Graduate student Drake Van Hyfte (95) has been a “quiet leader who leads by example,” according to Eastern Illinois head coach Chris Wilkerson. (Photo by Sandy King, EIUPanthers.com)
By Dan Verdun
Away from the football field, Drake Van Hyfte enjoys fishing and hunting.
“Big time,” the Eastern Illinois defensive end told Prairie State Pigskin. “Every year I take a trip with my dad and grandpa up to a cabin they own in Canada. Once we finish the season, I also hunt. It’s some of the best times of my life.”
On the field, the Eastern Illinois graduate student hunts opposing players with the aim to reel them in for tackles for loss and sacks.
Through five games, Van Hyfte is tied for the team lead with two sacks and tied for second with 3.5 TFLs.
“Drake is an EIU guy. He’s been here his entire career. He’s a hard hat-and-lunch-pail, blue-collar guy,” EIU head coach Chris Wilkerson said. “He’s a quiet leader who leads by example. He has done a really good job mentoring those defensive linemen.”
Van Hyfte’s full body of work will be on display when the Panthers (3-2 overall, 2-0 OVC-Big South) host Gardner-Webb (3-2, 1-0) for EIU’s 104th homecoming at 2 p.m. Saturday at O’Brien Field.
Back where he belongs
At the end of last fall’s disappointing four-win season, the 23-year-old Van Hyfte told Wilkerson right away that he was coming back to use his final season of eligibility.
“It all goes back to where it started,” Van Hyfte said. “Coming out of (Annawan-Wethersfield) high school, I wasn’t highly recruited. This university took a chance on me as a small-school kid they saw something in. I felt like it was my duty to give everything I had to his university. Given that extra year, there was no hesitation in my mind.”
Van Hyfte said he and other returning veteran players, such as defensive lineman Alton Jefferson, were called upon to guide transfers and younger players into the fold.
“We brought in a lot of new guys this offseason. Coach reached out to us to help bring the D-line together as a unit,” Van Hyfte said. “A lot of the time, I’m not the most vocal player, but I’ll say something when something needs to be said.”
Instead, the 6-foot-4, 255-pound Van Hyfte lets his actions make statements.
“My strong suit fits more to the run and being a physical presence in that department,” he said.
Being an edge player, there’s also rushing the passer.
“I look at that as being more of a privilege,” Van Hyfte said. “Our D-line mentality as a whole is that we’ve got to stop the run and be that presence up front. Then, as a reward, we get to rush the passer on third-down situations.”
This week’s opponent
The two Gardner-Webb losses were to FBS opponents – Georgia Tech and Ohio University. The Bulldogs are coming off a 30-27 win over rival Charleston Southern on a 48-yard field goal by Charles Viorel as time expired.
Second-year head coach Cris Reisert identified the deciding factor against EIU.
“More than anything, it’s going to be the turnover battle,” Reisert said. “We’ve got to own the football on offense and create some takeaways on defense.”
Gardner-Webb features a balanced offense that averages over 200 yards rushing and 200 yards passing per game.
“They are explosive. They are efficient,” Wilkerson said. “Their offensive line is as good as anybody we’ve seen all year long.”
Quarterback Nate Hampton has passed for 1,050 yards and nine touchdowns. Anthony Lowe is his top target with 28 receptions.
Running backs Quasean Holmes and Carson Gresock have each rushed for more than 300 yards. In addition, Hampton has added 244 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Defensively, linebacker Cahari Haynes tops the team with 34 tackles and five tackles for loss. Senior defensive end Robert Holtz has a team-best seven tackles for loss and four sacks, both totals ranking first in the OVC-Big South.
Kickoff: 2 p.m.; TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: WEIU.net/hitmix
Key matchup to watch
EIU defense vs. GWU uptempo offense
Wilkerson said Hampton makes the Runnin’ Bulldogs’ uptempo offense go.
“They play so doggone fast,” Wilkerson said. “The wideouts, the three amigos, are unbelievable and athletic. They’re active and catch everything thrown to them.
“The running backs are as good as anybody.”
What’s at stake
A victory would give Eastern its first 3-0 conference start since 2017 when Kim Dameron’s Panthers began with a 4-0 OVC mark. EIU finished 6-5 overall and 5-3 in the league that fall.
Quick hits
Eastern Illinois and Gardner-Webb will be meeting for just the second time. GWU won last year’s meeting in Boiling Springs, N.C., the first between the two conference members. EIU and GWU did not meet during the inaugural OVC-Big South season as teams played an unbalanced schedule. The Bulldogs defeated the Panthers, 31-28, despite EIU wide receiver Cooper Willman setting the school and OVC-Big South record for receiving yards in a game with 291 on 11 receptions to go along with three touchdowns. … The two schools were both picked to finish in a tie for sixth in the OVC-Big South preseason poll. … Gardner-Webb won the OVC-Big South title and automatic bid to the FCS playoffs two seasons ago. … Katie Spoo, the daughter of former Panther head coach Bob Spoo, will be in attendance. Spoo, the all-time Eastern wins leader, coached Wilkerson and later hired him as a graduate assistant and then EIU assistant coach. Spoo passed away in 2018. “Coach Spoo had a tremendous impact on my life and (my wife) Sharna and so many other people. I haven’t seen Katie in quite some time. I’m super excited about that,” Wilkerson said. … Former associate athletic director Dave Kidwell is being honored with EIU’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Kidwell, an Eastern graduate, served EIU for 44 years (1972-2016), the longest tenure in university athletic history. Today, he provides color commentary on Panther football and basketball broadcasts.
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.
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