CLEVELAND – Eastern Illinois landed another preseason Top 25 ranking as Phil Steele's Football Magazine ranked the Panthers 23rd in its 2008 NCAA FCS poll. That now gives the Panthers preseason rankings in all three preseason publications.

EIU has posted 22 wins in their last 24 Ohio Valley Conference games and Phil Steele's predicts EIU to place second in this year's OVC race behind Tennessee Martin. Defending champion Eastern Kentucky was picked third followed by Jacksonville State in fourth.

The publication also predicts a preseason All-OVC team with senior defensive end Pierre Walters the preseason Defensive Player of the Year. Running back Javarris Williams of Tennessee State was the preseason Offensive Player of the Year selection.

Joining Walters on the All-OVC first team by Phil Steele were offensive guard Chaz Millard, running back Travorus Bess, defensive tackle Jeff Sobol and defensive back Ke'Andre Sams. Second team selections were offensive tackle Kevin Mahoney, corner back Rashad Haynes and punter Kevin Cook.

Phil Steele's preseason Top 25 had James Madison at No. 1 followed by three-time defending National Champion Appalachian State at No. 2. Richmond was third followed by Delaware and Massachusetts at four and five.

Eastern Washington was sixth with Youngstown State, Northern Iowa, North Dakota State and Cal Poly rounding out the Top 10. New Hampshire led teams 11 through 20 followed by Montana, Central Arkansas, McNeese State, Wofford, The Citadel, Elon, Southern Illinois, Georgia Southern and Colgate.

Tennessee Martin was 21st with Harvard 22nd, Eastern Illinois 23rd, Weber State 24th and Furman 25th.

The Panthers open the 2008 season on August 28 at Central Michigan.