Wide receiver Cooper Willman’s 2023 season was interrupted by a knee injury. The senior, who wears No. 13 for Eastern Illinois, is determined to impact the Panthers’ offense this fall. (Photo by Barry Bottino, PrairieStatePigskin.com)
By Barry Bottino
CHARLESTON – Cooper Willman began the 2023 season with several highs at Indiana State.
In the Eastern Illinois season-opening game at Terre Haute, Willman caught five passes for 53 yards, threw a pass and introduced himself as an impact player on the Panthers’ offense.
That lasted less than 30 minutes, thanks to an MCL injury in his right knee late in the second quarter of Eastern’s 27-0 victory.
“I came into that week and felt the best I’ve ever felt,” said Willman, a Sterling High School graduate who has collected 32 career receptions. “That hurt me a lot mentally.”
Willman returned to appear in three more games – catching only one pass – before deciding to take a medical redshirt year. This fall will be his final season of eligibility.
Amid his injury last season, Willman still made a big impression on new offensive coordinator Kyle Derickson, who previously coached EIU’s wide receivers.
“He has been one of the most resilient people I’ve met since I’ve been here,” Derickson said. “Having coached him last year and seeing him try to come back from that injury, it was almost a lost year. Had we played him one more player in another game, we would’ve lost (the season).”
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound Willman played quarterback in high school and has devoted himself to learning every aspect of wide receiver.
“The work he puts in,” Derickson said of Willman’s blue-collar approach. “He’s the poster boy for that. He gets his hands dirty and he’s not afraid.”
Willman also has a knack for picking up details.
“He always wants to talk about the offense and where the receivers fit in every little piece, whether it be the pass game or the run game,” Derickson said. “He’s now understanding where the defense is playing into the play itself.”
This fall, Willman will be relied upon to help make up for the departures of second-leading receiver Justin Thomas (38 catches, five touchdowns), who used his final year of eligibility last fall, and third-leading receiver Justin Bowick (35 catches, five TDs), who left via the transfer portal.
“I knew I had to get back,” Willman said. “I feel good. It’s just a matter of getting back to where I was (physically) and staying confident in my game.”
Eastern does, however, bring back four of its top six pass catchers from last season’s 8-3 squad, including senior receiver Eli Mirza (61 catches, 721 yards, three TDs), sophomore running back M.J. Flowers (35 catches), senior receiver DeAirious Smith (28 catches, 494 yards, two TDs) and senior tight end Anthony Manaves (14 catches, one TD).
“I’m excited to see where this group can go and where this team can go,” Willman said.
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and spent 19 years at three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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