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Video Clips of 2018 EIU Football Class   |   Coach Dameron Video Interview On 2018 Class

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois head coach Kim Dameron announced the Panther Football 2018 Signing Class on Wednesday afternoon as the National Signing Day for football took place.  Dameron and the Panthers signed eight players in the spring after adding a four-year transfer at the winter break and signing seven players during the early signing period in December. 

"I'm really proud of the class our staff put together for this upcoming season," said Dameron. "We were able to go out and fill some needs we had.  Our staff worked extremely hard and I want to thank them and the Athletic Administration for the work they put into this class."

One area the Panthers added in was at the quarterback position.  EIU has two returning quarterbacks on the roster but signed three during the two recent signing periods. 

"Last season we had one game where we were down to just one healthy quarterback.  I don't want to ever be in that boat again.  We wanted depth at that position and with the new offense that we are installing all five quarterbacks will get reps in practice and be able to compete."

The Panthers signed seven players including three high school players during the December signing period.  Those players are listed below with the four junior college transfers currently on campus as part of the EIU program.
Eastern Illinois posted a 6-5 record last season as the Panthers posted a winning season for the third straight year and fifth time in the last six seasons.  Former EIU linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill was a special teams starter this past weekend for the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles.
 
EIU Football is set to open the 2018 season against at Arkansas on Saturday, September 1.  It will mark the first time that the Panthers have faced a program in the Southeastern Conference.  It will also be a homecoming for current EIU head coach Kim Dameron who played at Arkansas in the early 1980's.   EIU's spring practice schedule will begin in late March with the Spring Game currently scheduled for Saturday, April 21 at O'Brien Field


2018 EIU Football Class

2018 EIU Football Class Bios
 

DeWayne Cooks Jr. (WR, 6-2, 170, Tulsa, Okla./Booker T. Washington HS) – Played for coach Brad Calip at Booker T. Washington HS in Tulsa… helped lead team to Oklahoma Class 6A State Championship as a senior ending year with a 12-1 record… caught 41 passes for 883 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior… had three games over 100-yards receiving with a high of 175 yards and four touchdowns against Bartlesville HS… added 194 yards rushing including a 100-yard rushing game against Sapula HS… named honorable mention All-State as a senior…

Josh Delgado (K, 5-11, 200, Duncanville, Texas/Duncanville HS) – Played for coach Reginald Samples at Duncanville HS… named first team All-District kicker as a senior… named top kicker at Wisconsin Football Summer Camp in 2017… as a senior was 68-of-70 on extra point attempts as team went 11-1… connected for eight field goals with a long of 44 yards…

Qua Gray (QB, 6-2, 190, Lubbock, Texas/Coronado HS) – Played for coach Seth Parr at Coronado HS… passed for 4,607 yards with 60 touchdowns and only eight interceptions as a senior leading school to first Texas Class 5A D1 State playoff quarterfinal appearance… team finished season at 13-1… named District 4-5A Player of the Year… second team Class 5A All-State… passed for 3,867 yards and 49 touchdowns with eight interceptions as a junior… passed for 2,209 yards with 16 touchdowns as a sophomore… finished prep career ranked 12^th all-time in Texas Football history for passing yards with 10,683…
 
Zavion Moore (DL, 6-1, 255, Little Rock, Ark./North Little Rock HS) – Played for coach Jamie Mitchell at North Little Rock HS… helped lead team to 13-0 record winning Arkansas Class 7A state championship… team was rated No. 7 in the nation by MaxPreps.com... defense allowed just 17.8 points per game for the season… named first team Arkansas Class 7A All-State…

Charles Shelton IV (CB, 5-11, 160, Maryland Heights, Mo./Pattonville HS) – Played wide receiver and corner back at Pattonville HS in the St. Louis Metro Area… helped team post a 10-4-1 record as they lost by one point in the Missouri Class 5A State Championship game... had 46 catches for 895 yards and 13 touchdowns on offense… ranked 13^th in the St. Louis Metro Area in receiving yards… on defense made 57 tackles with three interceptions… added two special teams touchdowns on kick/punt returns… named first team Missouri Class 5A All-State and St. Louis All-Metro…

Eliki Tanuvasa (OL, 6-2, 285, Honolulu, Haw./St. Louis Prep) – Played for coach Cal Lee at St. Louis Prep in Honolulu… helped team finish season with a 10-0 record including a No. 19 national ranking by USA Today… earned first team All-State honors as a senior… named second team All-State as a junior… helped lead team to back-to-back Hawai'i state football championships… selected to play in the Polynesian Bowl as a senior… former teammate of current EIU offensive lineman Aaron Miller and same school attended by four-year starter at offensive line Louis Vailopa…

Darius Waddell (SAF, 6-0, 170, Sherwood, Ark./Sylvan HS) – Played for coach Jim Withrow at Sylvan HS… helped team post a 6-5 record as a senior advancing to the first round of the Arkansas Class 5A state playoffs… named first team Arkansas Class 5A All-State as a senior and first team All-Conference… played for USA National Select Team following senior season…  had eight interceptions during senior season including one returned 106 yards for a touchdown… ranked #28 player in Arkansas…

Bryce Walker (TE, 6-4, 215, Duncanville, Texas/Duncanville HS) – Played for coach Reginald Samples at Duncanville HS helping team post an 11-1 record… was primarily a blocking a tight end for a run oriented offense… caught five passes for the season with two touchdowns including a long TD reception of 63 yards… named first team All-District at tight end…


2018 Football Mid-Year Transfers

Johnathan Brantley (QB, 6-1, 195, Jr., Houston, Texas/CE King HS/Tulane Univ.) – Played two seasons at Tulane University and will be a junior at EIU during 2018 season… played in six games during the 2017 season with a start at Oklahoma… was 10-of-17 passing for 101 yards and one interception… rushed for 193 yards and three touchdowns… playing in eight games with two starts in 2016 starting against UL Lafayette and Navy… was 8-of-21 for 51 yards… rushed for 202 yards… played HS football at C.E. King HS in Houston… passed for 5,539 yards and 55 touchdowns while rushing for 2,159 yards and 32 touchdowns during prep career… during senior season threw for 2,147 yards and 20 touchdowns with just three interceptions as team went 9-3… added 844 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground.


2018 Football December Signing Class (Junior College & High School Players)

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…