Eastern Illinois redshirt sophomore linebacker Micah Valenzuela has returned to the field after a fractured wrist sidelined him earlier this season. (Photo by Bill Biggs)
By Dan Verdun
Eastern Illinois outside linebacker Micah Valenzuela isn’t about to take football for granted. That’s especially true after being sidelined with a fractured right wrist.
“I’ve been playing this game since I was 10 years old,” Valenzuela said. “One of my favorite players that I watched growing up was J.J. Watt. Seeing the fire and passion he played with was instilled in me when I was young.”
That fire and passion continued along the California native’s journey through a state high school championship game to his early collegiate career at non-scholarship University of San Diego to his breakout season at Riverside City College.
While at Riverside, he met future EIU teammates Ja’Waun Nickson and Saipeti Maiava Jr., both of whom were instrumental in bringing him to Charleston.
Valenzuela arrived at EIU after setting the Riverside single-season record with 111 tackles.
“He’s a great addition to our football program and to our campus,” Wilkerson said. “Micah is a great competitor. He just has a great energy and attitude about himself.”
The 6-foot, 225-pound Valenzuela was slowed by the fractured wrist, missing three games this season. Upon his return, he played briefly with a cast.
“He had to wear a big club on his hand, and as an outside linebacker that can sometimes be a real challenge to play with only one hand,” Wilkerson said.
“I could still do everything with the cast except catch the ball,” Valenzuela said.
The redshirt sophomore said he gets “joy with every snap, every game, every practice, every meeting” because “of how easy this game can be taken away at any moment.”
“Being injured made me even more aware of that,” he said.
While he has registered 28 tackles this season, Wilkerson said Valenzuela’s contributions go beyond sheet statistics.
“He gave us everything that he could while he had the cast on and continues to do so now,” Wilkerson said.
Valenzuela registered a season-high seven tackles last week against rival Western Illinois.
EIU (3-7 overall, 2-3 Ohio Valley Conference) travels to Nashville to face Tennessee State (2-8, 0-5) Saturday in a league game.
Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.; TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: WEIU.net/hitmix
Key matchup to watch
EIU offensive line vs. TSU defensive end Jaylon Price
This season, Eastern has allowed 16 sacks. That total is down significantly from a year ago when EIU surrendered 37 sacks. Meanwhile, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Price leads the OVC with 8.5 sacks in 10 games.
What’s at stake
An Eastern victory gives the Panthers a winning record on the road for the first time since 2023.
Quick hits
While EIU has a 3-3 road record this fall, the Panthers are winless (0-4) at home. Eastern hosts Charleston Southern at O’Brien Field Nov. 21 in the season finale. … Panther quarterback Cole LaCrue leads the OVC with 14 touchdown passes. … EIU running back Charles Kellom ranks fourth among OVC rushing leaders. Kellom has run for 596 yards in 10 games. Kellom is sixth in the league with 753 all-purpose yards. … Linebackers Ja’Wuan Nickson (72) and Lonnie Burt (69) rank fifth and eighth, respectively, among OVC tackles leaders. … Saturday’s game matches the two teams ranked at the bottom of scoring offense in the conference. EIU averages 20.2 points per game; TSU averages 15.4. … Tennessee State plays its home games at Nissan Stadium, home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans. “It’s a great opportunity for (EIU players) to play in a world-class environment,” Wilkerson said. He also noted that there are some logistical adjustments to playing in a pro stadium. “The field markings are a little bit different. The numbers are obviously where the NFL numbers and hashes are. They do put temporary markers. The logos that we’re used to in the collegiate game and use for landmarks on offense and defense and special teams are where the NFL logos are. You have to be really mindful of focusing on your job and understanding exactly where the markers are on the field.”
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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