CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois football added seven new players for the 2018 season on Wednesday as the junior college and early signing period for high school players opened. The Panthers brought in a mixture of players with four junior college signees and three high school players.
"We are excited about the young men we added to our football program today. We were able to immediately address some needs and fill some holes that were left open due to players graduating," said EIU football coach
Kim Dameron. "This class has a good mixture of both veteran junior college players and high school players. This is the first year that high school players could sign early and it says a lot about how highly we think about the three guys that signed early and what they think about our program committing today."
EIU was 6-5 last season finishing with the program's third straight winning season. The Panthers will open the 2018 season on September 1 at Arkansas.
Below are bios on the 2018 Winter Signees for EIU Football
Ryan Coleman (Defensive Line, 6-2, 260, Fairfield, Texas/Fairfield HS/Trinity Valley CC)… Played in nine games during the 2017 season at Trinity Valley CC in Athens, Texas… finished season with 27 tackles (13 solo)… recorded two sacks including one in win over Garden City CC in the CHAMPS Heart of Texas Bowl… redshirted freshman season in 2016 at Trinity Valley CC and will have three years remaining to play at Eastern Illinois… competed in football and track at Fairfield HS… set school record for track in shot put and discus…
Harry Woodbery (Quarterback, 6-2, 200, The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands HS/Navarro JC)… Played in ten games during the 2017 season at Navarro Junior College in Corsicana, Texas after redshirting 2016 season… will have three years remaining to play at Eastern Illinois… passed for 2,131 yards and 12 touchdowns during 2017 season… rushed for an additional 58 yards and one touchdown… passed for a season high 336 yards against Cisco College… earned honorable mention All-SWJCFC honors… played football at The Woodlands HS…
Matt Reyna (Wide Receiver, 5-8, 170, Kingwood Park, Texas/Kingwood Park HS/ Navarro JC)… Played two seasons at Navarro Junior College in Corsicana, Texas… earned second team All-SWJCFC as a sophomore after leading team with 34 catches for 432 yards and four touchdowns… had a season high 92 yards receiving against Trinity Valley CC… as a freshman caught five passes for 182 yards and three touchdowns… played football at Kingwood Park HS…
James Ubaike (Defensive Line, 6-4, 280, Meriden, Conn./Francis T. Maloney HS/North Dakota College of Science)… Played one year at North Dakota College of Science in Wahpeton, North Dakota… appeared in eight games making 11 tackles with five sacks during the season… added seven tackles for loss and one interception… will have three years remaining to play at Eastern Illinois… played football at Francis T. Maloney HS…
Rashawn Schandon (Offensive Line, 6-7, 330, Blue Island, Ill./Blue Island Eisenhower HS)… Played offensive tackle and guard at Eisenhower HS in Blue Island, Ill… three year starter that earned first team All-Area by the Daily Southtown as a senior… helped team post a 6-4 record advancing to the first round of the IHSA Class 6A State playoffs…
Bryce Dewberry (Safety, 5-10, 180, McDonough, Ga./Eagles Landing HS)… Three years starter at wide receiver and defensive back/safety at Eagles Landing HS in McDonough, Ga… younger brother of former EIU All-OVC safety
Bradley Dewberry… on offense had 36 receptions for 567 yards and six touchdowns as a senior… on defense had five interceptions and 73 career tackles… named first team All-Region as a senior…
Skyler Mayes (Linebacker, 6-2, 220, Paducah, Ky./McCracken County HS)… Three year starter at linebacker at McCracken County HS in Paducah, Ky… was an All-Conference selection finishing season with 79 tackles including 17 tackles for loss… helped team advance to the second round of the Kentucky Class 6A State Playoffs as a senior… during junior season helped team post a 7-4 record…
