “Certainly through the last 15 or 20 years we have more kids who get to play Division I football every year, it seems. I think it’s just one more indication that Indiana … our football is very, very good and getting better all the time.”
Josh Chapin: (765) 973-4463 jchapin@pal-item.com or twitter.com/JoshChapinPI
