Italy: Ancona Dolphins QB Blake Eaton a rising star

Although Ancona Dolphins quarterback Blake Eaton is in his first season with the Italian Football League club, he is already making his mark.

The Linfield University grad has guided the Dolphins to a 4-1 record and leads the IFL having thrown for 1,300 yards (averaging a league-best 287.5 yards per game) with 20 touchdown passes, including a 487-yard, 7-TD performance against Milano Rhinos in Week 4. His clutch performances have been pivotal in key victories, including a game-winning drive against Parma Panthers where he positioned the Dolphins for a decisive field goal with nine seconds remaining, and a 28-9 win over Milano Rhinos featuring two first-quarter touchdown passes.

Eaton’s early success includes leading the Dolphins to second place in Group A standings, with his connection to receivers Tyler Terhark and Federico Orlandini proving particularly effective. The rookie signal caller has demonstrated both a strong, accurate arm and composure under pressure, notably engineering a 62-yard scoring drive from his own 30-yard line in his debut game. These performances have established Eaton as a rising star in the Italian Football League during his inaugural professional season.

The 6-3, 210 pound native of Central Point, Oregon had an excellent college career at Linfield University (2023-2024) where he showcased his development into a standout quarterback. In his 2024 senior season, Eaton threw for 1,620 yards in seven games, averaging 231.4 yards per game with 20 touchdowns and just 2 interceptions. His 68.7% completion rate ranked second in the Northwest Conference (NWC) and fifth in program history9. The 2024 campaign also included explosive performances like a five-touchdown first half against an NCAA opponent6 and a game-winning 40-yard touchdown pass to secure Linfield’s historic 68th consecutive winning season.

During his 2023 junior year, Eaton demonstrated clutch play with a 302-yard, 3-TD performance against George Fox and multiple game-winning drives. His career completion percentage at Linfield remained above 65%, combining precision with mobility evidenced by 350+ rushing yards across two seasons. These stats, coupled with back-to-back NWC All-Conference honors, positioned Eaton as Linfield’s most efficient passer since 2018 before signing with Ancona in 2025.

At the halfway mark of the IFL season, Eaton has the Dolphins on track for another deep run in the playoffs.