Incarnate Word transfer linebacker Tylan Foster leads Eastern Illinois in tackles this season. (Photo by Sandy King, EIUPanthers.com)
By Dan Verdun
If you’re a fan of big defensive hits, then keep your eyes on Eastern Illinois inside linebacker Tylan Foster.
“He’s a guy that is very competitive, very driven, a very physical player for us. He’s had a lot of high-contact plays,” EIU head coach Chris Wilkerson said.
Foster, a transfer from FCS Incarnate Word, thrives on contact.
“I’m an energy starter and booster,” Foster told Prairie State Pigskin. “I’ve made a big hit in every game so far.”
Both Foster and Wilkerson hope the hits keep coming when EIU (3-3 overall, 2-1 OVC-Big South) travels to Cape Girardeau, Mo., Saturday for a league game with Southeast Missouri (2-4, 1-1).
Foster just missed out on his third double-figure tackle game of the season with a nine-stop performance last weekend in EIU’s 21-10 loss to Gardner-Webb.
Foster leads the Panthers with 45 tackles, which is ninth among OVC-Big South players. He and teammate Ja’Wuan Nickson top EIU with four tackles for loss.
Wilkerson lauded Foster for his “consistency and playmaking ability” along with his leadership.
“Tylan is a guy who came and earned his respect here, but he had already been a pretty accomplished football player at the FCS level,” Wilkerson said.
Foster transferred to Eastern after playing two seasons at Incarnate Word, where he was an All-Southland Conference selection in 2023. However, after sustaining an ankle and back injury, Foster said he didn’t “feel the love” from the UIW coaching staff last season.
“It felt like I was forgotten to a degree,” he said.
That led to the Houston native’s decision to enter the transfer portal where more than one FBS school told the 5-foot-11, 225-pounder he was “too small” and would likely be “a rotational guy.”
Those comments opened the door for EIU. Panthers assistant coach Carlif Taylor made the initial contact.
“Coach Lif was raw and uncut,” Foster said. “I felt instant love.”
After wearing No. 11 at UIW, Foster accepted the EIU offer to wear the No. 1 jersey.
“It brings you into a leadership role,” Foster said. “With it being a fresh start, I felt it was time.”
Foster won over his teammates quickly, according to Wilkerson.
“He’s done a great job leading our guys and earning their respect,” Wilkerson said. “He’s done it not just through words, but more through action.”
That action includes a season-high 11 tackles against nationally ranked Illinois State and a 10-tackle showing at rival Western Illinois.
“I don’t play like I’m too small,” Foster said.
This week’s opponent
Coming off last fall’s FCS playoff berth, Southeast Missouri entered this season as one of the preseason favorites in the OVC-Big South.
“They’ve been one of the gold standard OVC teams,” Wilkerson said.
Two of the SEMO’s losses came against nationally ranked FCS teams – No. 1 North Dakota State and No. 11 Southern Illinois. The Skyhawks also lost at FBS Arkansas State.
Injuries have struck the Redhawks hard, particularly at quarterback. That resulted in redshirt freshman Johnny Weber making his first career start against Tennessee State last weekend. Weber delivered, earning OVC-Big South Freshman of the Week honors as SEMO throttled TSU, 28-12.
Senior running back Brandon Epton Jr. tops the Redhawks with 286 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
SEMO has recorded 28 passes defended (21 pass breakups, three interceptions). Sophomore safety Landon Sylvie leads the team with 56 tackles and three pass breakups.
Kickoff: noon; TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: WEIU.net/hitmix
Key matchup to watch
EIU offense vs. SEMO defense
While Eastern moved the ball last Saturday against Gardner-Webb, the Panthers failed to finish drives with significant points.
On paper, SEMO ranks eighth out of nine OVC-Big South teams in scoring defense. However, those numbers are skewed by the quality competition the Redhawks have faced.
Bottom line: If EIU is to win Saturday, the Panthers must put the ball in the end zone multiple times.
What’s at stake
After losing at home to Gardner-Webb, EIU seeks a bounce-back victory as well as a win at SEMO for the first time since 2014.
Quick hits
Eastern Illinois has employed a two-quarterback system for much of this season. However, redshirt freshman Connor Wolf left last weekend’s homecoming game with an injury. His status is “day-to-day,” according to Wilkerson, heading into Saturday’s game. Redshirt sophomore Cole LaCrue, who has six rushing touchdowns, may make his first start since Sept. 6 at Indiana State. If Wolf is unavailable, true freshman Brady Ford would be LaCrue’s backup. … Tom Matukewicz is in his 12th season as Southeast Missouri, where his Redhawks have made four FCS playoff appearances (2018, 2019, 2022 and 2024). He has posted a 48-33 OVC record. … EIU punter Mason Miller continues to be among the NCAA leaders while chasing the single-season school record. Miller ranks seventh in the FCS at 46.8 yards per punt. Last season, he led the NAIA with a 45.3 yard average while earning All-America honors. Kevin Cook set the EIU season record of 44.6 in 2007. … Redshirt freshman Drew Schiller kicked his fifth field goal of the season last Saturday against Gardner-Webb. The Lincoln-Way Central graduate is 5-for-6 this season, ranking him 13th in FCS field goal percentage. Schiller has made all 24 extra-point attempts. … EIU’s defense recorded four tackles for loss against Gardner-Webb. The Panthers rank 44th in the FCS at 5.8 tackles for loss per game.
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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