Decatur MacArthur senior lineman King Smith was a four-year starter in high school and helped his team to a Class 5A playoff berth as a senior. The 310-pound Smith signed Wednesday with EIU. (Photo courtesy Derek Spates, MacArthur High School)
By Barry Bottino
The 2023 season saw Eastern Illinois experience a six-win improvement, putting the Panthers in the discussion for an FCS playoff spot.
Though EIU didn’t make the postseason field, head coach Chris Wilkerson’s program fortified the roster Wednesday on National Signing Day with 16 prep athletes who signed national letters of intent from nine different positions.
“Our staff did a phenomenal job evaluating guys,” said Wilkerson, whose team finished 8-3 in his second season, in an interview with Prairie State Pigskin. “We addressed the things we wanted to address right now from a size and strength and speed standpoint. We got bigger and longer and some other spots as well.”
Two key areas in Wednesday’s class were the defensive line and secondary.
Up front, the Panthers added bulk in 310-pound linemen King Smith, a four-year starter at Decatur MacArthur High School, and 270-pound Isaiah Hare, who set a school record with 18 sacks at Bullitt East High School in suburban Louisville, Ky. Tray Ross, who hails from Danville, Ind., was All-State as a junior at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds.
“I always say things start up front,” Wilkerson said. “King can eat up blocks and make plays in the middle. Tray’s going to be a little more on the edge. Isaiah is a guy that (has versatility).”
A pair of cornerbacks – Isaiah Houi (Rockton Hononegah) and Allen Brown III (Eureka, Mo.) – and 6-2, 200-pound Chicago safety Dillon Conway, who had four tackles, half of a sack and a pass breakup in the 7A state championship victory for powerhouse Mount Carmel in November — join the secondary.
Houi, a previous Northern Iowa commit, had four interceptions as a senior, while Brown was a first-team all-state player who grabbed six interceptions and was an accomplished kick returner.
Up front on offense, Eastern added fellow Mount Carmel product Rahfeeq Katumbusi (6-2, 325) and Kwan Johnson (6-1, 310) of Eisenhower High School in south suburban Blue Island, Ill.
“I’m super excited about Rahfeeq and Kwon,” Wilkerson said. “They’re very physical, rugged, durable guys.”
The Panthers’ 16-player announcement Wednesday did not include any additions from the transfer portal. Wilkerson said the program will officially announce those athletes when EIU begins the first day of spring classes Jan. 8.
Offensive news and notes
Eastern signed a unique set of twin brothers in Akron, Ohio’s Daniel and David Ajose. The wide receivers are 6-6 and 6-5, respectively. “These are guys who are long and athletic, very talented athletes with a high ceiling,” Wilkerson said. Also among the wide receivers is Collin Willard, an Ohio native with “blazing speed and production,” he said. In one game as a senior, Willard caught 12 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns. … The Panthers added Michigan prep quarterback Connor Wolf, who threw for 25 TDs and rushed for 10 scores as a senior at Grand Rapids Catholic Central, which finished 13-1 this fall on the way to a Michigan Division 5 state championship. “We felt like we hit a home run with Connor Wolf,” Wilkerson said. “He’s a winner. He can do everything that you want your quarterback to do. He can make every throw on the field and certainly can extend plays with his legs.” … At running back, 5-8, 195-pound Georgia native Jacarre Fleming was part of a state championship 4×100-meter relay team last spring and surpassed 2,000 career rushing yards. “Most of our running backs are a little bit bigger, but we liked Jacarre as a guy who’s got great top-end speed and is very elusive,” Wilkerson said. “He is fast.”
Defensive news and notes
The Panthers signed just one linebacker, but 6-foot, 220-pound Jordyn Stewart (Homewood-Flossmoor) had 78 tackles, 4.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss as a senior. “Jordyn is a guy who can just run and hit,” Wilkerson said. “He’s super athletic.” … Mount Carmel’s Conway has a unique tie to Eastern via his late father, Duane. “Duane was an amazing offensive lineman here,” Wilkerson said. Duane Conway was honored in 2020 among EIU’s top all-time linemen when the program celebrated the 50th year of O’Brien Field. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts in 1995.
Edgy’s Thoughts
Timothy “Edgy Tim” O’Halloran shares his thoughts on a key Illinois recruit heading to Charleston – Hononegah cornerback Isaiah Houi.
“A pretty solid kid with good speed. He will definitely get bigger and add some more size. He played some receiver and defensive back, as well as special teams.
“I saw him live a couple of times at camps the last couple years. He could wind up being a pretty solid cover corner.”
Biggest need filled on offense: Wide receiver, with three players. Along with the twins, EIU added fellow Ohio wideout Willard.
Biggest need filled on defense: Defensive line (three) and defensive back (three). Along with two cornerbacks and a safety, there’s 800 pounds of defensive linemen coming to Charleston.
Where they come from, by level: All 16 players announced by EIU are prep athletes. EIU will not announce transfers until spring classes begin Jan. 8.
Where they come from, by state: Eight states are represented, with seven players hailing from Illinois. Three are from Ohio and one each are from Missouri, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana and Michigan.
Player closest to campus: 56 miles. That is the length of Smith’s drive from Decatur.
Player farthest from campus: 743 miles. Fleming hails from Hahira, a town in south Georgia.
Tallest player: 6-6. Daniel Ajose, part of the “twin” towers at wide receiver.
Shortest player: 5-8. Fleming, the speedy Georgia running back.
Heaviest player: 325. Katumbusi, the Mount Carmel offensive lineman.
LIghtest player: 165. Kicker Drew Schiller from Lincoln-Way Central in Chicago’s south suburbs.
EIU Early Signing Day List
(Name, Position(s), Height, Weight, School, Hometown)
Daniel Ajose, WR, 6-6, 210, St. Vincent-St. Mary’s HS, Akron, Ohio
David Ajose, WR, 6-5, 210, St. Vincent-St. Mary’s HS, Akron, Ohio
Allen Brown III, CB, 5-11, 180, Eureka (Mo.) HS, St. Louis
Dillon Conway, S, 6-2, 200, Mount Carmel HS, Chicago
Jacarre Fleming, RB, 5-8, 195, Lowndes HS, Hahira, Ga.
Isaiah Hare, DL, 6-1, 270, Bullitt East HS, Mt. Washington, Ky.
Isaiah Houi, CB, 5-10, 170, Hononegah HS, Rockton, Ill.
Kwan Johnson, OL, 6-1, 310, Dwight D. Eisenhower HS, Blue Island, Ill.
Rahfeeq Katumbusi, OL, 6-2, 325, Mount Carmel HS, Chicago
Chase McConnell, TE, 6-5, 205, Watertown HS, Lebanon, Tenn.
Tray Ross, DL, 6-3, 220, Danville Community HS, Danville, Ind.
Drew Schiller, K, 6-0, 165, Lincoln-Way Central HS, New Lenox, Ill.
King Smith, DL, 6-1, 310, MacArthur HS, Decatur, Ill.
Jordyn Stewart, LB, 6-0, 220, Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Homewood, Ill.
Collin Willard, WR, 5-11, 200, North Olmsted HS, North Olmsted HS
Connor Wolf, QB, 6-3, 185, Grand Rapids Catholic Central HS, Ada, Mich.
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
Find us on social media!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PSPigskin
Facebook: Prairie State Pigskin
Instagram: Prairiestatepigskin
Prairie State Pigskin 
Leave a comment