Eichman ready to make his own mark on Merrimack football

When Kip Jackson interviewed to be the head coach of the Merrimack High School football team, he also met with returning and expected varsity players.

During that meeting, one player raised a hand and asked if the potential Tomahawks coach would allow a freshman play on varsity.

Jackson answered the question as best he could, saying if the freshman belonged on varsity, he'd be there. But the coach knew the real reason for the question. 

It came from soon-to-be sophomore Joe Eichman, who wanted to know if he'd be getting to play with his younger brother, Ben, who was going to be a freshman.

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"Their relationship is like most brothers," Jackson said. "Ben has a lot of respect for Joe. It was a dream of both of theirs to play together on Friday night. 

"They look out for each other, but I think Joe leaving is good for Ben. Not because there was any friction, but it just allows him to grow. He can be his own man now."

With Joe Eichman getting ready to start his first year at the University of New Hampshire, Ben Eichman is looking to get Merrimack back to the postseason in just about any way he can. 

And he really means any way he can.

Last year, the younger Eichman saw time at quarterback, running back and as a slot receiver, not to mention at safety on defense. Now, as a senior, he's ready to do it all again, and more.

"I kind of liked it because it gave me a different variety, what I like to do," Eichman said. "It puts all the athletic standpoints together. It doesn’t bother me which position I play. I feel like when I play different positions, it catches other teams off guard. It can set up opportunities for everybody on the field to make different plays."

Jackson likes that the coaching staff is able to find ways to highlight Eichman's versatility, but it's also something he believes the Tomahawks need on the field. 

"He has to be our Swiss army knife," Jackson said. "Based on what we need, he has to be able to play slot, he has to be able to play wideout, he has to be able to play (running) back, he has to be able to play quarterback. On defense, he’s going to play multiple positions.

"For him, I think it keeps him engaged mentally as well as physically. It’s going to highlight his versatility, so when he goes to play at the next level, there going to have an idea of the kind of kid he is."

Eichman, who was a running back before getting to high school, began playing football around the age of 12, after watching his older brother start a few years earlier. While he didn't play on varsity as a freshman, Eichman did get some playing time, including a couple of starts, during his sophomore year, when Merrimack reached the playoffs for the first time since 2005.

"Ben started a couple of games on offense and defense," Jackson said. "We had a sophomore class who were able to contribute to a really good team. We had five or six good sophomores who contributed. You don’t normally see that."

A good number of those players remain, and Eichman is confident about where they are as the start of the preseason gets closer.

"The level of wanting to improve (is there) because they know they’ve played at the varsity level (and) it is becoming more competitive than last year," he said. "I think we’ve gotten a good amount of reps. Last year was our main step, getting to play on varsity. The work ethic is becoming way higher. Everyone is working out."

According to Jackson, this year's seniors have been watching and learning throughout their time playing for the Tomahawks, so now they are prepared better than some of the other groups that have come through the system.

"I think they were the class that was paying the most attention to what was going on," the coach said. "For them to be able to experience that, not only the success on the field, but the way those guys approached things, the way they competed, the way they began to treat each other, that wasn’t always the case when they were younger. For them to see that and hopefully try to recreate it, and how they compete, hopefully, they’re getting there."

For Eichman, there will certainly be competition with his teammates, but there will definitely be some with a player who is no longer on the roster

"We’ve always competed since we were little," Eichman said of his brother. "Anything he does, I want to do better. We just grew up like that. Even last year, he knew he was in a good spot, throughout the year, he’d still help me. I think he wants me to be better. He was a great role model."