Chris Wilkerson enters his third year as the head coach at his alma mater. (Photo by EIUPanthers.com)
By Dan Verdun
Eastern Illinois added eight players during Wednesday’s National Signing Day with an emphasis on the offensive line as well as “skill players,” third-year head coach Chris Wilkerson told Prairie State Pigskin.
“It’s a culmination of a long process and journey,” Wilkerson said. “We knew there were some areas that we still wanted to address and we feel like we’ve done that.”
The spring high school signing class joins a group of 16 prep athletes who EIU inked in December as well as eight mid-year transfers who were added when classes began in January.
EIU posted an 8-3 overall record last fall, which was a six-win improvement from Wilkerson’s first season.
Family connections
Two of Wednesday’s additions have direct ties to Eastern Illinois athletics.
Quarterback Jacob Rosenstiel is the son of former Panthers tight end Bob Rosenstiel, who played two years with the NFL’s Oakland Raiders as well as in the XFL.
“Jacob played smaller (high) school football in Texas. He moved there from California because of the pandemic. He tore it up, running the ball and throwing it. He’s big and athletic,” Wilkerson said.
The Panthers also signed defensive lineman Aidan Archibald from Charleston High School. His mother, Tara, is EIU’s head softball coach.
“The irony is when Tara was at Illinois State as an assistant coach (before becoming EIU’s head coach), she’s the one who started the recruiting process with (my daughter) Bella during her sophomore year of high school,” Wilkerson said.
Bella Wilkerson is now entering her junior season as a catcher at Illinois State.
Aidan’s father, Bryan, played football at Southern Illinois, where he was named to the Salukis’ All-Century Team.
“One of his claims to fame is that he sacked Tony Romo in a (college) game,” Wilkerson said of Bryan Archibald.
EIU’s roster already features two sons of former Panther standouts: offensive lineman Carson Fichtel, whose father is Brad Fichtel, and linebacker Jack Pilson, whose father is Jamie Pilson.
In addition, Wilkerson’s son, Peyton, is an EIU defensive lineman.
“It’s kind of cool to see those connections,” Wilkerson said.
Dartmouth decision
On Tuesday, a potentially historic ruling was delivered from the National Labor Relations Board announcing that members of the Dartmouth University men’s basketball team are employees of the school and have the right to form a labor union.
According to multiple media outlets, this would mark the first time that student-athletes, regarded as amateurs since the inception of college sports, would be able to not only form a union but also start demanding wages and other labor provisions as students.
However, it is expected that Dartmouth will appeal the NLRB ruling. This would likely mean a long legal process that could eventually land in the Supreme Court.
Wilkerson served as the associate head coach at Dartmouth from 2005 until 2012.
“I still maintain contact with the head coach, Sam McCorkle,” Wilkerson said. “As this whole thing continues to evolve, we just have to be willing to monitor and adjust. There are so many things right now that are in the court system that are being decided or are going to be decided in the near future.”
Wilkerson also pointed out the uniqueness of the Dartmouth case.
“It’s a non-scholarship situation, so those student-athletes are really not given any additional compensation, if you will,” he said. “It’s Division I, but it’s like Division III. There are no athletic scholarships. All they have is need-based financial aid as with any student. There is no merit aid of any kind in the Ivy League schools. That makes this situation just a little bit unique.”
Now is the time
Many coaches mention that games in the fall are often decided during winter strength and conditioning.
“Guys are working their tails off,” Wilkerson said. “For us, this is the hard hat, lunch pail time. Our guys right now are very focused on trying to improve every single day. They come to work with a chip on their shoulder. And that’s something that we’ve got to continue to do.
“They know we have not ‘arrived’ by any means. What we do in the fall will be dictated by the work that we put in on a daily basis now.”
EIU February Signing Day List
(Name, Position(s), Height, Weight, School, Hometown)
Aidan Archibald, DL, 6-2, 240, Charleston HS, Charleston, Ill.
Josh Brown, S, 6-0, 185, Peachtree Ridge HS, Suwanee, Ga.
Nico Carrier, K, 5-8, 170, Metea Valley HS, Aurora, Ill.
Grady Catanzano, LB, 6-1, 225, Prospect HS, Mt. Prospect, Ill.
Clint Chamley, OL, 6-5, 310, Clark County HS, Kahoka, Mo.
Max Loveall, WR, 6-3, 195, Richmond-Burton HS, Richmond, Ill.
Jeremy Reeves, WR, 6-4, 180, Gary Comer College Prep, Chicago
Jacob Rosenstiel, QB, 6-4, 200, Geneva School of Boerne, Boerne, Texas
Connor Shelby, OL, 6-4, 275, Mt. Carmel HS, Mt. Carmel, Ill.
Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.
Find us on social media!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PSPigskin
Facebook: Prairie State Pigskin
Prairie State Pigskin 
Leave a comment