Redshirt freshman running back Jacarre Fleming is in his second year with the Panthers. 

Fleming started playing flag football at 3 years old and played his first tackle football game at 6 years old. 

Fleming, from Madison, Florida, went to high school at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Georgia, where he competed in football, track and baseball.

He appeared in three games in the 2024 season as a kickoff returner.

In this Q&A, Fleming talks about his faith, why he committed to Eastern and his love for baseball.

Q: How did you start playing football?

A: “I grew up just really wanting to be outside, I wanted to just be active on my body. I don’t like doing nothing so, one day my mom was handing me footballs, soccer balls and basketballs and I just constantly loved the feeling of football.” 

Q: How old were you when you first started playing?

A: “I played flag football when I was 3, 4 years old. My first tackle game when I was 6 years old, I never forget.”

Q: Were you playing above your age group?

A: “Yeah, when I got to 9U and 10U, I played up because I was bigger than everybody else, so I couldn’t run the ball. I used to play tight end and defensive end, and I played outside linebacker because of my weight.”

Q: What age group did you play with?

A: “I was playing 10U, 11U, 12U. When 10U and 11U used to go up, I used to go up, and then when we got to 12U, I was just dominating everybody.” 

Q: When did you start playing running back?

A: “When I got to 12U when I finally caught up and got my weight under control. I did play when I was younger, but I was playing every other position too, but I fully took on the role of just running back when I went to 12U, and then I got to middle school and started playing running back, then I got to high school and took over running back.”

Q: Who is your favorite musical artist?

A: “I’m going with Hunxho from East Atlanta.”

Q: What is your favorite song by Hunxho?

A: “It’s one of his old albums, called ‘Xhosen (Chosen).’ It’s either ‘It’s Gone be Alright or ‘Where I’m Going.’”

Q: How did you get into track in high school?

A: “My ninth grade year, I was playing baseball and I wanna try something different. My tenth grade year, coaches was like, ‘We need you, we need you, we can win the state championship.’ My first track meet, I never forget, run like a 4.1 flat as my first track meet ever, then turn around it was like, ‘You gonna win state this year,’ so, I took track serious. I [was] at every practice, I’m staying after every practice and then we get to state and run like a 40.08 and now, all of my track team is at Troy University; Keylan Hicks, Tydreke Thomas and Michael Eady.”

Q: When did you start playing baseball?

A: “I played baseball growing up, it was my first love. I played for South Georgia Sports Academy, but we just stopped playing. We all played in high school, and most of my team is power 5, SEC.”

Q: What position did you play in baseball?

A: “I played the whole outfield.”

Q: “Where were you in the batting order?

A: “I used to bat like sixth through ninth because my team was very powerful.”

Q: Why did you choose to commit to Eastern?

A: “Coach Wilkerson, he’s a running back guy. So, he bought into me as much as I bought into him, and I can’t thank him enough because it’s situations where I didn’t know I was gonna play football. Funny story, my 12th grade year, I wasn’t talking to nobody, I had like 30 offers but I committed late or I was waiting. Then, they took everybody else before me. That made me go too, but coach Wilk[erson] came in late, and I was signed up for the army, Military, Marines and Airforce. I did all that, then coach Wilk[erson] said he wanted to take a chance.”

Q: What is your favorite pair of shoes?

A: “Jordan 5’s are my favorite, the metallic black ones.”

Q: How did you get the nickname Smoke?

A: “I was faster than everyone else surrounding me. My Auntie Pennie and Uncle Mitch gave it to me.”

Q: What is your go-to-meal after a game?

A: “If I got time on my hand, I’ll drive to Effingham and go to Chili’s but here probably WB’s. [I’ll] get a 12 piece wing with a burger on the side or a Philly [cheesesteak] on the side.”

Q: What flavor do you get on the wings?

A: “Sweet Red Chili.”

Q: Who on the team is getting the aux?

A: “If I had to choose who getting the aux, probably Trevon Piggee[-Blake], Alton Jefferson, Jay Pearson and Cole LaCrue, all four of them.”

Q: Who is your favorite baseball team?

A: “[The] Atlanta Braves.”

Q: Who is your favorite baseball player?

A: “Ronald Acuña Jr.”

Q: What is your hobby away from football?

A: “Eating. If you know me, I’m always gonna have snacks, food, whatever.”

Q: What is your favorite food?

A: “It’s hard, probably wings. If I’m in a big city, I gotta go with [a] Philly [cheesesteak] or buffalo chicken egg rolls or Jamaican food.”

Q: What is your favorite holiday?

A: “I love every holiday but probably Christmas because it’s Jesus’ birthday.”

Q: What is your relationship with the Lord?

A: “It’s very strong. It may not seem like it, it might not show, but everything I do behind closed doors, you’ll be like wow. But like, you know, he paid for your sins. I went through it, like the first semester, I was just talking to God a lot. I got baptized October 20. I went back home for three days, and I got baptized, then ever since then, I [have] just been stress free.”

Q: What is your favorite worship song?

A: ”It’s called ‘Rain’ by MelodicB. I just listen to it before every practice, every game. I just lay in my bed and say a prayer with my hands crossed across my chest and listen to it.”

Q: Who is the best dress on the team?

A: “That’s hard to choose. Probably Moses Alexander.”

Q: What is your favorite movie?

A: “’42.’ Jackie Robinson.”

Q: Who is the funniest person on the team?

A: “Besides myself, I can name five people. Jay Pearson, Jordyn Stewart, Josh Brown, Tre Piggee and Alton Jefferson.”

Q: What do you plan on doing with your degree?

A: “I want to give back to the community. I wanna go give them the knowledge that I know or that I’m learning currently so, one day I’d be a coach.”

Q: How do you feel about the running back room?

A: “We dawgs, we got the swagger now. We feel like everybody [is] getting back to themself.”

Q: What is your favorite thing about football?

A: “It’s a game where you can hurt people without getting in trouble, being able to do all that without getting in trouble.”

Q: What is your favorite part about being a running back?

A: “Needing to make people miss, being fast, being physical and stuff.”

Cameron Thomas can be reached at 581-2812 or at cathomas8@eiu.edu.