Eastern Illinois quarterback Pierce Holley threw for more than 2,700 yards and 17 touchdowns last season. (Photo by EIUPanthers.com)
By Barry Bottino
In his first season as Eastern Illinois quarterback, Pierce Holley threw for more than 2,700 yards and posted the seventh-best yardage total in school history, trailing only seasons by EIU greats Tony Romo, Jimmy Garoppolo and Sean Payton.
Holley’s production – along with a deep running back room – are two of the biggest reasons for head coach Chris Wilkerson’s excitement as the 2024 season approaches for the Panthers.
“We’re really excited about Pierce coming back,” Wilkerson said. “He had a great first year in our program. We’re excited to see where he continues to develop.”
Eastern finished 8-3 in 2023, a six-win improvement over the 2022 season.
Along with Holley’s 17 touchdown passes, EIU’s ground game will receive a boost from the return of M.J. Flowers, who finished second in voting for the 2023 Jerry Rice Award, given to the nation’s top freshman in FCS.
Flowers rushed for 854 yards and eight TDs while posting a pair of 200-yard games.
“M.J. had a phenomenal year,” Wilkerson said. “That’s probably our deepest position.”
Flowers’ breakout year also resulted in winning the Big South/OVC Freshman of the Year and first-team FCS All-American honors by three different media outlets.
The Panthers will have to replace graduating offensive tackle Chad Strickland, who was a first-team All-Big South/OVC Association player a season ago, but four other starters are back, including fellow tackle Nic DiSanto, who started nine games as a true freshman, and guard Sebastian Pares, a second-team all-conference selection.
Starting center Drew Wilder also will return after joining Holley as the only EIU offensive players to play all 812 snaps last season, Wilkerson said.
Veteran Elkhanan Tanelus, whose career in Charleston began in 2019, also will return this fall. Tanelus sustained a season-ending injury after two games in 2022, earning a medical redshirt year. Tanelus spent much of last season recuperating as well, but made three starts at right guard.
Veteran tight end Anthony Manaves also will be back, according to Wilkerson, along with wide receiver Cooper Willman, who was injured in the season opener against Indiana State and earned a redshirt year.
New additions
Eastern announced eight mid-year transfers Friday, highlighted by three defensive backs and two tight ends.
The Panthers wait until mid-year transfers began classes in Charleston before announcing the additions.
The group is highlighted by cornerbacks Kaleb Long (Morehead State) and Moses Alexander (FBS Houston). Long, a junior, was a third-team Associated Press All-American last season and had six interceptions. Alexander, a redshirt junior, had 11 tackles in eight games for the Cougars last fall.
Safety Ryan Kilburg, a Maine South graduate, spent the past four seasons at FBS Western Michigan. He redshirted last fall after playing in nine games in 2022, mostly on special teams.
Tight ends Alex Herrera (27 catches, three TDs at College of the Sequoias) and Jordan Sprycha (24 catches, one TD at D-II McKendree) bring experience to the passing game, along with wide receiver Landers Green (41 receptions, four TDs at D-III Union College in New York).
The Panthers also added depth at quarterback with downstate Monticello native Joey Sprinkle, who threw for 12 TDs last fall at NAIA St. Ambrose, and defensive line with Christian Takatch, who played in one game as a freshman in 2023 at D-II Notre Dame College in Ohio.
Defensive adjustments
EIU’s defense will return seven starters from last season, but are preparing two familiar faces for a move to cornerback, Wilkerson said.
Junior NiJhay Burt made an impact last season on special teams and as a key reserve at safety, highlighted by a 67-yard interception return for a touchdown against Indiana State.
“He was one of our best athletes last year and certainly one of our most dynamic players,” Wilkerson said. “His athleticism is off the charts and he was always our best (man-to-man) cover guy in the slot.”
Senior Terrance Gipson was injured in preseason camp and missed the entire 2023 season. He was recruited as an athlete and spent time at running back before moving to quarterback for spring practices. During the Eastern spring game last April, Gipson showed off a strong arm and plenty of speed on QB runs.
Wilkerson also said the EIU coaches were impressed last season by the development of graduate student Scottie McMillon, redshirt junior Malik Rainey and redshirt freshman Christopher Sharp. All three likely will have roles in a deep secondary.
At linebacker, redshirt senior Anthony Shockey will return after his career-best season of 56 tackles last fall. Injuries kept Shockey off the field earlier in his career.
Defensive lineman Terence Simon Jr., a graduate student who sustained a season-ending injury after playing five games last season, is hoping to return, Wilkerson said, but is awaiting a decision on a potential medical redshirt year. If Simon returns, 2024 would be his sixth college season.
Coaching staff changes
Along with previously elevating associate head coach Kyle Derickson to offensive coordinator, Wilkerson announced four additional staff changes recently.
Inside linebackers coach Collin Geier will be elevated to defensive coordinator to start his third season on Wilkerson’s staff and also will maintain his position coaching role.
Andrew Brady has been elevated to special teams coordinator while continuing as outside linebackers coach in his second full-time season on staff.
Second-year cornerbacks coach Maurice Fleming has added the title of defensive pass game coordinator for 2024.
Third-year offensive line coach John Cannova has added offensive run game coordinator duties.
Big South-OVC schedule
Eastern announced its revamped non-conference schedule Monday, with the season starting Aug. 31 at Illinois. The game originally was scheduled as a Week Zero game Aug. 24.
The Panthers will open the home season Sept. 7 against Indiana State before road trips to Northwestern (Sept. 14) and Illinois State (Sept. 21).
Late in the 2023 season, the conference had its 2024 conference season all planned out. Then, Bryant and Robert Morris departed for new homes after only one season in the league.
On Jan. 9, the new conference schedule was announced, with the Panthers hosting Western Illinois Nov. 2 among their four home games and eight total league games.
Eastern begins its league season with back-to-back home games Sept. 28 (Lindenwood) and Oct. 5 (Southeast Missouri) before road games at Tennessee State Oct. 12 and UT Martin Oct. 26.
The Panthers end the Big South-OVC season with a trip to Gardner-Webb Nov. 9, a home game against Charleston Southern Nov. 16 and a season-ending road game at Tennessee Tech.
The EIU spring game is planned for April 27.
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.
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