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CHARLESTON, Ill. -- Eastern Illinois head football coach Kim Dameron has announced the addition of 20 new players to the Panthers program as part of the College Football National Signing Day on Wednesday afternoon. EIU added 16 high school players and four mid-year transfers to the program on Wednesday.

The Panthers brought in new additions on both sides of the football. On the offensive side of the football, Eastern Illinois added 10 new members including three players on the offensive line, three wide receivers, two running backs, and two tight ends.

Eastern Illinois stacked their defense with eight new players joining the program. The Panthers brought in two linebackers, defensive ends, and defensive linemen, as well as one safety and one defensive back.

The Panthers added a kicker and long snapper to round out their 2017 National Signing Class.

"Our coaching staff did a phenomenal job of getting out and finding prospects that fit our profile of what we were looking for that were 1.) Good football players. 2.) Good people. 3.) Good students" said Dameron. "We felt like we addressed a wide range of positions that we needed to address, and for the most part, we did it with incoming freshmen and high school athletes. That is something that was a major goal of ours this year."
 
EIU Football is set to open the 2017 season against regional rival Indiana State on Thursday, August 31 in Terre Haute.  EIU's spring practice schedule will begin on Tuesday, March 21 with the Spring Game currently scheduled for Saturday, April 22 at 12 p.m.

2017 EIU Football Class
 

HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS
Player	Pos	HT	WT		Hometown	High School
Marcus Bornslater Jr.	S	6-3	185		Crossett, Ark.	Crossett
Johari Branch	OL	6-3	295		Chicago, Ill.	Phillips
Rodarrius Brooks	RB	5-11	205		Birmingham, Ala.	Huffman
Edwyn Brown	DB	6-5	180		Belleville, Ill.	Althoff Catholic
Kylan Cole	DE	6-2	245		Zionsville, Ind.	Carmel
Deontae Curry	LB	6-0	230		Chicago, Ill.	Hinsdale South
D'Mitri George	DE	6-3	240		Lafayette, Ind.	Lafayette Central Catholic
Austin Johnson	LB	6-3	225		St. Petersburg, Fla.	St. Petersburg
Jalen Johnson	WR	6-2	180		Owasso, Okla.	Owasso
Jonathan McCoy	TE	6-8	210		Camden, Ark.	Camden Fairview
Xander Richards	WR	6-4	185		Burleson, Texas	Burleson Centennial
Mario Rodrigues	LS	6-1	220		New Lenox, Ill.	Lincoln-Way Central
Courtney Rowell	RB	6-2	185		South Bend, Ind.	St. Joseph
Jose Sanchez	OL	6-4	280		Chicago, Ill.	Westchester Saint Joseph
Matt Severino	K/P	5-10	165		Springfield, Ill.	Springfield
Ben Solomon	OL	6-2	285		Indianapolis, Ind.	Bishop Chatard
Aaron 'Tiger' Woods	DL	6-3	245		Chicago, Ill.	Hinsdale South
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MID-YEAR TRANSFERS
Player	Pos	HT	WT	YR*	Hometown	High School/Last
Alexander Hollins	WR	6-1	172	Jr	Yazoo City, Miss.	Yazoo County/Copiah-Lincoln CC
Dytarious Johnson	LB	6-1	215	Fr	Prattville, Ala.	Prattville/Alabama Prep
Ryan Ramirez	TE	6-5	250	Gr	Pomona, Calif.	Bonita/Southeastern Louisiana
Levi Watson	DL	6-5	285	R-Jr	Aurora, Colo.	Aurora Central/Itasca CC
* indicates year JC/transfers will be in fall 2017

2017 EIU Football Class Bios

Marcus Bornslater Jr. (Safety, 6-3, 185, Crossett, Ark. / Crossett HS)– Was a versatile player on offense, defense and special teams for coach Sonny Nason at Crossett HS… had 61 tackles with two interceptions and three fumble recoveries on defense… had 408 punt and kickoff return yards as a senior with two punt returns for touchdown… on offense scored four touchdowns… played in the AHSCA All-Star game as a senior…

Johari Branch (Guard, 6-3, 295, Chicago, Ill. / Phillips HS) – Played both offensive guard and defensive tackle for coach Troy McAllister at Phillips HS… helped team post an 11-2 record as a senior advancing to the IHSA Class 4A state semifinals… began high school career playing at Urban Prep…

Rodarrius Brooks (Running Back, 5-11, 205, Birmingham, Ala. / Huffman HS) – Played for coach Alex Wilson at Huffman HS in Birmingham, Ala… averaged 8.1 yards per carry as a senior… finished senior year with 1,021 all-purpose yards seeing time as a running back and return specialist in addition to catching passes out of the backfield… selected to attend this year's Blue-Grey Football All-American All-Star Game...

