Eastern Illinois football wrapped up the 2023 regular season on Saturday winning their fourth straight game to finish at 8-3 on the season.
On Monday, the Panthers were ranked in the final regular season AFCA FCS Coaches Top 25 poll with head coach
Chris Wilkerson named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award and running back
MJ Flowers a finalist for the Jerry Rice FCS Freshman of the Year Award.
On Tuesday, the honors continued to pour in for the Panthers with Wilkerson and Flowers both winning top Big South-OVC Football Association honors with a total of ten players earning first or second team All-Conference honors. In addition offensive lineman
Chad Strickland was named to the conference's All-Academic Team.
Earning first team All-Big South-OVC honors were running back
MJ Flowers, wide receiver
Eli Mirza, offensive lineman
Chad Strickland, linebacker
Elijawah Tolbert, safety
Blake Ruffin and corner
Russell Dandy.
The Panthers had four second team selections in quarterback
Pierce Holley, wide receiver
Justin Thomas, offensive lineman
Sebastian Pares and defensive lineman
Joel Barrows.
Wilkerson was named the Big South-OVC Coach of the Year.
Flowers was named the Big South-OVC Offensive Freshman of the Year.
Strickland was named the Big South-OVC All-Academic Team.
FULL RELEASE AND ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS
The inaugural Big South-OVC Football Association All-Conference and Annual Award winners have been announced following the conclusion of the regular season. The awards were voted on by head coaches and communications directors.
Bryant junior quarterback
Zevi Eckhaus was voted the Offensive Player of the Year while Tennessee State senior defensive lineman
Terrell Allen claimed Defensive Player of the Year honors. Eastern Illinois second-year coach
Chris Wilkerson earned the Coach of the Year award while his running back
MJ Flowers, picked up Offensive Freshman of the Year honors. Tennessee State defensive lineman
Eriq George and Robert Morris cornerback
Jermarian Jackson shared Defensive Freshman of the Year honors, while UT Martin sophomore punter/kicker
Aidan Laros was voted the Special Teams Player of Year. Additionally, Gardner-Webb graduate student linebacker
William McRainey was tabbed the Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
The Association also announced the Big South-OVC first and second teams which honored 71 players. UT Martin led the way with 13 selections across the two teams while Bryant, Eastern Illinois and Gardner-Webb had 10 selections apiece. An All-Academic Team, including one honoree from each of the 10 Association members, was also announced.
Eckhaus, a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, was a catalyst in leading Bryant to a winning season in 2023. The junior ranked third nationally in total offense (296.4 yards/game) and passing touchdowns (28), eighth in points responsible for/game (16.2), ninth in passing yards (2,907), 12th in passing yards/game (264.3), 13th in completions/game (21.64) and 22nd in passing efficiency (147.9). He finished the season with four-straight 300-plus yard passing games, including Association single-game records of 394 yards and six touchdowns against Southeast Missouri than earned him National Player of the Week honors. Overall Eckhaus tossed 22 of his 28 touchdown passes in league play. He tied the Bryant single-game (6) and single-season record for touchdowns (28) and established the Bulldogs record for career touchdown passes (75).
Allen, a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, led the FCS in sacks (1.32/game) and tackles for loss (2.5/game) during the season and ranked second nationally in forced fumbles (0.45/game). Overall the senior tallied 28.0 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks in 11 games while also adding 65 tackles (44 solo), 10 quarterback hurries, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery. He led Tennessee State to its first winning season since 2017 and keyed a defense that was second in the Association in total defense (333.82 yards allowed per game) and third in scoring defense (24.7 points allowed per game). His best game of the season came against Lindenwood where he made 10 tackles, including an Association-record 6.5 for loss, and had 4.5 sacks while also forcing two fumbles in a 43-20 win. During a four-game stretch from Weeks 7-10, Allen recorded 18.5 TFL and 11.5 quarterback takedowns.
In his first year with the UT Martin program, Laros led the FCS in punting by averaging 47.2 yards per attempt. That also established a program record (breaking the previous mark of 43.62 yards per punt). Overall, he punted 51 times with a long punt of 71 yards – one of three 70-yard punts this season, and averaged more than 50.0 yards per punt in four games. A total of 18 of his punts were 50 yards or longer, 16 were downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line and he had just seven touchbacks. Laros also handled kicking duties for the Big South-OVC Co-Champion Skyhawks, making 10-of-16 field goals (with a long of 43) and converting 43-of-45 point after attempts for 73 total points. He ranked sixth in the Association in scoring (6.67 points/game).
