Minnesota vs. Eastern Illinois: Depth Chart For The Panthers

At this point we've covered the "big names" from Eastern Illinois. Thanks to Brian Nielson of the Journal Gazette & Times-Courier you can learn a little more about the players farther down the two deep as well.

Some quick thoughts:

1st Team All-Name Winner: Adolphus Barnes

Where's The Beef? Only 2 players on the offensive line are over 300 lbs and neither is a starter.

OFFENSE

Quarterback

Andrew Manley, 6-3, 225, sr.

After transferring from New Mexico State, completed two of seven passes with an interception last year in a reserve role for EIU.

or

Jalen Whitlow, 6-2, 220, jr.

Started eight games and totaled 1,035 yards passing and 107 rushing for Kentucky last year.

Running back

Taylor Duncan, 6-3, 225, sr.

Former quarterback was named All-OVC second team rushing for 988 yards in 12 games last year.

Shepard Little, 5-10, 197, jr.

Walter Payton Award candidate led OVC with 110.6 yards per game rushing last year.

Jimmy Lera, 5-8, 182, sr.

Had 111 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries against Jacksonville State and totaled 369 yards and four touchdowns.

Tight end

Jeff LePak, 6-6, 232, sr.

Baylor transfer caught 51 passes for 723 yards and eight touchdowns to earn All-OVC honors.

Addison Bounds, 6-4, 220, r-fr.

Former Class 4A all-state quarterback for Prairie Central redshirted last season.

Left tackle

Adolphus Barnes, 6-4, 285, sr.

After switching to defense and getting nine tackles, the Merced College transfer is back on offense

Austin Askin, 6-7, 282, fr.

A year removed from helping Louisville St. Xavier to Class 6A state playoffs.

Left guard

Collin Seibert, 6-4, 290, sr.

Returning first-team All-American for nation's top FCS offense

Louis Vailopa, 6-3, 310, fr.

First-team Hawaii all-stater from Honolulu's Saint Louis High School.

Center

Nick Borre, 6-4, 298, jr.

Second-team All-OVC in first year as a starter last season.

Charlie Athans, 6-3, 272, so.

Played for former Shelbyville head coach and Mattoon assistant Brett Hefner at Lincoln-Way Central.

Right guard

Eric Luhrsen, 6-5, 275, jr.

Won two IHSA Class 7A state championship teams with Wheaton Warrenville South

Evan Kantz, 6-5, 310, so.

Luxumburg, Wis., product played in 12 games as a backup last season.

Right tackle

Jimmy Lowery, 6-4, 290, sr.

First-team Freshman All-American by Phil Steele and College Sports Journal

Kurtis Brummerstedt, 6-7, 320, r-fr.

First-team Northern Illinois All-Big 12 East for Yorkville High School

Slot receiver

Joe Powell, 6-0, 180, sr.

Oklahoma transfer caught three passes for 16 yards playing in seven games for EIU

Stephen Bravo-Brown, 6-1, 175, grad

Caught seven passes for 121 yards and a touchdown for South Florida last year

Adam Drake, 6-2, 195, sr.

Third team All-American is OVC's top returning receiver with 85 catches for 1,305 yards and 13 touchdowns.

Trey Pendergrass, 5-6, 165, jr.

Brother of former Wake Forest player Brandon, Trey caught eight passes for 41 yards last year

DEFENSE

End

Fedney Delphonse, 6-3, 245, jr.

Started 10 games and played in all 14 last year with 36 tackles, two sacks and 4.5 tackles for loss

Thomas Coronado, 6-5, 240, jr.

Fresno City College transfer ranked second in North Division Valley Conference with 10 sacks

Nose guard

Laquesse Taylor, 6-2, 294, sr.

Californian had 16 tackles last year after transferring from College of the Sequoias

Dan Chism. 6-2, 295, so.

Made 12 tackles and broke up a pass playing in 11 games as a reserve last year

Tackle

Dino Fanti, 6-1, 265, jr.