Edwyn Brown (Defensive Back, 6-5, 180, Belleville, Ill. / Belleville Althoff Catholic HS) – Played for coach Ken Turner at Belleville Althoff Catholic HS… two-time St. Louis All-Metro selection… had 25 tackles with six interceptions as a junior… had eight interceptions with 19 tackles as a senior… saw time at wide receiver as a senior catching 29 passes for 511 yards and ten touchdowns… led team to an 11-1 record as a senior advancing to the IHSA Class 4A quarterfinals…

Kylan Cole (Defensive End, 6-2, 245, Zionsville, Ind. / Carmel HS) – Played for coach John Herbert at Carmel HS… helped lead team to Indiana Class 6A State Championship as a senior… finished season with 48 tackles including ten tackles for loss… 

Deontae Curry (Linebacker, 6-0, 230, Chicago, Ill. / Hinsdale South HS) - Played for coach Mike Barry at Hinsdale South HS... named West Suburban Gold Defensive Player of the Year and All-County selection as a senior... earned Class 6A honorable mention All-State honors... finished senior season with 91 tackles, 20 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries... 

D'Mitri George (Defensive End, 6-3, 240, Lafayette, Ind. / Lafayette Central Catholic HS) – Played for coach Kevin O'Shea at Lafeyette Central Catholic HS… recorded 77 tackles with 51 solo stops as a senior including 18 tackles for loss, three sacks and two blocked field goals… as a junior helped lead team to Indiana Class 1A State Championship making 104 tackles with 19 tackles for loss and nine sacks… named first team All-State as a senior…

Austin Johnson (Linebacker, 6-3, 225, St. Petersburg, Fla. / St. Petersburg HS) – Played for coach Joe Fabrizio at St. Petersburg HS… as a senior recorded 116 tackles with 81 solo stops… had 12 tackles for loss, two sacks, one interception and two pass break-ups… returned interception for a touchdown… during junior season finished with 77 tackles including four tackles for loss… as a senior helped team post an 8-3 record advancing to the Florida Class 7A State Playoffs… selected to play in the Blue-Grey All-American All-Star game as a senior… earned third team All-State as a senior…

Jalen Johnson (Wide Receiver, 6-2, 180, Owasso, Okla. / Owasso HS) – Played for coach Bill Patterson at Owasso HS… earned first team All-District 6AI-2 honors, the highest level in the state… had seven touchdown receptions as a senior after hauling in four touchdowns during junior year… averaged 12.3 yards per reception as a junior increasing that average to 18.1 yards per reception as a senior with seven catches over 40 yards…

Jonathan McCoy (Tight End, 6-8, 210, Camden, Ark. / Camden Fairview HS) – Played for coach Jake Monden at Camden Fairview HS earning All-State and All-Conference honors as a senior… caught 22 passes for 410 yards and one touchdown… had two 100-yard receiving games as a senior with a high of 109 yards against Hot Springs Lakeside HS… as a junior caught 12 passes for 214 yards and four touchdowns…

Xander Richards (Wide Receiver, 6-4, 185, Burleson, Texas / Burleson Centennial HS) – Played for coach Kyle Geller at Burleson Centennial HS… helped team advance to the second round of the Texas State playoffs 5A, D2… earned first team All-County honors as a senior… was leading receiver on a primary rushing team finishing season with 22 catches for 355 yards and six touchdowns…
 
Mario Rodrigues (Long Snapper, 6-1, 220, New Lenox, Ill. / Lincoln-Way Central HS) – Played offensive line and long snapper for coach Jeremy Cordell at Lincoln-Way Central HS… helped lead team to a 7-4 record, advancing to the second round of the IHSA Class 7A state playoffs… had solid camp at Rubio Long Snapping Camp in Illinois… blocked as part of an offensive line that rushed for over 200 yards per game…

