Mundelein’s Cameron Earing is opening eyes in his first full varsity season.
The 6-foot, 180-pound junior wide receiver has been a bright spot for the Mustangs, who are looking for their first win in the North Suburban Conference and won’t qualify for the playoffs.
“He’s one of the best raw athletes I’ve coached,” Mundelein coach John Cowhey said. “The way he sets up his cuts, explodes out of them, his jumping ability. … I mean, he was dunking as a freshman.
“He’s an elite athlete, and we haven’t had many of those. He makes our quarterback’s job so much easier.”
Earing, whose older brother Caden starred for the baseball team and is a freshman pitcher at Saint Louis, has made 18 catches for 323 yards and three touchdowns for the Mustangs (1-6). He also has four tackles and an interception as a defensive back, where he got action in a couple of games last season.
As a receiver, Earing has become a big-play threat, averaging nearly 18 yards per catch. That was on full display on his 80-yard touchdown against Warren in Week 6. He broke multiple tackles on his way to the end zone.
But stats aren’t important to Earing — except for touchdowns.
“I’m not really sure how many yards I have this season, but I don’t think it matters,” he said. “Touchdowns are way more important to me, not because they make me look better, but because scoring is how you win football games. I want to contribute to that, and I want to make an impact on every play.
“Whether that means putting a guy on the ground blocking for the run game or scoring a touchdown, so be it.”
That physicality in the run game is something Earing embraces. That doesn’t surprise Cowhey, who has known Earing for years.
“He’s so nice,” Cowhey said. “I know that’s an unusual way to describe a football player, but I’m not sure Cam has ever said a bad word about anyone, which is kind of a cool thing. He’s just an awesome kid.”
Earing said his brother Caden’s success has motivated him. During his Mundelein career, Caden Earing recorded a 2.89 ERA with 80 strikeouts in 53 1/3 innings over 24 appearances and hit .355 with a .987 OPS, three home runs and 48 RBIs.
“It definitely pushes me to reach the same level,” Cameron Earing said. “I don’t want him to one-up me. He’s always been good at whatever sport he’s played, and that’s made me want to be just as good and not just known as Caden’s little brother.”
Cameron Earing, who is well on his way to carving out his legacy, also plays basketball at Mundelein.
“Training to have a quick first step to drive by the defense on the court helps me when I’m lined up at receiver and need to fire off out of my stance,” he said. “And the physicality too. After my freshman year, when I first started playing football, I noticed I could take more contact driving to the rim. I was just less afraid of contact.”
That fearlessness is one of the reasons Young is confident he’s leaving the program in good hands with his favorite receiver.
“I’m expecting a guy who’s going to make plays week in and week out,” Young said. “If you get him the ball, good things will happen.
“The sky’s the limit for Cam. He’s capable of putting together an all-conference season next year. Right now, I think he’s barely scratching the surface of what he can be.”
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Noah Poser is a freelance reporter.