Friends, family and the Winnfield Senior High School Tigers football team gathered in the school’s activity room February 7 to celebrate signing day for senior Eli Little who penned his commitment to play for the NSU Football Demons in Natchitoches this fall.

He received a “Preferred Walk-On” offer from NSU, an amazing vote of confidence by the university in the athlete’s potential skills since Little was unable to play a single down in his senior year due to surgery to fix a dislocated and broken ankle received during preseason practice, said Coach Jay Watson.  “He’s happy to be attending school near home.  We hate to lose him.  He’s a great student athlete, a great campus leader.”

Watson believes NSU knows “they’re getting a steal in this student athlete because other schools were interested.”  Eli received scholarship offers to play at Harding University, 2023 Division II National Champions, and LCU.  He received Preferred Walk-On offers from ULM and Louisiana Tech.  After much thought, visits, and prayers, Eli decided to join the NSU Demons under Head Coach Blaine McCorkle.  

Watson had watched as Eli came out in his freshman year as a 6-foot, 150-pound free safety.  He moved up to be a linebacker in his sophomore year and an offensive tackle in his junior year, growing to 6’3 and 265 pounds.

Eli is the son of Rob and Marianne Little, brother to Anna.  His grandparents are the late Ray and Melba Little and the late John T. and Shirley Elliott.  He has decided to major in Health and Human Sciences with a Pre-Physical Therapy concentration.  

The young athlete started his football career at the Winnfield Recreation Center at 4 years old with flag football, continued to Winnfield Middle School, and then on to WSHS.  He was one of two players to receive Most Improved Player in 2021, as he progressed from JV to a Varsity to a Varsity starting position at Linebacker that year.  He moved to Offensive Line at Right Tackle after the first scrimmage of the 2022 season.  He was the only starting Junior on the Offense that year.  He earned Second Team All-District, Offensive Line, that year.  Eli attended numerous football camps at surrounding universities and even LSU in 2022 and 2023.  He was elected Team Captain by his teammates in 2023.  

Eli is active at WSHS in clubs and sports.  He is a 4-year member of the Baseball Team and is fully released to play his senior season.  Eli has been awarded the Coaches Award in 2021, Second Team All-District Utility Player in 2022, and helped with coaching his junior season as he suffered a season ending broken elbow.  He is also a member of the revived Golf Team.  Clubs he is a member of include:  BETA, FFA, FBLA, 4-H, 4-H Junior Leaders, FCS, National Honor Society, and Tiger Mentors.  He has also managed to maintain his grades.  He was honored by the Eastern Star No. 151 Lodge as one of their Honesty and Integrity recipients for 2023-2024.  Eli selected to attend AHEC’s “A Day with the Doctors” this year.  He has competed in District and State Competitions in FFA and FBLA.   He has competed in District Literary Rally.  Eli has competed at 4-HU multiple years, placing 4th in the State in Sports Broadcasting in 2022 and 4th in the State in eSports Team Competition in 2023.  

He is a life-long member of First Baptist Church of Winnfield.  He has been active in his church through