Charleston High School junior running back Treylin Couch grew up battling anger issues. 

His mother, Naya Perry Eddings, recalled trying different ways to help him manage his anger. She sat with him in class, but it wasn’t enough. She enrolled him in kickboxing, but that only made things worse.  

So, still searching for answers, she turned to football.  

Couch said it helped him release his anger because he was able to hit people as hard as possible.  

However, now he has more of a levelheaded approach to the game, but he still is able to release his anger when running through defenders and tackling as a defensive back.  

“I told him to run out his anger,” Eddings said. “And here we are. So, I guess it worked.”  

It worked well. 

Couch just finished a season where he ran for 1170 yards and 16 touchdowns.  

He broke the single-game rushing record for Charleston High School by 22 yards, rushing for 290 yards in the Trojans’ 37-35 win in the Coles County Clash on Sept. 26. The record was previously held for 12 years by Myles Decker with 268 yards.  

After beating Mattoon in the Clash, Charleston stormed the field in celebration and handed the trophy to one player: Couch. 

Head coach Brian Halsey said Couch leads by example not only on the field during games, but also during practices, in the locker room and in the hallways during school. 

At the beginning of this season, Couch challenged himself to be more outgoing and be more of a vocal leader, despite that being a skill that doesn’t come naturally to him, because of how inexperienced the team was.  

“I’ve been coming in with an open mind, trying to get everybody better cause I know that we’re very young,” Couch said. “Since I’m one of the older people on this team, I just want them to look up to me and see what to do and what not to do.”  

On the field, Halsey said Couch wants the team to be able to rely on him.  

“Matter of fact, there’s times where we pull him to give him a blow [a break] and he’s not really happy about it,” Halsey said. “That’s a sign of maturation right there. He wants to be out there with his brothers and banging away.”  

Halsey said this is night and day from a year ago for Couch.  

That transformation was built on Couch’s drive, he said, assisted by several coaches and mentors.   

Former assistant coach Matt Holt first worked with him in 2022. Holt said Couch knew he had talent but was still lacking maturity and channeling teenage emotions into the game.   

One thing Holt said Couch struggled with was being too hard on himself.  

“I had to learn to be a big brother type while coaching him,” Holt said. “I had to show him that even though I had to get tough on him, I still had to show him how much I cared. If he started being hard on himself, I had to bring him back to reality and let him know that it’s ok but to keep working to be better.”  

Couch said their relationship has really grown since they first met in the summer before his freshman year, which has helped him grow in many ways.  

“Talking to Treylin [Couch] now compared to back then feels like I’m talking to a different person sometimes,” Holt said. “I can tell he is maturing into a leader and realizing he has to lead by example.”  

Halsey has echoed how impactful Couch leading by example is.  

“Those are the kind of guys that you need to rely on to take you to the next level,” Halsey said. “And some of his attributes are starting to rub off on others.” 

Eddings said Couch has grown a lot since joining the CHS team, especially this year, compared to last. 

“Since last year he seems to be more focused,” Eddings said. “He takes pride in self and his missions. He still doesn’t like being told what to do, but he handles most things with thought before actions a lot more.” 

Now going into the offseason before his senior season, Couch remains focused on growing both his skills but also being a leader on a team coming off a tough season.  

“He is starting to realize that all the work he puts in is starting to pay off but he knows and I know there is still more work to do,” Holt said. “There will be times you will see him upset or mad at times on the field but that is because he is a tough competitor and is striving to be the best on offense and defense. He is one of those players that is passionate about this sport and wants to be the best he can be.” 

Bryce Parker can be reached at 581-2812 or at baparker2@eiu.edu.