Eastern Illinois football head coach
Chris Wilkerson continues to bolster the depth on the Panthers roster for next season as EIU announced the addition of eight new players to EIU's 2024 Recruiting Class as part of the NCAA's February signing day (Feb. 7).
The eight new players join the 16 players that were announced in December during the early signing period and the eight players that joined the Panthers roster during the Spring semester as transfers.
EIU posted an 8-3 record last season finishing the year ranked No. 24 in the final FCS Coaches Poll. The Panthers are slated to open the 2024 season on Aug. 31 at Illinois.
December Early Signing Period Class Link
Spring Semester Transfer Class Link
2024 Spring Class
Aidan Archibald (DL, 6-2, 240, Charleston, Ill. / Charleston HS) – Played senior season for Coach Brian Halsey at Charleston High School… helped team reach second round of IHSA Class 4A State Playoffs… earned All-State honors… first team All-Apollo Conference starting on defensive line… also played tight end… on defense had 98 tackles with 21 tackles for loss… selected for 2024 Shrine Game… earned varsity letters in both football and baseball… -- father Bryan Archibald played football at Southern Illinois and was named to Salukis All-Century team… mother Tara Archibald played softball at Southern Illinois and is currently head softball coach at Eastern Illinois…
Josh Brown (SAF, 6-0, 185, Suwanee, Ga. / Peachtree Ridge HS) – Played for coach Matt Helmerich at Peachtree Ridge HS… earned second team All-Region 7-7A as a senior… as a senior had 73 tackles with 51 solo stops… added two interceptions and five pass break-ups… helped lead team to a 10-win season as a senior… posted 73 tackles with 42 solo stops as a junior… earned varsity letters in both football and baseball…
Nico Carrier (K, 5-8, 170, Aurora, Ill. / Metea Valley HS) – Played for coach John Parpet at Metea Valley HS… played both wide receiver and kicker as a senior… as a wide receiver hauled in 20 passes for 169 yards… during senior year knocked home five field goals during the season… performing at Vegas 42 Kicking Camp connected on 5-of-5 on field goals on distances of 40, 45, 50, 52 and 55…
Grady Catanzano (LB, 6-1, 225, Mt. Prospect, Ill. / Prospect HS) – Played for coach Dan DeBouef at Prospect HS… earned All-Area honors… finished senior season with 22 tackles for loss… had five forced fumbles and six quarterback sacks… helped team post an 8-3 record advancing to the second round of the IHSA Class 7A state playoffs… team won nine games during junior season again advancing to IHSA Class 7A second round…
Clint Chamley (OL, 6-5, 310, Kahoka, Mo. / Clark County HS) – Played for coach Ethan Allen at Clark County HS… earned second team All-State honors in as a junior in 2022… once again earned All-State honors as a senior with third team accolades despite missing four games due to injury… blocked for an offensive unit that scored 50 or more points in a game five times in the last two seasons… helped lead team to second round of Missouri Class 2 state playoffs as a senior…
Max Loveall (WR, 6-3, 195, Richmond, Ill. / Richmond-Burton HS) – Played for coach Mike Noll at Richmond-Burton HS… earned All-Conference honors… helped team win seven games and advance to IHSA Class 4A state playoffs as a senior… had 33 receptions with six touchdowns… also had one punt return for a touchdown… advanced to IHSA Track State Championships…
Jeremy Reeves (WR, 6-4, 180, Chicago, Ill. / Gary Comer College Prep) – Played at Gary Comer College Prep Noble School… hauled in more than 65 passes for over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns over the last two seasons… helped team advance to IHSA Class 4A state playoffs as a junior…
Jacob Rosenstiel (QB, 6-4, 200, Boerne, Texas / Geneva School of Boerne) – Played for coach Grant Gaston at Geneva School of Boerne in the suburbs of San Antonio… earned first team Division III All-District 3 honors as an athlete in 2023… named second team All-District at quarterback position in 2022… passed for just under 3,400 (3,393) yards during the last two years with 18 touchdown passes… rushed for another 1,285 yards with 18 rushing touchdowns…father Bob played tight end at Eastern Illinois and later in the NFL...
Connor Shelby (OL, 6-4, 275, Mt. Carmel, Ill. / Mt. Carmel HS) – Played for coach Michael Brewer at Mt. Carmel HS… played both tackle positions during high school… blocked for an offensive that averaged 40.5 points per game and 430.7 yards per game during the season… helped lead team to IHSA Class 3A state runner-up finish… earned first team All-Little Illini Conference…
