Two-way star Justin Douglas mans the middle at linebacker for No. 8 Aurora Christian

The genes have to be a factor.

That Justin Douglas Jr. emerged last season for Aurora Christian as a sophomore who played linebacker, fullback and on the offensive line probably shouldn’t have been a big surprise.

His father, Justin Sr., is a sergeant in the Kane County Sheriff’s Department who also serves as the Eagles’ strength coach and works with the team’s offensive and defensive linemen.

“I’ve been lifting consistently since eighth grade,” Douglas said. “I think it comes from my dad because he’s insanely strong. He does over 1,000 pounds on leg press.

“I think it runs in my blood. I think that’s where I get it from. It helped me put on 25 pounds going from freshman into sophomore year.”

How strong is the youngster?

The 5-foot-8, 195-pound Douglas recently raised his personal best in the bench press to 305 pounds and finished his sophomore year with a 535-pound deadlift to set a program record.

“He’s strong as an ox,” Aurora Christian coach David Beebe said. “But off the field, he’s one of the nicest kids you’re ever going to meet. Talk with him and you’d never know he’s a monster on the field.”

It comes with the territory, according to Douglas.

After getting a taste of varsity action and posting 29 tackles as a freshman, when he played his first full season of linebacker, Douglas started at middle linebacker last season and produced a team-high 95 tackles, including 13 for loss.

It helped him earn the team’s defensive MVP award despite playing with a thumb he broke in Week 4 against Hope.

“I was trying to punch the ball out and hit my thumb at an awkward angle,” Douglas said. “They casted it and we clubbed it up like a giant boxing glove for games and I played, getting the cast off six weeks later before our second playoff game.

“It was a challenge using my left hand to get off the block then try to hold onto a runner while trying to get my whole right arm around him with the injured hand.”

After starting the first four games at left guard, Douglas moved to fullback. He didn’t need his dominant right hand as much in serving as the lead blocker for sophomore running back Jalen Callaway, who accounted over 1,300 yards and added 22 touchdowns rushing and receiving.

An academic all-state selection last season, Douglas will be at middle linebacker and could see action on the O-line again and as an up back on offense as well.

“He’s worked a lot on his speed in the offseason and he can catch,” Beebe said. “He’s fun to watch and easy to root for — such a great kid.”

Douglas still views himself as “a defensive guy” first, relaying signals from Beebe and calling out adjustments.

“I pretty much stuck my nose in the whole playbook the whole offseason after freshman year,” Douglas said. “Now, it comes pretty naturally. I did have to be more aggressive as well.

“Freshman year against Hope, I got pancaked twice. Those were big boys. I knew I had to step it up.”

Douglas pointed out the fun, for him, is making the right call that leads to a tackle. Brandon Mayes, a 2013 alum and safety who played at Northern Illinois, holds the program record with 337 tackles.

With good health, Douglas could be in the picture to break that mark. He also hopes that he can keep adding height to improve his possible college options. Catching his 5-9 dad is next.

His mother Andrea’s dad is 6-2 and Justin Sr. has brothers who are 6-foot and above.

“I’m hoping for a little more growth there,” Douglas said. ”I’d love to play linebacker in college.”

If it’s in the genes, it could be in the cards as well.