Running back Charles Kellom was the only Eastern Illinois offensive player to finish in the top five in a statistical category in the OVC-Big South in 2025. (Photo by EIUPanthers.com)
Editor’s note: This is the first of a four-part series on five key questions facing each of the Illinois FCS teams this off-season.
By Barry Bottino
Over the last two seasons, finishing has been a struggle for Eastern Illinois.
The Panthers ended the 2024 campaign with a six-game losing streak, and finished 2025 with a seven-game skid.
In October and November during those two seasons, EIU is 2-9.
Those finishes need a boost from an improved offensive output with an infusion of more playmakers, among other needs.
What’s ahead for the Panthers?
Here are five burning questions facing Eastern heading into 2026:
Where has the offense gone?
Eastern’s offense managed 17.5 points a game during the 2025 season, which is its worst season average since 2021 and the lowest total in head coach Chris Wilkerson’s four seasons.
There are plenty of reasons why. Among them were ranking 106th in the nation in passing offense with two inexperienced QBs and a rash of injuries in the receiving corps.
The Panthers allowed 37 sacks, the ninth-most in the country, while ranking 88th among 126 FCS teams in first downs.
Being able to consistently move the football is job one in 2026.
Eastern had one game with a passer above 200 yards, three rushers with 100-yard games and one 100-yard receiving game this season.
The Panthers need an infusion of playmakers this off-season for an offensive unit that had only one player finish in the top five in an OVC-Big South Football Association statistical category.
That was running back Charles Kellom, who ranked fifth in rushing yards per game (59.25).
What’s next at QB?
Redshirt sophomore Cole LaCrue enjoyed a sparkling debut for the Panthers in August with a 194-yard rushing game and three rushing touchdowns in a season-opening win against non-scholarship Dayton.
Redshirt freshman Connor Wolf blitzed Illinois State, which made the FCS national title game, with a 411-yard, four-touchdown passing game in a September loss.
Those highlights showed off LaCrue’s athleticism and Wolf’s arm strength.
However, neither player surpassed 150 yards passing the rest of the season for a team that completed 57% of its passes (99th best in FCS).
Wilkerson cited the inexperience of both players throughout the season. Wolf also dealt with injuries that kept him on the sidelines.
After the season, Wolf and veteran backup Blainey Dowling both hit the transfer portal, along with freshman Brady Ford.
That leaves only LaCrue currently on the roster at QB. The Panthers likely will need at least two offseason additions to fortify the roster for spring practices.
They added one via the juco route thus far with Jazel Riley IV, who began his career at FCS Portland State before one season in the California junior college circuit, where he put up 18 total TDs last season.
What position groups need a refresh on defense?
The Panthers brought in 10 defensive linemen in the spring semester last year. After the fall campaign, they have lost nearly that many players up front via the transfer portal.
What did EIU and DL coach Carlif Taylor do?
The Panthers have quickly gone to work replenishing their roster via the transfer portal and junior college. Some intriguing new additions are defensive ends Micah Williams from the Kansas juco ranks and Leon Muller, a native of Munich, Germany, who played last season at D-II Kentucky State. In the middle, size has been a priority with the links of California juco newcomers Joey Hiner (310 pounds) and Ozzie Avila (315).
The biggest portal loss was defensive back Isaiah Houi, a huge contributor in his two seasons and ranked in the top 25 nationally in passes defended this season. He’s likely to end up on an FBS roster this offseason.
The Panthers also have holes to fill at linebacker after losing the top two tacklers – Tylan Foster (completed eligibility) and Ja’Wuan Nickson (portal departure) – who combined for 195 tackles.
Can the Panthers continue the unique special teams success?
Aaron Rice, the stage is yours.
Rice, a graduate of Naperville’s Neuqua Valley High School, has the opportunity to keep a run of three different top-notch punters over the past four years rolling along.
Rice, who will be a junior in the fall, has some experience on his side. He was an All-American punter on the 2024 NJCAA Division III national championship team at the College of DuPage.
In 2022, Eastern’s Trey Wilhoit averaged 44 yards a punt in his one season at EIU.
Australian Jacob Horvath handled the job in 2023 and 2024. His final season in Charleston before landing at FBS North Carolina via the portal featured a 44.3-yard average.
Mason Miller earned third-team All-America honors in 2025 and was named the OVC/Big South Special Teams Player of the Year thanks to his school record of 47.4 yards.
What positions on offense need a refresh?
Though three-year offensive line stalwart Nic DiSanto left via the transfer portal, leaving a key hole up front, the biggest need is at wide receiver and tight end.
Ten different players in those position groups caught a pass in 2025, but the lack of go-to players in the passing game was an issue.
Not a single player in the wide receiver or tight end group reached 30 receptions or 400 receiving yards.
The Panthers did deal with plenty of injuries on offense and inconsistency at quarterback. But these two groups need more production, plain and simple.
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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