Lessons from East Lansing: New Eastern Illinois QB grew up with 1st-hand look at Spartans

Jeremiah Salem spent the past three seasons as the backup quarterback at FBS Eastern Michigan. This spring, he will compete for the Eastern Illinois starting job. (Photo by EMUEagles.com)

By Barry Bottino

Spending 10 years of his youth in East Lansing, Mich., Jeremiah Salem – like many kids – looked up to Michigan State’s star players.

As the son of 10-year Spartans assistant coach Brad Salem, he got an up-close view of several MSU quarterbacks.

“Getting to know guys like Kirk Cousins, Connor Cook and Brian Lewerke and seeing how they did things the right way, they were role models to me and inspired me to become a football player,” Salem said. “It was super cool to be around that day in, day out. I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything.”

After four years at FBS Eastern Michigan, including the past three as the team’s backup QB, Salem said he is eager to translate the preparation skills he learned to the field.

“I was in (the film room) every single day with the starter,” he said. “We were breaking it down together. We were getting prepared together so I was ready to go if the opportunity presented itself. I know what good preparation looks like and I’m looking to implement that.”

Salem is one of 32 new players the Panthers brought in as mid-year transfers, including three quarterbacks. Eastern also added California junior college quarterbacks Payton Faker (College of the Sequoias) and Jazel Riley IV (College of the Canyons).

Salem, who has one year of eligibility remaining, will compete in EIU’s revamped quarterback room, which features lone holdover Cole LaCrue, who started seven games and finished with four passing touchdowns and a team-high seven rushing TDs in 2025.

EIU is seeking to rebound from a 3-9 season, which ended with a seven-game losing streak.

With dozens of new teammates, Salem is taking a simple approach during his first few weeks in Charleston before spring practices begin in March.

“My goal is just to learn everybody’s name on the team,’ he said. “I’ve been at one place for four years and when you come into a new place, you’ve got to meet a lot of new people. It will come easier as we spend more time together.”

Salem provides Eastern with a threat as a passer after the team finished 106^th in passing offense nationally last fall.

“I’ll keep you honest with my legs,” he said of his game, “but I’m going to excel more in the pass game, and I can make every throw on the field.”

Salem said he was able to get some details on EIU from former Panthers strength coach Jacob Hillman, who recently left Charleston for a job at FBS South Florida.

“I was with him at Eastern Michigan for two years,” Salem said. “Talking to him and just getting the real information, it seemed like a good fit. It felt like a good opportunity to come for my last year and get a chance to sling it around.”

While three new QBs highlighted the offensive additions, more than one-third of Eastern’s newcomers are defensive linemen. Of the 11 new faces, three come from FBS programs.

EIU’s Mid-Year 2026 Signing List  

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

Avila Osvaldo, DL, 6-2, 300, RS-Jr., San Diego Mesa College, Chula Vista, Calif.
Joey Hiner, DL, 6-1, 300, RS-Jr., San Diego Mesa College, Chua Vista, Calif.
Leon Muller, DE, 6-4, 245, Sr., Kentucky State U., Munich, Germany
Collin Henry, DB, 6-3, 175, RS-Soph., Chaffey College, LaVerne, Calif.
Jaxon Cummings, LS, 6-2, 215, Jr., Navarro Junior College, Chapel Hill, Texas
Christian Markum, DL, 6-0, 265, Jr., College of the Sequoias, Jacksonville, Fla.
Joel Jameson, DE, 6-7, 265, RS-Sr., Arkansas-Monticello, Walla Walla, Wash.
Abbas Clark, TE, 6-3, 245, RS-Soph., Mt. San Jacinto College, Lake Elsinore, Calif.
Micah Valenzuela, LB, 6-0, 225, RS-Soph., Riverside CC, Pacoima, Calif.
Jazel Riley IV, QB, 6-1, 210, RS-Jr., College of the Canyons, Lakewood, Colo.

Whitten Weems, TE, 6-6, 243, Jr., East Texas Baptist U., Crawford, Texas
Micah Williams, DE, 6-2, 260, RS-Soph., Dodge City CC, Jacksonville, Fla.
Dajon Doss, LB, 6-0, 220, RS-Soph., Arkansas-Monticello, Lancaster, Calif.
Jaden Jude, WR, 6-3, 200, RS-Sr., Nebraska Kearney, Athens, Ala.
Samuel Gonzalez, WR, 6-2, 185, RS-Jr., Mid-American Nazarene, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Payton Faker, QB, 6-5, 210, Soph., College of the Sequoias, Burien, Wash.
Tyren Buggs, RB, 6-2, 210, Soph., Andrew College, LaGrange, Ga.
David Trujillo, OL, 6-3, 305, Jr., Riverside CC, Ontaria, Calif.
Carmine Ficher, S, 6-1, 195, RS-Jr., Reedley College, Tulare, Calif.
Premiere Whitley, DL, 6-3, 255, Sr., Prairie View A&M, San Diego

Nasir Maryland, DB, 6-2, 195, RS-Sr., Adams State U., Riverside, Calif.
Adam Kaminski, DE, 6-7, 240, RS-Soph., Central Michigan U., Cambridge, Ontario
Aidan Flores, DT, 6-2, 275, RS-Jr., Feather River College, Sparks, Nev.
Cole Roberson, OL, 6-4, 295, RS-Jr., Jacksonville State U., River Forest, Ill.
Eli Evans, WR, 6-2, 180, Jr., Santa Rosa JC, Lacey, Wash.
Mafileo Tupou, LB, 5-11, 230, RS-Sr., Adams State U., Riverside, Calif.
Lonnie, Burt, LB, 6-0, 200, Jr., Portland State U., Portland, Ore.
Jeremiah Salem, QB, 6-3, 200, RS-Sr., Eastern Michigan U., Germantown, Tenn.
Antonie De Lau, OL, 6-7, 335, Sr., Delaware State U., Willemstad, Curacao
Erik Hehl, DL, 6-0, 260, RS Sr., U. of Massachusetts, Newport Beach, Calif.
Daniel Viramontes, DL, 6-2, 260, Central Michigan U., Anaheim, Calif.
Nephi Maiava, S, 5-8, 170, RS-Fr., Riverside City College, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

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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