Eastern Illinois ranks No. 25 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Panthers finished 8-3 last year, missing the FCS playoffs as one of the first four teams left out.
Here’s a look at the 2024 EIU football squad.
Returning 2023 All-Conference Players (6)
First Team
RB MJ Flowers
WR Eli Mirza
LB Elijawah Tolbert
Second Team
QB Pierce Holley
OL Sebastian Pares
DL Joel Barrows
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (1)
Kaleb Lyons (DB), Morehead State
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (7)
Joseph Solomon (OL), App State
Moses Alexander (DB), Houston
CJ Nelson (WR), Houston
Surahz Buncom (WR), Kansas
Akili Hubbard (DB), Kansas
Kiwaun Davis (DB), Washington State
Ryan Kilburg (DB), Western Michigan
Transfers Lost To The FCS (3)
Jonah O’Brien (QB) to Alabama State
Jaxson Isaac (TE) to Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Tyris Harvey (DB) to Robert Morris
Transfers Lost To The FBS (2)
Justin Bowick Jr. (WR) to Ball State
Blake Ruffin (DB) to Louisville
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Offensive Outlook
EIU returns its All-Conference Second Team quarterback, First Team running back, First Team wide receiver, and four starting offensive linemen after scoring 23.6 points per game.
Quarterback Pierce Holley is the Big South-OVC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year following a strong 2023 campaign. He transferred to EIU from Georgetown before last season. Holley then started all 11 games and earned Second Team All-Conference honors, going 240/394 for 2,741 yards, 17 touchdowns, seven interceptions, and four rushing touchdowns.
Alongside Holley in the backfield is running back MJ Flowers, a 2023 Freshman All-American and the conference’s Offensive Freshman of the Year. Flowers was also the runner-up for the Jerry Rice Award (best FCS freshman) after rushing 157 times for 854 yards and eight touchdowns. He added 35 catches for 192 yards.
EIU’s First Team All-Big South-OVC wide receiver Eli Mirza is also back. He totaled 61 receptions for 721 yards and three touchdowns. Last year’s No. 3 pass-catcher DeAirious Smith returns after hauling in 28 passes for 494 yards and two scores.
Anthony Manaves is a solid target at tight end, recording 14 catches for 106 yards and a touchdown last year.
The offensive line returns four players who started seven games or more in 2023, and a fifth who added three starts.
Sebastian Pares (6’6″ 310 lbs) was a 2023 All-Conference Second Team selection. Drew Wilder (6’3″ 305 lbs) started all 11 games, Nic DiSanto (6’5″ 320 lbs) started nine, Jack Valente (6’5″ 320 lbs) started seven, and Elkhanan Tanelus (6’2″ 320 lbs) posted three starts.
The Panthers added App State transfer Joseph Solomon (6’5″ 295 lbs) to the offensive line mix. Two wide receivers also join from the FBS ranks — Houston’s CJ Nelson and Kansas’ Surahz Buncom.
Defensive Outlook
Eastern Illinois owned the No. 16 FCS scoring defense last season, allowing 19.7 points per game. The unit returns four of its top five tacklers and nine of its top 12. Of the 19 players who logged 200 or more snaps, 14 are back in 2024.
Linebacker Elijawah Tolbert is back after leading EIU in tackles. Tolbert entered the transfer portal and then committed/enrolled at Missouri State during the spring. But he re-entered the portal and ended up coming back to the Panthers. Last season, the First Team All-Conference selection racked up 87 tackles, seven TFLs, and an interception.
Anthony Shockey returns after starting 11 games at linebacker and totaling 56 tackles, seven TFLs, one interception, and two pass breakups. Phoenix Porter is set for a big role after being a key rotational LB in 2023, notching 34 tackles, five TFLs, and three sacks.
Eastern Illinois will have quality depth across its d-line.
Joel Barrows (6’3″ 240 lbs) is coming off an All-Big South-OVC Second Team season where he had 32 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, four sacks, and five quarterback hurries. Nicholas Oliveira-Chace (6’4″ 275 lbs) is another returning starter who tallied 35 tackles and seven TFLs. Tre’Jon Lewis (6’4″ 285 lbs) started seven contests and finished with 14 tackles. And Colby Smith (6’0″ 300 lbs) added seven starts and 16 tackles.
Drake Van Hyfte (6’4″ 280 lbs) registered 23 tackles, nine TFLs, and five sacks. Alton Jefferson (6’0″ 290 lbs) added four starts and had nine tackles. Jaron Hacha (5’11” 310 lbs) logged two starts and totaled 18 tackles.
In the secondary, EIU loses its top two cornerbacks in snaps. Nick Coates returns as an experienced starter at the nickel position. He had 68 tackles in 2022 and 32 last year, including one interception and four pass breakups. Ira Armstead II is a versatile defender at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds. He appeared in 10 games with two starts at nickel, totaling 18 tackles, two sacks, and three quarterback hurries.
Mark Aitken and Kaelin Drakeford return at safety. Aitken had the fourth-most tackles on the 2023 squad with 40. Drakeford logged the sixth-most defensive snaps and recorded 23 tackles, three TFLs, and four pass breakups.
Kaleb Lyons was a big transfer portal addition. Last year at Morehead State, the cornerback was named an All-American after tallying 34 tackles and six interceptions.
EIU also replenished its secondary with four defensive back transfers from the FBS — Moses Alexander (Houston), Akili Hubbard (Kansas), Kiwaun Davis (Washington State), and Ryan Kilburg (Western Michigan).
2024 Preseason Preview Central
Eastern Illinois Football Schedule
8/31 at Illinois
9/7 vs Indiana State
9/14 at Northwestern
9/21 at No. 24 Illinois State
9/28 vs Lindenwood
10/5 vs Southeast Missouri
10/12 at Tennessee State
10/26 at (RV) UT Martin
11/2 vs Western Illinois
11/9 at Gardner-Webb
11/16 vs Charleston Southern
11/23 at Tennessee Tech
Bold indicates Big South-OVC games
HERO Sports’ rankings
RV = Received votes
