Eastern Illinois football head coach
Chris Wilkerson has announced the addition of eight players to the Panthers roster as mid-year transfers as the spring semester on campus began last week.
EIU, which posted an 8-3 record last season and was ranked No. 24 in the final FCS Coaches Poll, added some experience at a couple of positions as the Panthers enter winter strength and conditioning workouts before spring practice takes place in March and April.
The eight mid-year transfers join a class of 16 players that were signed out of high school during the NCAA early signing period in December.
Early Signing Period Story & Class
Listed below are the bios on the eight mid-year transfers.
Ryan Kilburg (SAF, 6-0, 190, R-Jr., Park Ridge, Ill. / Maine South HS / Western Michigan University) – Was a four-year member of the Western Michigan football program… did not play in any games in 2023 using redshirt season… played in nine games during the 2022 season primarily on special teams… had six tackles for the season with four at Michigan State… appeared in all 13 games in 2021 finishing season with 11 tackles with most playing time on special teams… had four tackles in win at Pittsburgh… had five tackles in Quick Lane Bowl win over Nevada… appeared in six games during 2020 COVID season with almost all playing time on special teams…
HIGH SCHOOL: Started 34 games at Maine South HS playing for coach Dave Inserra… consensus three-star prospect, according to ESPN.com, 247Sports.com and Rivals.com... listed as the No. 24 prospect in Illinois by Rivals.com, No. 27 by 247Sports.com and No. 32 by ESPN.com... a Chicago Sun-Times All-Area selection following final season... Maine South won the IHSA Class 8A state championship as a freshman... tabbed the Offensive Player of the Year in the Central Suburban League South with 44 catches for 560 yards and seven touchdowns to go along with 31 carries for 270 yards and three scores as a senior... added a 98-yard kickoff return TD… on defense recorded 56 tackles with three interceptions as a senior… Misc.: older sister Aly Kilburg played soccer at Loyola-Chicago… father Jim Kilburg played at Augustana helping team win 1986 NCAA Division III national championship… uncle Jeff Kilburg played football at Notre Dame…
Landers Green (WR, 6-3, 180, Jr., Wharton, NJ / St. Peter's Prep / Union College) – Was a two-year member of the Union College football team… as a sophomore in 2023 earned second team All-Liberty League honors… played in 11 games leading team with 41 receptions for 663 yards and four touchdowns… ranked third in Liberty League in receiving yards and sixth in receptions… had a season-high 97 yards receiving on six receptions vs Montclair State… season high seven receptions against St. Lawrence… hauled in five passes for 75 yards and a touchdown in NCAA playoff opening round against Delaware Valley… played in four games in 2022 making one catch against Buffalo State… also a member of track & field team earning All-Region honors in indoor track in the high jump…
HIGH SCHOOL: Played football and ran track at St. Peter's Prep… as a senior had 13 receptions for 151 yards and one touchdown… helped football team reach New Jersey Non-Public A state semifinals as a senior…
Kaleb Lyons (CB, 5-11, 185, Jr., Antioch, Tenn. / Brentwood Academy / Morehead State University) – Was a two-year member of the Morehead State football team… earned third team All-American honors by the Associated Press playing in all 11 games of the 2023 season… tied for the regular season lead for interceptions in the FCS with six… earned first team All-Pioneer Football League honors…finished year with 34 tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss… had three interceptions against Davidson finishing game with four tackles and a sack… had two interception game against Dayton… played in ten games during the 2022 season finishing year with 18 tackles… had one interception against Kentucky Christian… HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Brentwood Academy in Nashville, Tenn… selected to play in Tennessee Athletic Coaches Association All-Star game as a senior… helped lead team to an 8-4 record as a senior…
