• Preseason Releases: Team Poll, Offensive Player Watch List, Defensive Player Watch List | Media Day Recap
The countdown to the start of the 2025 season will include a look at all nine OVC-Big South Football Association teams with content from the Football Media Day event.
Eastern Illinois was picked tied for sixth in the OVC-Big South Preseason Poll this season. The Panthers open the season by hosting Dayton on Thursday, August 28.
EIU has brought in a number of transfers to the program (31) along with 15 true freshmen that will help compose the Panthers roster. The group will be led by 21 players that are led as either seniors or graduate students.
Among the returning players is graduate student Cooper Willman. He was a first team All-Conference selection last season at both wide receiver and as an all-purpose player. A year ago he set the EIU single-game record for receiving yards in a game with a 291-yard effort against Gardner-Webb on 11 catches with three touchdowns. He ended the year with 66 receptions for 955 yards and eight touchdowns. Willman served as the Panthers primary punt returner and handled kickoff returns late in the season.
BELOW VIDEOS
• Head Coach Chris Wilkerson 1-on-1 with Bob Belvin
• WR Cooper Willman
• "Get to Know" Jesse Garza