Deltona native Paxton Lynch in NFL draft

DELTONA, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - On the eve of the NFL draft, all eyes are on one of Central Florida's very own.  If you're a college football fan, you've no doubt heard of the 6 foot, 6 inch quarterback from the University of Memphis, Paxton Lynch.  Before Lynch played for the Tigers, he was the quarterback for the Deltona Trinity Christian Academy Eagles.

"It's pretty mind-blowing for our staff and classmates to come from such a little program in Deltona," explains Bill Henderson, school principal.   He says news that former student and Eagles' QB Lynch is expected to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night has his "little school that can" buzzing.

Athletic Director and former Daytona News-Journal sports reporter Buddy Shacklette says Lynch's big break came post-season, because he had an injury for part of his senior year.  "When he really came on the scene was MVP at the Central Florida Citrus Bowl All-Star game.  All those scouts and coaches saw what he was capable of and Memphis took a shot at him, and what a shot it was for him!" said Shacklette.

Now the UM junior is expected to go professional and go big.  Trinity Academy's Head Master Dennis Robinson has eyes that glisten when he talks about Lynch's prospects.  "You got a kid going to the NFL, come on!  That's every one of these kids' dreams!  They all want to go play ball!"

From Deltona to the big game, Paxton Lynch is going places and a lot of folks are rooting for him.   Shacklette said, "Wherever he goes I'm confident he'll give it his best shot and be a good steward of Trinity Christian."