Flowers, a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, was a big part of Eastern Illinois improving from 2-9 a year ago to 8-3 this season. He carried the ball 157 times for 854 yards (5.4 yards per carry), which was second nationally among all freshmen (only three yards behind the leader) and third-most in the conference. He also scored eight rushing touchdowns, which was fourth among Big South-OVC players. Flowers added 35 receptions, which was tied for fourth on the EIU team and just outside the Top 10 overall in the Association. His 1,046 all-purpose yards on the season was also second-most nationally among all freshmen. He had a monster game in a victory at McNeese, rushing for 272 yards and adding sixth catches for 26 yards; that performance earned him National Freshman of the Week honors. He also had 201 rushing yards and four touchdowns in a victory over Tennessee State. Flowers was the only freshman nationally with a pair of 200-yard rushing games in 2023.
George, who is playing for his father Eddie George at TSU, recorded 25 tackles (13 solo), 6.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, four quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery in nine games. He opened his collegiate career with four solo tackles against nationally-ranked FBS foe Notre Dame. In a victory over Kennesaw State, he tied a season-high with five stops while making 1.5 sacks against the Owls.
Jackson played in 11 games for Robert Morris, making 40 tackles (33 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss, five pass breakups and forced a fumble. The cornerback had a season-high six tackles in a victory over Charleston Southern and added five stops three other times (vs. Howard, Tennessee Tech and Eastern Illinois). His played helped Robert Morris to its first Conference win since 2021 and first road victory since 2019, and the Colonials finished with four more victories than a season ago.
In the second year at his alma mater, Wilkerson, a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, took a team that finished 2-9 a year ago and guided them to an 8-3 overall record and 4-2 Big South-OVC mark. The Panthers won their final four games of the regular season to jump to No. 24 in the AFCA Coaches Top 25 poll (the first time the team finished the year ranked nationally since 2015). The team recorded its first winning season since 2017 and hit the eight-win plateau for the first time since 2013 (when the team won 12 games and advanced to the FCS Quarterfinals). Overall, the eight victories were as many wins as the program had in the five previous years combined. EIU went 4-0 against non-conference FCS opponents -- including a 14-13 victory over then-No. 25 Illinois State in Week 3 -- and ranked second nationally in turnover margin (+1.36/game) and 18th in scoring defense (19.7 points/game allowed).
McRainey graduated with a Bachelor of Sciences in Economics & Finance in July 2023 with a 3.55 G.P.A. and is currently holds a 4.00 G.P.A. while working on his Masters of Business Administration (MBA). The linebacker was one of 39 semifinalists this season for the William V. Campbell Trophy. He is also active on campus and in the community, helping with various community service projects. On the field, McRainey is a captain for the Runnin' Bulldogs team that won a share of the Big South-OVC Championship and earned a bid to the FCS Playoffs. He finished the regular-season with 90 tackles and third in the league with 8.18 stops per game.
