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Eastern Illinois Athletics wrapped up its 20th year as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference in May.  As a way to celebrate the many accomplishments, both team and individual during that time period, EIU conducted an online poll during the month of May for fans to help select the Top 20 athletes of the Panthers OVC Era.  During the month of June we will unveil the top 20 athletes as selected by the more than 2,500 fan votes submitted.  The original list of 40 athletes was comprised by a committee looking at a variety of criteria including Player of the Year, All-American selection and multiple time first-team All-OVC honors.  
 
#2 Jimmy Garoppolo (2010-13)
 
Garoppolo shattered Eastern Illinois and Ohio Valley Conference passing records with his lighting fast release during a four-year career as the starting quarterback with the Panthers.  Inserted as the starting quarterback as a true freshman in 2010, Garoppolo would earn OVC All-Newcomer team honors that season.  As a junior he led the Panthers to the OVC regular season championship and a spot in the NCAA FCS playoffs finishing tenth in the voting for the Walter Payton Award.   He opened eyes around the nation in the 2013 season opener as the Panthers beat FBS member San Diego State 40-19.   That performance was a pre-cursor for Garoppolo's senior season that finished with him winning the Walter Payton Award, FCSADA Player of the Year Award, OVC Player of the Year and OVC Overall Male Athlete of the Year honors.  He was a consensus first team All-American leading the Panthers to a number two national ranking during the regular season and the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs.   Garoppolo set the single season and career records for both the OVC and EIU in total offense (5,122 season / 13,089 career), passing yards (5,050 season / 13,156 career), completions (375 season / 1,047 career) and touchdowns (53 season / 118 career).   He ranks in the NCAA FCS top ten for single season and career success in touchdowns (4th season / 10th career), passing yards (2nd season / 7th career) and total offense (4th season / 7th career).
 
Garoppolo was a second round draft pick of the New England Patriots in the 2014 NFL Draft and went on to win a Super Bowl as a member of the team in his rookie year.  He is currently set to enter this third NFL season with the Patriots in 2016. 

EIU OVC Era Top 20 Countdown
#20 - Meleah Cutler (Volleyball / 1996-99)
#19 - Sean Lyons (Baseball / 1996-99)
#18 – Rick Kaye (Men's Basketball / 1995-98)
#17 – Jade Riebold (W Track / 2012-14)
#16 – Rachel Galligan (W Basketball / 2006-09)
#15 – Cara LeMaster (W Soccer / 1999-02)
#14 – Erica Gerth (Volleyball / 2001-04)
#13 – Kandace Arnold (W Track / 2007-10)
#12 – Reynae Hutchinson (Volleyball & Softball / 2010-14)
#11 – Erik Lora (Football / 2009-13)
#10 – Amber May (Softball / 2009-11)
#9 – Beth Liesen (W Soccer / 2000-03)
#8 – Mick Viken (M Track & Field / 2011-14)
#7 – J.R. Taylor (Football / 1999-2002)
#6 – Zye Boey (M Track & Field / 2009-12)
#5 – Kyle Hill (M Basketball / 1998-01)
#4 - Kyle O'Brien (M Cross Country and Track / 2001-03)
---   EIU Success In the OVC (1997-2016)
---   OVC Era Top 20 Honorable Mention
#3 - Henry Domercant (M Basketball / 2000-03)

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