Courtney Rowell (Running Back, 6-2, 185, South Bend, Ind. / St. Joseph HS) – Played for coach Bryon Whitten at St. Joseph HS in South Bend, Ind… rushed for 794 yards with four touchdowns as a senior averaging 7.6 yards per carry… versatile back that caught 19 passes for 243 yards and two touchdowns while racking up 333 kick return yards… rushed for 452 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior… earned first team All-Northern Indiana Conference North honors as a senior as an all-purpose back…

Jose Sanchez (Offensive Line, 6-4, 280, Chicago, Ill. / Westchester Saint Joseph HS) – Played both offensive tackle and defensive tackle for coach Richard Petroski at Westchester Saint Joseph HS… helped lead team to first IHSA playoff appearance in school history as the team finished with a 7-3 record… can play guard or center at the collegiate level…

Matt Severino (Kicker/Punter, 5-10, 165, Springfield, Ill. / Springfield HS) – Played for coach Roy Gully at Springfield HS… averaged 45.6 yards per kickoff with eight touchbacks… averaged 34.3 yards per punt during high school career with a long punt of 53 yards during junior season… was 5-of-8 on field goals with a long of 43 yards… made 56-of-59 extra point attempts during junior and senior seasons…

Ben Solomon (Offensive Line, 6-2, 285, Indianapolis, Ind. / Bishop Chatard HS) – Played offensive line for coach Vince Lorenzano at Bishop Chatard HS in Indianapolis… earned Class 3A All-State honors and Region 7 Indiana All-Star honors… earned first team All-Circle City Conference honors… helped lead team to Indiana State Championship as a junior, team lost in the state sectional finals during senior season… 
 
Aaron 'Tiger' Woods (Defensive Line, 6-3, 245, Chicago, Ill. / Hinsdale South HS) – Played for coach Mike Barry at Hinsdale HS… registered 34 tackles as a senior with 13 solo stops… had 5.5 sacks for the season… earned second team All-West Suburban Conference Gold Division honors… 

2017 Football Mid-Year Transfers

Alexander Hollins (Wide Receiver, 6-1, 172, Yazoo City, Miss. / Yazoo County HS / Copiah-Lincoln CC) – Played last season at Copiah-Lincoln CC in Wesson, Mississippi… helped lead the team to a 7-2 record catching 11 passes for 214 yards and three touchdowns… also saw time as a kickoff returner averaging 22.3 yards per return on 13 kickoff return attempts… from Yazoo City, Miss., and attended Yazoo County High School...  as a senior caught 64 passes for 1,346 yards and 15 touchdowns… during junior season hauled in 33 passes for 680 yards and 15 touchdowns… earned Mississippi Class 4A All-State honors as a senior…

Dytarious Johnson (Linebacker, 6-1, 215, Prattville, Ala. / Prattville HS / Alabama Prep) – Played at Alabama Prep in Birmingham, Ala., last fall… was a 3-star linebacker at Prattville High School earning first team Alabama Class 7A All-State honors as a senior… finished senior season with 64 tackles, three sacks, four tackles for loss and four pass break-ups…  as a junior helped lead Prattville HS to a Class 7A State Runner-Up finish making 82 tackles with one interception, one fumble recovery and four pass break-ups…

Ryan Ramirez (Tight End, 6-5, 250, Pomona, Calif. / Bonita HS / Southeastern Louisiana) - Played at Southeastern Louisiana in Hammond, Louisiana… appeared in 10 games during his career at Southeastern Louisiana… previously attended Riverside City College prior to playing at Southeastern Louisiana… totaled 82 yards on six receptions and one score at Riverside City College… earned Hacienda All-League honors as a defensive lineman while at Bonita High School…  

Levi Watson (Defensive Lineman, 6-5, 285, Aurora, Colo. / Aurora Central HS / Itasca CC)  - Played two seasons at Itasca CC in Grand Rapids, Minnesota... earned second team All-Minnesota College Athletic Conference honors as a sophomore with 35 tackles including 18 solo stops...  added 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and one pass break-up...  as a freshman registered 33 tackles with six tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks...  did not play during the 2016 season using redshirt season...  from Aurora, Colorado where he played at Aurora Central High School...  during final two years as a starter collected 72 tackles with 17 sacks and three forced fumbles...  in addition lined up at tight end hauling in 13 passes for 224 yards and four touchdowns as a senior…