DePaul College Prep linebacker Jett Reese (left), who signed Wednesday with Eastern Illinois, won a state championship this season with his high school team. (Photo courtesy X.com, @JettReese18)
By Barry Bottino
Playing for conference championships in November is the goal of every Illinois FCS coaching staff.
With Wednesday’s 10-player signing class on the early National Signing Day, Eastern Illinois head coach Chris Wilkerson and his staff added some championship experience from Chicago.
Mount Carmel defensive back Le’Javier Payne and DePaul College Prep linebacker Jett Reese both helped their teams to state titles last month, with DePaul winning in Class 4A and Mount Carmel in 7A.
The 5-foot-8, 170-pound Payne had an interception from his cornerback spot and an 82-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Caravan’s 55-34 victory against Geneva.
“With Le’Javier’s unmatched determination and championship pedigree, he doesn’t just play the game, he elevates it, inspiring everyone around him to reach for greatness,” EIU cornerbacks coach Maurice Fleming said.
In DePaul’s 40-6 title game victory against Mount Zion, Reese (6-2, 220) had five tackles.
“Jett will bring a strong leadership presence to our program with his championship experience,” Eastern defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Colin Geier said. “We are excited to see him contribute in multiple facets of our program.”
Reese was one of three linebackers in the class, along with Kennyan Chandler (Kankakee High School) and Davian Humphrey (Phillips Academy, Chicago). On the defensive front, Eastern signed 6-2, 265-pound Tyler Fortis (Maine South) and 6-4, 240-pound Barron Sholl (Rockford Boylan).
The four offensive signees came from four different positions, including Louisville, Ky., RB Micheal Curry and Cincinnati WR Carlyun Neal.
The offense also added quarterback Brady Ford of Toledo, who passed for 21 touchdowns and nearly 2,100 yards this fall, along with mammoth offensive lineman Dejan Guzina, a Canadian who measures 6-8 and 345 pounds.
“This group will undoubtedly have an amazing impact both on and off the field and will arrive ready to make a difference,” Wilkerson said. “We can’t wait for them to get to campus.”
Biggest need filled on offense: Wide receiver (Neal).
Biggest need filled on defense: Linebacker (Chandler, Humphrey and Reese).
Where they come from, by level: All 10 are high school players.
Where they come from, by state/country: Six players are from Illinois, two hail from Ohio and one is from Kentucky. One player is from Canada.
Player closest to campus: 130 miles (Chandler, Kankakee, Ill.)
Player farthest from campus: 2,267 miles (Guzina, Delta, British Columbia)
Tallest player: 6-8 (Guzina).
Shortest player: 5-8 (Payne).
Heaviest player: 345 (Guzina).
Lightest player: 170 (Payne).
EIU Early Signing Day List
(Name, Position(s), Height, Weight, School, Hometown)
Kennyan Chandler, LB, 5-10, 230, Kankakee High School, Kankakee, Ill.
Micheal Curry, RB, 5-10, 180, Atherton High School, Louisville, Ky.
Brady Ford, QB, 6-0, 195, Whitmer High School, Toledo, Ohio
Tyler Fortis, DL, 6-2, 265, Maine South High School, Park Ridge, Ill.
Dejan Guzina, OL, 6-8, 345, Football North Canada High School, Delta, British Columbia
Davian Humphrey, LB, 6-1, 200, Wendell Phillips Academy High School, Chicago, Ill.
Carlyun Neal, WR, 5-11, 180, Withrow High School, Cincinnati, Ohio
Le’Javier Payne, DB, 5-8, 170, Mount Carmel High School, Chicago, Ill.
Jett Reese, LB, 6-2, 220, DePaul College Prep High School, Chicago, Ill.
Barron Sholl, DL, 6-4, 240, Boylan Central Catholic High School, Rockford, Ill.
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