Alex Herrera averaged 10.6 yards per catch last season as a redshirt junior tight end at Eastern Illinois. He had season highs of seven catches and 88 yards against No. 5 Tennessee Tech. (Photo by EIUPanthers.com)
By Barry Bottino
When the calendar flipped to 2026, former Eastern Illinois tight end Alex Herrera hit the road.
The Northern California native began his year officially entering the transfer portal and racking up frequent flyer miles.
“As soon as Jan. 2 hit, I was on the move,” he said. “I was definitely feeling a little jetlagged.”
On Jan. 5, he took off for McNeese State in Louisiana for a visit, then returned home to California. A few days later, he flew to UT Martin, then back to his home state. A third visit, to Illinois State – a mere 105 miles from Charleston — “felt like home,” he said. “I just stayed here.”
Herrera is one of five mid-year additions for the Redbirds, who added the former EIU athlete after tight ends Scotty Presson Jr. and Javon Charles completed their eligibility in 2025. The two ISU veterans played key roles in helping the Redbirds advance to the FCS national title game, a 35-34 overtime loss to Montana State.
“Going somewhere where they just competed in a national championship game was hard to pass up,” said Herrera, who spent the past two seasons at EIU after beginning his career at College of the Sequoias, a California junior college located in Visalia. “They’re one of the most explosive offenses in the country. Coming out of high school, I would’ve dreamed of playing here.”
A high school quarterback, Herrera posted career highs in 2025 for receptions (21) and receiving yards for Eastern (222). He started one game at tight end and four at slot receiver for the Panthers, whose receiving corps was decimated by injuries.
His biggest game of the season was a seven-catch, 88-yard performance against then-No. 5 Tennessee Tech in November.
Herrera said Illinois State’s continuity on the coaching staff under Brock Spack, who will be in his 18th season in 2026, was a draw, in addition to ISU having two former tight ends – Tanner Taula (Tampa Bay) and Cam Grandy (Cincinnati) – with recent NFL experience.
On his visit, Herrera watched film with tight ends coach C.J. Irvin. “They use their tight ends like an NFL tight end,” Herrera said. “If you’re not going to block, you’re not going to play. I like that a lot. Whatever they need me to do, I’m a plug-and-play guy.”
On Sept. 19, Herrera and his new team will face his old team in Normal for the annual Mid-America Classic rivalry game.
“I’m looking forward to getting to play against my guys (at Eastern),” he said. “Definitely some guys have it circled on their calendars. Some guys over there may have it circled a little more.”
Adding offense
Three of the five ISU mid-year additions are on offense, which lost some record-setting experience in departing senior quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse and senior wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz.
On Tuesday, Illinois State announced the addition of graduate transfer quarterback Gage Roy, who spent the past four seasons at the University of Southern California. A Dallas native, Roy’s only career pass came Dec. 5 against UCLA when he completed a two-point conversion throw to cap the Trojans’ 29-10 victory against the Bruins.
Another addition is wide receiver Ethan Loss, who had a career year at FCS Butler last season as a redshirt junior. His 56 receptions and 670 yards led the Bulldogs, along with his 28.6 yards per kickoff return and two return TDs. In 2024, Loss caught six of his nine career receiving touchdowns.
ISU’s Mid-Year 2025 Signing List
(Name, Position(s), Height, Weight, Year, School, Hometown)
Aden Cannon, DL, 6-6, 268, RS Senior, Indiana University, Carmel, Ind.
Key Crowell, DB, 5-11, 170, Junior, East Carolina University, Lebanon, Tenn.
Alex Herrera, TE, 6-2, 240, RS Senior, Eastern Illinois, Linden, Calif.
Ethan Loss, WR, 6-0, 190, RS Senior, Butler University, Mahtomedi, Minn.
Gage Roy, QB, 6-2, 200, RS Junior, U. of Southern California, Dallas
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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