December signing period 2025: Big bodies up front dominate Eastern Illinois additions

Head coach Chris Wilkerson and the Eastern Illinois football program added five high school players on Wednesday, including three offensive linemen. (Photo by EIUPanthers.com)

By Barry Bottino

The Eastern Illinois football program’s additions were small on numbers Wednesday for the start of the December signing period but big on large bodies.

The Panthers, who finished 3-9 this fall, added five prep players. Three of those were offensive lineman over 285 pounds.

“This group will have an immense impact on and off the field,” EIU head coach Chris Wilkerson said of the class.

Jalin Crowder (6-foot-3, 315 pounds) of Mundelein’s Carmel Catholic High School was part of an offensive line that helped the Corsairs (8-3) advance to the Class 7A playoffs and average more than 44 points a game. “Jalin possesses all the tools to be a contributor up front early,” EIU offensive line coach Cole Hoover said. “When you watch his film, he loves hitting people.”

The Panthers crossed two adjacent borders to add 6-6, 300-pounder Grady Farley of Brookfield, Wis., and Nick Thomas (6-6, 290) of Hannibal, Mo.

Thomas and his Hannibal teammates will play for Missouri’s Class 4A state title this weekend.

The class also included suburban Chicago wide receiver Niko Menos (60 catches, six TDs as a senior) and Colorado quarterback Logan Duhachek, who passed for 34 TDs and more than 3,000 yards this season.

The 6-2 Menos earned honorable mention Class 8A all-state recognition this fall after averaging 80.1 receiving yards per game.

EIU’s December 2025 Signing Period List  

(Name, Position(s), Height, Weight, School, Hometown)  

Logan Duhachek, QB, 6-4, 215, Arvada West HS, Arvada, Colo.

Niko Menos, WR, 6-2, 195, Lake Park HS, Roselle, Ill.

Jalin Strowder, OL, 6-3, 315, Carmel Catholic HS, Mundelein, Ill.

Nick Thomas, OL, 6-6, 290, Hannibal HS, Hannibal, Mo.

Grady Farley, OL, 6-6, 300, Brookfield East HS, Brookfield, Wis.

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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