Eastern Illinois receiver Samuel Gonzalez reeled in his first touchdown pass in a Panther uniform last weekend against Southeast Missouri (Photo by Sandy King, EIUPanthers.com)
By Dan Verdun
Eastern Illinois wide receiver Samuel Gonzalez got into the end zone eight times last season for MidAmerica Nazarene University, an NAIA school located in Olathe, Kan.
The transfer finally did the same for the Panthers in last week’s 20-10 loss to Southeast Missouri on EIU’s Homecoming.
“It was a great feeling, especially being the first one of the year. When the ball was in the air, I was like, ‘Oh yeah, that’s mine,’” he said of a leaping 18-yard grab over a defender. “It had been a long time since I’d scored a touchdown.”
It’s one of the reasons Eastern brought in the 6-foot-1, 185-pound redshirt junior transfer. Gonzalez, a first-team all-conference selection in 2025, led the Heart of America South Division in both receptions and receiving yards last season.
“Sam continues to grow. I know he has big-play potential for us,” EIU head coach Chris Wilkerson said.
After two games at home, EIU (2-6 overall, 1-2 Ohio Valley Conference) plays at UT Martin (3-5, 2-1) at 2 p.m. Saturday.
After a 55-24 loss at Western Illinois last weekend, UTM fell out of a first-place tie in the OVC standings.
Gonzalez ranks third on the team with 13 receptions while leading the Panthers with 243 yards.
“Coach Tino (Smith II, EIU’s receivers coach) reached out to me while I was in the portal,” Gonzalez said. “He’s a great coach. I could tell that he could develop me. That’s the biggest thing in college football nowadays, a lot of coaches can recruit but don’t really know how to develop guys.”
Gonzalez said his development includes film study with Smith as well as different techniques “to attack defensive backs” in coverage.
“Those are things that I hadn’t learned at previous schools,” said the Daytona Beach, Fla., native, who began his collegiate career at Division II Valdosta State.
Gonzalez continues to develop his craft.
“I’ve always worked really hard on catching the ball, looking it in and things like that,” he said, “and I’ve worked on a my route running as well. I’m getting there with that.”
Kickoff: 2 p.m.; TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: WEIU.net/hitmix
Key matchup to watch
EIU pass game vs. UTM defensive box
Recent opponents have stacked the line to combat the Panthers’ running game led by running back Charles Kellom and quarterback Cole LaCrue.
While that duo combined for 162 rushing yards and three touchdowns in a rain-soaked Oct. 10 win at Gardner-Webb, they have been held to a combined average of 21 yards and no TDs in losses to Lindenwood and Southeast Missouri.
Eastern’s passing game must work to change the run-stopping oriented defenses.
“Those (receivers) knew going into last week, this week, every week in the OVC, they’re going to load the box. People are not going to allow you to run the football. They’re not going to give you even-number sets. They’re going to be plus-one (defenders on the line) depending on the situation and the score. You’ve got to be able to throw and catch,” Wilkerson said.
Gonzalez is well aware.
“Once they start loading the box, that opens things up a lot more for us. My job is to get open and show Cole that I’m one of the guys (to get the ball to),” he said.
What’s at stake
Eastern can even both its OVC record and its road record at .500 with a victory.
Quick hits
The number of plays run by Eastern Illinois and its opponents “has been very skewed the last three weeks,” Wilkerson said. Opponents have run 223 offensive plays compared to 153 for the Panthers. “There’s quite a few ways we can take part in our rescue,” Wilkerson said. “Our own defense’s inability to get off the field earlier and on third- and fourth-down situations. And then our ability to stay on schedule and be in more third-and-manageable situations and again, convert on third and fourth down and maintain possession of the football. It is a team thing for us right now.” … Kellom leads EIU in both rushing (515 yards, 6 TDs) and receiving (17 catches). … LaCrue (188 yards, 4 TDs) is the team’s second-leading rusher. … Eastern has gained at least one turnover in 11 consecutive games. … Three EIU defenders – cornerback Jerry Addo-Boateng, linebacker Ja’Wuan Nickson and safety Brandon Worsley – each have two interceptions, ranking them sixth among OVC leaders. … The Panthers will play on Halloween for the sixth time since becoming a Division I program in 1981. EIU is 2-3 in the previous games, four of which were played on the road.
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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