Moses Alexander (CB, 6-3, 190, R-Jr., Galveston, Texas / Ball HS / University of Houston) – Was a two-year member of the Houston football team… played in eight games during the 2023 season finishing year with 11 tackles… had a season high four tackles with a tackle for loss against Texas Tech… added two tackles in last season games against both Oklahoma State and UCF adding one pass break-up against UCF… redshirted 2022 season at Houston…
JUNIOR COLLEGE: Played two seasons at Kilgore College with the 2020 COVID season and 2021 campaign… rated at 3-Star prospect by 247Sports… listed as No. 6 rated overall JUCO prospect and No. JUCO corner… 2021 Southwest Junior College Football First Team… played in ten games in 2021 finishing with 21 tackles, five break-ups and one interception… played in eight games in 2020 finishing with 14 tackles and two pass break-ups… HIGH SCHOOL: Was a two-year varsity letter winner at Galveston Ball HS… as a senior 14 tackles with two interceptions…
Jordan Sprycha (TE, 6-4, 235, Sr., Oak Lawn, Ill. / Oak Lawn HS / McKendree University) – Was a four-year member of the McKendree football team… played in 11 games in 2023 making 24 catches for 188 yards and a touchdown… hauled in a season-high six passes for 54 yards and a score against Minnesota State Moorhead… added four catches for 50 yards against Ashland in the America's Crossroads Bowl… earned honorable mention All-GLVC honors… earned honorable mention All-GLVC after starting all 11 games during the 2022 season… had 22 receptions for 178 yards and five touchdowns… season-high four receptions against Delta State, Lake Erie and Missouri S&T… season-high 62 yards against Lake Erie… appeared in eight games during the 2021 season finishing year with ten receptions for 134 yards and three touchdowns… had a pair of touchdown receptions against Southwest Baptist… played in one game during the 2020 COVID season…
HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Oak Lawn HS… earned All-Region and All-South Suburban Conference honors as a senior… accounted for 400 yards and five touchdowns during senior year…
Alex Herrera (TE, 6-1, 205, Jr., Linden, Calif. / Linden HS / College of the Sequoias) – Played the 2023 season at College of the Sequoias… appeared in 11 games finishing season with 27 receptions for 311 yards with three touchdowns… had a season-high five catches against both Sierra College and Reedley… hauled in four passes for a season-high 64 yards and two touchdowns against Sacramento City… earned second team All-America honors by JCGRIDIRON… named Regional I First-team All-California… played 2022 season at San Joaquin Delta College appearing in seven games… had 11 receptions for 152 yards and four touchdowns… season high three catches for 43 yards and a touchdown against Contra Costa College…
HIGH SCHOOL: Played football at Linden HS… led team to a 7-5 record as a senior…passed for 2,331 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior…
Joey Sprinkle (QB, 6-4, 215, Jr., Monticello, Ill. / Monticello HS / St. Ambrose University) – Played two seasons at St. Ambrose University… in 2023 appeared in eight games… passed for 892 yards with 12 touchdowns going 66-of-121 through the air… ended season with 50 yards rushing… had eight interceptions… passed for a season high 285 yards at Upper Iowa going 18-of-30 with three touchdowns… had a 266 yard passing day with five touchdowns against Judson… as a freshman in 2022 played in season opener suffering a broken arm in the contest… return to play in the season finale finishing year with 211 yards and two touchdowns...
HIGH SCHOOL: Played football at Monticello HS… earned All-State honors as a senior leading to an 8-3 record and the second round of the IHSA Class 3A playoffs… also a standout basketball player leading school to a IHSA Class 2A state runner-up finish as a senior…
Christian Takatch (DL, 6-3, 220, So., Sunbury, Ohio / Big Walnut HS / Notre Dame College) –Played freshman season (2022) at Notre Dame College appearing in one game and making one tackle... was scheduled to join EIU roster in fall of 2023 but did not attend school…
HIGH SCHOOL: Lettered in football, wrestling and baseball at Big Walnut HS... was a multi-year starter... earned both All-Conference and All-District honors... recognized as North/South Player of the Game...