2023 BIG SOUTH-OVC FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION ALL-CONFERENCE TEAMS AND ANNUAL AWARD WINNERS
FIRST-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
OFFENSE
QB Zevi Eckhaus, Jr., Bryant
RB Sam Franklin, R-Soph., UT Martin
RB Geno Hess, Gr., Southeast Missouri
RB
MJ Flowers, R-Fr., Eastern Illinois
WR Ryan Flournoy, Sr., Southeast Missouri
WR Noah Robinson, R-Jr., Robert Morris
WR Jeff Caldwell, Soph., Lindenwood
WR
Eli Mirza, Jr., Eastern Illinois
TE Chaese Jackson, Gr., Robert Morris
OL Gavin Olson, Gr., UT Martin
OL Zack Gieg, Jr., Southeast Missouri
OL
Chad Strickland, Gr., Eastern Illinois
OL Lamar Morgan, Sr., UT Martin
OL Drake Carroll, Gr., UT Martin
OL Ahmad Assad, Sr., Bryant
DEFENSE
DL Terrell Allen, Sr., Tennessee State
DL Daylan Dotson, Jr., UT Martin
DL Daniel Rickert, Jr., Tennessee Tech
DL Ty French, Sr., Gardner-Webb
DL Kenny Dyson, Sr., Bryant
LB Bryce Norman, Jr., Southeast Missouri
LB William McRainey, Gr., Gardner-Webb
LB Monroe Beard III, Jr., Tennessee State
LB
Elijawah Tolbert, Jr., Eastern Illinois
LB Malik Barnes, Sr., Charleston Southern
DB
Blake Ruffin, R-Soph., Eastern Illinois
DB Tim Coutras, Jr., Tennessee Tech
DB Oshae Baker, Jr., UT Martin
DB
Russell Dandy, Gr., Eastern Illinois
DB Ja'Kai Young, R-Soph., Gardner-Webb
SPECIALISTS
PK James Lowery, R-Jr., Tennessee State
P Aidan Laros, R-Soph., UT Martin
LS AJ Covan, Gr., Gardner-Webb
KR Spencer Redd, Sr., Lindenwood
PR Dalyn McDonald, Sr., Southeast Missouri
AP Jayden Brown, Soph., Gardner-Webb
SECOND-TEAM ALL-CONFERENCE
OFFENSE
QB
Pierce Holley, Gr., Eastern Illinois
RB Narii Gaither, Sr., Gardner-Webb
RB Jordan Gant, R-Fr., Tennessee State
RB TJ Ruff, Soph., Charleston Southern
WR Matt Prochaska, Sr., Bryant
WR Anthony Frederick, Sr., Bryant
WR DeVonte Tanksley, R-Jr., UT Martin
WR
Justin Thomas, Gr., Eastern Illinois
TE Konor Lathrop, Sr., Bryant
OL Gabriel Thompson, R-Sr., Gardner-Webb
OL Jamichael Watts, Sr., Bryant
OL Darius Meeks, Soph., Charleston Southern
OL
Sebastian Pares, Jr., Eastern Illinois
OL Vance Van Every, Jr., UT Martin
OL JaQuan Adams, R-Fr., Gardner-Webb
DEFENSE
DL Giovanni Davis, Jr., UT Martin
DL Michael Otty, Soph., Bryant
DL Kobe McClendon, Soph., Lindenwood
DL
Joel Barrows, R-Jr., Eastern Illinois
DL Hudson Tucker, Sr., Tennessee Tech
LB Jaylon Sharpe, R-Jr., UT Martin
LB Jacquez McGowan, Soph., Tennessee Tech
LB Aaron Swafford, Jr., Tennessee Tech
LB Ethan Stuhlsatz, Soph., Lindenwood
LB Brendan Jackson, Jr., Gardner-Webb
DB Lawrence Johnson, Gr., Southeast Missouri
DB Lake Ellis, Sr., Bryant
DB Jamari Brown, Gr., Gardner-Webb
DB JaMichael McGoy, R-Soph., UT Martin
DB Jeremiah Josephs, Gr., Tennessee State
SPECIALISTS
PK DC Pippin, Sr., Southeast Missouri
P Jackson Foster, Jr., Tennessee State
LS Carson Buchanan, Jr., Tennessee State
KR Narkel LeFlore, Jr., UT Martin
AP Anthony Frederick, Sr., Bryant
ALL-ACADEMIC TEAM
Darnel Shillingford, DL, Gr., Bryant
Jacob Tylski, OL, Gr., Charleston Southern
Chad Strickland, OL, Gr., Eastern Illinois
William McRainey, LB, Gr., Gardner-Webb
Gareth Warren, OL, Jr., Lindenwood
Luke Beltavski, OL, Jr., Robert Morris
Paxton DeLaurent, QB, Jr., Southeast Missouri
Deveon Bryant, QB, Gr., Tennessee State
Hayden Olsen, K, Sr., Tennessee Tech
Gavin Olson, OL, Sr., UT Martin
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Zevi Eckhaus, QB, Jr., Bryant
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Terrell Allen, DL, Sr., Tennessee State
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Aidan Laros, PK/P, R-Soph, UT Martin
OFFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
MJ Flowers, RB, R-Fr., Eastern Illinois
CO-DEFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Eriq George, DL, Fr., Tennessee State
Jermarian Jackson, DB, R-Fr., Robert Morris
COACH OF THE YEAR
Chris Wilkerson, Eastern Illinois
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
William McRainey, LB, Gr., Gardner-Webb
-BigSouthOVCFootball.com-
