Eastside head coach Andre Woolock has a unique way of describing senior linebacker Lucas Tankersley.

“It’s like the kid is addicted to competition,” said Woolcock. “I think even if we were out here playing badminton, he’d bring the most intensity to a badminton game anyone’s ever seen.”

Tankersley, who transferred from Travelers Rest to Eastside before his junior season, isn’t just a football star. He’s a solid baseball player and an all-state wrestler, too. Tankersley finished third in the state last season for his 215-pound weight class.

As a football player, Tankersley is a vocal leader at the linebacker position. He’s caught the eyes of several schools this summer, picking up three offers. Tankersley committed to Charleston Southern on July 14.

“I’ve been training a ton this summer,” said Tankersley. “I’ve been working hard with [former SC State University and CFL player] Will Ford a lot this offseason to get me where I want to be. I think it’s helped me get noticed.”

Tankersley is known for his communication with his teammates on the field and the energy he brings to every down. Don’t take his word for it, though. Don’t take Woolcock’s word for it, either.

Take his teammates.

“Lucas… that’s my favorite dude to play alongside right now,” said Eastside senior edge rusher MJ Posey. “Every time he comes downhill to make a play, it’s like he’s trying to kill someone. He just plays with such a high intensity.”

But where does that intensity come from? 

It stems from Tankersley’s youth. His older brother, Jacob, was a standout football player and wrestler for Travelers Rest High School. Jacob now plays football at North Greenville University.

A little sibling rivalry has gone a long way in Lucas’s development.

“Growing up in Travelers Rest, and that’s obviously a small town,” said Lucas. “So when you go to school, it’s like you’re not really known as Lucas. You’re known as Jacob Tankersley’s little brother. That pushes you every day to be your best.”

“I think that’s a big reason [Lucas] plays with such a chip on his shoulder,” said Woolcock. “He’s still almost got that ‘little brother syndrome’ type of thing, even though he’s become his own incredible leader and player. Your big brother is your first superhero. He respects him so much, but he also wants to be better than him.”

Lucas describes himself as a much louder, talkative player on the field, while Jacob is a quieter leader for his team. 

And despite there being a large age gap between the two, Lucas said he always fought extra hard growing up to try to reach his older brother’s level.

“It was like, even though we are four years apart, both of us were trying to help the other get to where we wanted to go,” said Lucas. “We pushed each other hard to help take us both higher.”

Given that Lucas is one of the upstate’s top linebackers and is now committed to play Division 1 football — it’s safe to say that his older brother’s motivation worked.

“I looked at my brother when I was younger and told myself, ‘This is what a college football player looks like. This is what it takes.’ We fed off each other,” said Lucas. 

“I wasn’t better than him at much back then… now, I think we’re right there together.”

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