True freshman wide receiver Dylan Lord leads Illinois State this season in receptions (nine) and receiving yards (81). (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Barry Bottino
Last fall, Dylan Lord was a college prospect looking for a home after his senior season.
His teammate, quarterback Beckham Pellant at Hamilton High School in Chandler, Ariz., had a suggestion.
“I was just trying to get my film out to coaches and Beckham said, ‘Why not send your film over to Illinois State?’”
Pellant, who had signed with the Redbirds before his senior year, proved to be a good matchmaker.
“They liked my film, so I went on an unofficial visit,” said Lord, a wide receiver. “I liked the campus, the environment and the football aspect. I knew I wanted to play Division I football. I decided to take that chance to come here. It’s a long way from Arizona, but it was worth it.”
Lord, a true freshman walk-on, will start his third consecutive game Saturday when ISU (1-1) plays its home opener at Hancock Stadium in Normal against Western Illinois (0-2). (Noon, Marquee Network/ESPN-Plus)
Filling in for starter Eddie Kasper, who is sidelined with mononucleosis, the 5-foot-9, 180-pound Lord leads the team with nine receptions and 81 receiving yards as the slot receiver.
“I tell players all the time that if you want to have a special season, someone is going to come to the forefront that you weren’t expecting,” ISU head coach Brock Spack said. “Right away, Dylan has been that for us. He works really hard. He understands how to run routes and get open and can catch the football. He’s earned it.”
Lord had a team-high six catches and 52 yards last weekend in ISU’s 24-17 victory at North Alabama. That included a 28-yard reception from quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse on a third-down play in the second quarter, which extended a drive and led to a touchdown and a 14-3 ISU lead.
Though he played slot receiver exclusively as a high school senior, Lord said he leaned on Kasper throughout the summer and fall, picking up tips and lessons.
“He probably gets annoyed,” Lord said. “I ask a lot of questions, but he’s always happy to answer them. He definitely knows more about the X’s and O’s. When I came here, I really took that as an opportunity to learn more from a receiver perspective. He’s been great.”
Lord had offers from FCS Drake, a non-scholarship program, and several Division II schools. His opportunity for immediate playing time has been beyond expectations.
“It’s a surreal feeling,” he said. “A year ago, I was playing high school football and now I’m playing at the FCS level. It’s fun. I’m just taking it all in. I’m grateful for it.”
Saturday will be the 107th meeting between ISU and Western, a series that dates back to 1904. But this fall, the teams are no longer in the same conference. WIU is in its first season in the Big South/Ohio Valley Conference Football Association after departing the Missouri Valley Football Conference.
Regardless of the league affiliations, Lord and Pellant will play a Western team that includes their high school teammate – freshman running back Avery Knight.
“He just texted me and Beckham, a little friendly trash talk,” Lord said Tuesday. “We were looking at our schedules and it was like, ‘Oh, we’re going to play each other.’ That will be a cool experience. I haven’t seen him in a while. It will be fun. I’m excited.”
This week’s opponent
Western, which has 65 new players in head coach Joe Davis’ first season as head coach, is 0-2 and lost, 77-3, to Indiana last week. … The Leathernecks have players from 29 different states on the roster. … The position group with the most turnover is at wide receiver, which has 14 new players. … Quarterback Nathan Lamb (30-for-54 passing for two TDs and one interception) has completed passes to nine different players. Montana State transfer Christian Anaya leads the team in receptions (eight), while Contra Costa (Calif.) College transfer Demari Davis has the most receiving yards (87). … Junior linebacker Ryan Crandall has a team-high 17 tackles. … Third downs have been a trouble spot for WIU this season. On offense, the Leathernecks have a 23% success rate (6-for-26), while the WIU defense has allowed opponents to convert third downs at an 82% rate (14-for-17).
Kickoff: Noon; TV: Marquee Network, ESPN-Plus; Radio: WJBC.com
Key matchup to watch
Illinois State offense vs. WIU third-down defense: Western’s opponents are averaging seven more minutes per game in possession time. If Illinois State wants to put long drives together and wear down the WIU defense, third downs will be the key. Statistically, this category favors the Redbirds in a couple of ways. First, Western allows opponents an 82% success rate on third downs, albeit having played two unbeaten FBS opponents in Northern Illinois and Indiana. Secondly, the Redbirds are averaging four minutes more per game than their opponents.
What’s at stake?
Illinois State is attempting to beat Western for the third year in a row.
Quick hits
Western Illinois has lost 26 consecutive games, the longest current losing streak in FCS. However, Spack will share with his team memories of last season, when the Leathernecks trailed ISU by two points in the fourth quarter. Or he will mention the 2022 game in Normal, when Western took the Redbirds to overtime. “They’re important games,” Spack said. “They’re what make college football fun. I’ve always enjoyed playing in them. I enjoy coaching in them. You’re going to get your opponents’ best. Any time you’re in a rivalry game, anything can happen. But our focus is always on us getting better.” … Spack announced this week that Walter Payton Award candidate Mason King, ISU’s standout running back, will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury. Senior Wenkers Wright, who rushed for 153 yards last weekend at North Alabama, will start in King’s place again this week. After the ISU spring game, Wright said he was hoping for a heavier workload this fall after getting only 32 carries last season in nine games. Western Illinois transfer Seth Glatz is listed as Wright’s backup on the depth chart … Redshirt freshman guard Brayden Jellison is listed as the starting left guard this week in place of injured senior Hunter Zambrano, who has started 30 career games. … Redshirt freshman Patrick Bauer is listed as the starter ahead of Buck Buchanan Award candidate Amir Abdullah, who sustained a knee injury against Iowa and missed last week’s game.
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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