Eastern Illinois placed a total of ten players on the first and second All-OVC squads with three additional players earning All-Newcomer team honors. Six Panthers were named to the All-OVC first team with four on offense and two on defense. Four more made the second team with one offensive selection, two defensive picks and one special teams player.

 

Leading the way for Eastern Illinois were All-Americans Donald Thomas and Micah Rucker as each earned first-team All-OVC accolades once again. Anthony Rubican also became a first team honoree at offensive tackle for the second straight season while fellow offensive guard Chaz Millard was selected. Running back Ademola Adeniji rounded out the offensive first team players for EIU while Pierre Walters was a first team pick at defense end.

 

The second team included two redshirt freshmen with punter Kevin Cook and corner back Rashad Haynes being selected. Safety Ke'Andre Sams was the other defensive second team selection while senior center Drew Cairo-Gross was a second team offensive line selection.

 

Haynes and Cook both earned All-Newcomer team honors along with offensive guard Kevin Mahoney a transfer from Bowling Green.

 

“This is a great testament to the hard work this team has put in this season,” stated head coach Bob Spoo. “We had some excellent football players on this year's team which showed in our program being selected for the NCAA Tournament field. A lot of credit goes to the coaching staff as well as the young men honored.”

 

Eastern Illinois will open the 2007 playoff on Saturday at No. 4 seed Southern Illinois. Kick off is set for 1:30 p.m.

 

Conference champion Eastern Kentucky was a near sweep in the major awards. Danny Hope was the OVC Coach of the Year, Allan Holland the Offensive Player of the Year and Derrick Huff the Defensive Player of the Year. Murray State quarterback Jeff Ehrhardt was the OVC Freshman of the Year.

 

Ademola Adeniji earned first-team All-OVC honors for the first time after leading the conference in rushing yards in conference contests. He finished the season with 1,178 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. He was selected the CSN National Player of the Week after EIU's win over Samford.

 

Micah Rucker earns first-team All-OVC honors for the second straight year as one of the most dangerous wide receivers in the FCS level. He had 52 catches for 765 yards and 9 touchdowns while facing double team coverage most of the season.

Chaz Millard graded out above 90 percent on the season to earn first team All-OVC honors in his first season as a full time starter. Millard was a key on the Panthers unit that ranked fourth in the nation in least amount of sacks allowed.

 

Anthony Rubican proved what a force he is as he earned first team All-OVC honors for the second straight year to go with a second team selection as a sophomore. Rubican missed a couple of games with injury but still graded out at 96 percent on the year.

 

Pierre Walters moved up to a first team All-OVC selection after earning second team honors last season. He led EIU with three sacks while making 46 total tackles on the year with five tackles for loss.

 

Donald Thomas earned a second straight first-team All-OVC honor with 76 tackles to his credit this season despite missing one entire game and parts of two others. He was the 2006 OVC Defensive Player of the Year and this season is one of 16 finalists for the Buck Buchanan Award.

 

Drew Cairo-Gross moved over to the center position this season and earned second team All-OVC honors. He started all but two games this season and graded out at 92 percent for the year.

 

Rashad Haynes earned second team All-OVC honors after leading EIU with five interceptions. Haynes ranks 14th in the NCAA. He also has been big on special teams blocking a punt and returning a blocked kick for a touchdown. Haynes also earned All-Newcomer honors.

 

Ke'Andre Sams earned second team All-OVC accolades in his first season as a starter. Sams has 60 tackles and two interceptions this year. He has helped EIU move into first place in the OVC in total defense.

 

Kevin Cook earned second team All-OVC honors as a redshirt freshman. He ranks 4th in the NCAA with a 44.6 yards per punt average. That mark broke the school record formerly held by former NFL All-Pro Jeff Gossett. Cook had nine punts pinned inside the 20. He was also a All-Newcomer selection.

 

Kevin Mahoney was selected to the All-OVC newcomer list after transferring from Bowling Green. He started 10 games this season and was part of the offensive line unit that ranked fourth in the nation in least amount of sacks allowed.