Second-team All-OVC last year when second in league with 14.5 tackles for loss; broke up four passes

Horace Arkadie, 6-4, 305, jr.

Played in four games and assisted on a tackle last year for Arkansas

Wolf

Robert Haynes, 6-0, 235, sr.

Second-team All-OVC with 79 tackles, two sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss last year

Timotheus Granger, 6-2, 242, sr.

Started last year's season opener at end but then suffered injury; four tackles, two tackles in 10 games

Linebacker

Adam Gristick, 6-0, 228, sr.

Started all 14 games last year when getting 64 tackles and two interceptions

Seth McDonald, 6-1, 230, so.

Special teams regular and defensive reserve totaled 20 tackles as a freshman

Linebacker

Kamu Grugier-Hill, 6-2, 215, jr.

43 tackles, one interception and two pass breakups with starting five games and playing in all 14

John Wurm, 6-1, 230, sr.

After an injury returned to play in last four games, including four tackles in playoffs against Tennessee State

or Joe Campagna, 6-0, 235, sr.

Special teams player had 17 tackles and fumble recover last year

Left cornerback

Deonte Jackson, 5-10, 185, sr.

Harper College transfer had 11 tackles last year

Anthony Standifer, 6-1, 175, jr.

Transfer from Ole Miss where he had three tackles in three games last year

Huskie

DJ Bland, 6-1, 192, sr.

Started first five games and played in all 14 last year breaking up eight passes and intercepting two

Anthony Goodman, 5-9, 185, jr.

Set EIU record with 70-yard fumble return for touchdown against Eastern Kentucky

Rover

Jourdan Wickliffe, 6-1, 200, jr.

First-team All-OVC when leading Panthers with 91 tackles; broke up eight passes and picked off three

Vincent Speller, 6-1, 195, r-fr.

Played defensive back and receiver for 2012 Class 8A state champion Chicago Mount Carmel

Free safety

Pono Choy, 5-10, 182, so.

18 tackles when playing 13 games as special teams regular and defensive backup

Bradley Dewberry, 6-0, 196, fr.

McDonough, Ga., product passed for 2,012 yards and 21 touchdowns and broke up 18 passes in high school

Right cornerback

Antoine Johnson, 5-10, 172, jr.

Nassau (N.Y.) Community College transfer was at EIU for spring practice

Cedric Julius, 5-10, 175, so.

Had 32 tackles, two interceptions and five pass-breakups as San Bernadio Valley College freshman

SPECIALISTS

Place-kicker

Cody Meyer, 5-10, 175, sr.

Tri-County product kicked off in EIU's opener but missed the rest of year with an injury

or

Nick Bruno, 6-1, 170, fr.

Kicked and punted for 12-2 Florida Class 6A semifinalist Mainland High School of Daytona Beach

Holder

Adam Drake, 6-2, 195, sr.

As a Charleston senior he bobbled a PAT snap, recovered and tossed a game-winning pass in overtime

Kickoff

Taylor Kerr, 6-1, 185, sr.

Averaged 47.4 yards with 17 touchbacks among 105 kickoffs when EIU ranked third in NCAA kickoff coverage

Punter

Cody Edwards, 6-3, 220, r-fr.

Averaged 40.4 yards with 18 punts inside 20 as all-stater for Rockwood Summit in Missouri

Long snapper

AJ Hantak, 6-4, 242, r-fr.

Suffered season-ending injury in fourth game of last season as the long snapper

Punt returns

Shepard Little, 5-10, 197, jr.

Had 60- and 70-yard touchdowns while averaging 23.5 yards on 11 punt returns

Adam Drake, 5-10, 195, sr.

New role for him in college returned punts and kicks for Charleston High School

Kickoff returns

Keiondre Gober, 6-3, 200, jr.

With touchdown receptions of 86 and 79 yards, he has the speed for this new role with EIU

Jimmy Lera, 5-8, 182, sr.

Averaged 15.3 yards on three returns last year including a 27-yarder

Trey Pendergrass, 5-6, 165, jr.

Led EIU with 16 kickoff returns last year averaging 21.7 yards