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NASHVILLE - Eastern Illinois football had seven players recognized with preseason honors as the Ohio Valley Conference held its 2022 Football Kickoff Media Day in Nashville.

Representing EIU at the in-person event were preseason All-OVC selections Isaiah Hill and Jordan Miles along with first year head coach Chris Wilkerson

Hill and Miles were joined on the preseason All-OVC team by Tim Varga, Jordan Vincent, Russell Dandy and Jay Vallie.  Transfer linebacker Foday Jalloh was listed as one of the league's top newcomers.

In addition to the All-OVC preseason team, the league released its predicted order of finish with the Panthers selected to finish sixth.  Defending league champion UT Martin was picked first followed by Southeast Missouri, Murray State, Tennessee State and Tennessee Tech.  Following EIU in sixth was league newcomer Lindenwood in seventh.

EIU opens the season on Thursday, Sept. 1 at Northern Illinois.  The home opener is Sept. 10 against Chattanooga.  Season ticket renewals and sales are currently underway online at www.eiupanthers.com/FBTickets or by phone at 217-581-2106.  The OVC opener for EIU will be on the road on Sept. 24 at Murray State.   

Hill was a  preseason All-OVC selection at wide receiver after earning second team All-OVC honors last year despite missing a large portion of the season with an injury.  He would show his all-conference ability over the final three games of the season racking up three straight double digit catch performance with more than 100 yards in each game.  Hill ended the year with 39 catches for 493 yards passing the 1,000 yard receiving mark for his career.  Hill had two touchdown receptions and one rushing touchdown during the season.

Miles was a preseason All-OVC selection after he tied for the team lead in tackles for loss last season earning second team All-OVC honors.  Miles had 11 tackles for loss joining teammate Colin Bohanek as the co-OVC leaders in that category for the season.  Miles would finish the year with 38 total tackles and was named the OVC Defensive Player of the Week following his performance in EIU's win over Tennessee Tech.

Varga was a preseason All-OVC selection after he was a second team All-OVC selection at defensive tackle last year after ranking fourth on the team with 46 tackles.  He would tie for the team lead in sacks with four while posting six tackles for loss during the season.  Varga added nine quarterback hurries and was named an Academic All-District selection.

Vincent was a preseason All-OVC selection in the secondary after earning second team All-OVC honors at safety as the two-year starter was third on the team with 60 tackles during the season.  He would rank second on the team with 46 solo stops adding three pass break-ups and one fumble recovery. 

Dandy was a preseason All-OVC selection at defensive back after earning All-OVC Newcomer team honors last season as one of 11 players selected to the All-Newcomer team.  The junior college transfer finished the season with 31 tackles including two interceptions.  He was named the OVC Defensive Player of the Week in early October following the Panthers game at Murray State where he forced all three Racer turnovers in the game.

Vallie was listed as a preseason All-OVC selection at tight end.  He missed the 2021 season due to injury.  In the spring of 2021 he played in all six games leading EIU with 18 catches for 190 yards.  His three touchdown receptions ranked ninth in the OVC.  Vallie played his undergraduate football at Dayton transferring to EIU as a graduate student in 2020.

Jalloh is a transfer linebacker from Central Connecticut State where he was a second team All-Northeast Conference selection in 2019.  CCSU did not play during the COVID shortened 2020 season and Jalloh was injured a majority of the 2021 season.  Jalloh was recently named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 list.