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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
Know Your Foe
Know Your Foe
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
Know Your Foe
Know Your Foe
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