Easton Palomino didn’t need any directions when he stepped on Deer Valley High School’s campus just over two years ago.
He didn’t need much on the Skyhawks’ football field, either.
He’s picking up right where his quarterback brother Devon did last season and has the ‘Hawks off to a quick 3-0 start after Friday’s 35-21 win over Sunrise Mountain.
Although they play the same position Easton and Devon (now a freshman quarterback at the University of San Diego) have somewhat different styles. Older brother was more of a pocket passer at DV, while junior Easton is more of a scrambler. Both have been an asset to head coach Eric Bolus and a headache to defensive coordinators over the past few years trying to slow down the talented duo.
“They both have similar personalities,” Bolus told Sports360AZ.com. “They’re laid-back guys. They don’t stress. They both have big-time arms. Easton can run a little bit better but…I’m just happy to have the Palomino’s at our school.”
The younger Palomino continues to develop his skill set and hopes to see the same type of progress in-season as he did over the summer.
“Between my sophomore and junior year there was a lot of growth I needed to do,” Easton explained. “I needed to get my reads down, my progressions, my timing, really.”
He also agreed with his head coach on one comparison to Devon.
“I definitely like to run a lot more,” he said with a smile. “If [the defense] gives it to me, I’ll take it. That’s something he didn’t do a lot.
His play has caught the attention of coaches at Arizona, San Diego State and Duke with interest expected to pick up with more experience moving forward.
Believe it or not the Palomino football family tree doesn’t stop there.
Oldest brother Addison Palomino is a sophomore defensive end at Glendale Community College after starring at Pinnacle High in north Phoenix. Addison originally signed out of high school and red-shirted at the University of Idaho before returning to the Valley to continue his career. He’s expected to graduate in December and transfer to a Division I school for his final two years of eligibility according to one of his GCC coaches.
I think it’s safe to say the Palomino family has this football thing figured out.
