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Eastern Illinois football head coach Chris Wilkerson continues to beef up the Panthers roster for the upcoming season as eleven new players were announced as summer transfers that will be part of the 2024 roster.
 
EIU is coming off an 8-3 season which had the Panthers ranked No. 24 in the final FCS Coaches poll.
 
EIU will open the 2024 season on August 29 at Illinois before the home opener on Sept. 7 against Indiana State.  Season ticket orders and renewals are now underway online at www.eiupanthers.com or by calling the EIU ticket office at 217-581-2106 (Monday-Thursday / 8:30 am to 11:30 am).
 
Listed below are bios on the eleven incoming players for the summer. 

December Early Signing Period Class Link
 
Spring Semester Transfer Class Link

February Signing Period Class Link 

2024 SUMMER ADDS
 
Alejandro Arellano (OL, 6-4, 290, Sterling, Ill. / Sterling HS / College of DuPage) – Was a two-year member of the College of DuPage program… earned first team NJCAA All-American honors at offensive line in 2023 as a redshirt freshman… made 12 starts at right guard for NJCAA National Championship team… blocked for an offensive unit that ranked first in JUCO in points, points per game, total offense and rushing touchdowns… team ranked second in the nation in passing yards, passing touchdowns and rushing yards… earned NJCAA All-Academic honors as a freshman in 2022… played at Sterling High School earning Academic All-State honors… was a two-time first team All-Western Big Six Conference selection… helped team win 2021 COVID spring conference championship…
 
Surahz Buncom (WR, 6-4, 175, Chula Vista, Calif. / Mater Dei Catholic HS / University of Kansas) – Was a member of Kansas football program during 2023 season as a freshman but did not appear in any games using redshirt year based on NCAA participation rule… played at Mater Dei Catholic HS for coach John Joyner… caught 30 passes for 467 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior… helped lead team to 13-0 record and California Open Division State Championship… rated a 3-star recruit by Rivals and 247 Sports… brother Frank Buncom IV played at Stanford… grandfather Frank Buncom Jr., played seven years in the AFL at linebacker…
 
Chris Caldwell (RB, 5-10, 190, O'Fallon, Ill. / O'Fallon HS / Western Kentucky University) – Went through spring 2024 football practice at Western Kentucky University after spending the 2023 fall season playing at Wisconsin Whitewater… played in the final regular season game rushing for ten yards in win over Wisconsin Eau Claire… team posted an 11-2 overall record reaching the NCAA Division III playoff quarterfinals… played at O'Fallon High School rushing for 1,693 yards during junior and senior seasons with 19 touchdowns earning All-Conference honors…
 
Cody Davidson (WR, 6-1, 190, Beaverton, Ore. / Beaverton HS / Santa Rosa CC) – Played two seasons at Santa Rosa Junior College… during 2023 season appeared in ten games hauling in 70 passes for 1,033 yards and eight touchdowns… ranked fifth in all of California Junior College ranks in receiving yards per game at 103.3, while ranking third in total receptions… earned first team All-NorCal League honors… as a freshman in 2022 earned first team All-NorCal League honors playing in ten games… finished season with 50 receptions for 627  yards and six touchdowns… was a two-way player at Beaverton High School earning first team All-Metro League honors on both offense and defense as a senior… helped lead team to a 7-3 record and Oregon Class 6A state playoff appearance during final season…

Kiwaun Davis (CB, 6-3, 170, Chicago, Ill. / Kenwood Academy / Northern Illinois University) – Went through spring 2024 football practice at Northern Illinois University after spending 2023 fall season at Washington State… did not appear in any games using redshirt year based on NCAA participation rule… played at Chicago Kenwood Academy earning IHSA Class 5A All-State honors as a junior making 39 tackles with two interceptions and five pass break-ups… named to Chicago Public League second team as a senior making 16 tackles with five interceptions and five pass break-ups… rated a 3-star prospect by ESPN.com, Rivals and 247Sports… rated No. 28 overall college prospect in Illinois…

Akili Hubbard (SAF, 6-2, 200, Bellflower, Calif. / Bellflower HS / University of Kansas) – Was a member of the Kansas football program during 2023 season as a junior but did not appear in any games using redshirt year based on NCAA participation rule… played 2022 season at Golden West College in Huntington Beach, Calif for coach Nick Mitchell… helped lead team to 9-2 record as defense led the JUCO ranks with 25 interceptions… had 18 tackles with four interceptions… appeared in four games at Golden West College in 2021 making five tackles transitioning from defensive end to safety position… played high school football at Bellflower High…

Sandro Malicevic (OL, 6-5, 310, Saratoga, Calif. / Prospect HS / San Jose City College) – Played at San Jose City College during the 2023 season appearing as a starter at left tackle on the offensive line… helped program post an 8-2 record while earning first team All-Golden Coast League honors… blocked for an offensive unit that averaged 33.8 points per game with 368.6 yards of total offense per contest… named a JUCO Gridiron third team All-American… starter on the offensive line at Prospect High School…

CJ Nelson (WR, 5-11, 175, North Richland Hills, Texas / Richland HS / University of Houston) – Played two seasons at the University of Houston… appeared in just two games in 2023 using redshirt year based on NCAA participation rule… played on special teams in those two contests making two tackles… as a freshman in 2022 appeared in all 13 games on special teams seeing time in five games at the wide receiver position… was a member of 8-5 Houston team that ended season with win over Louisiana in the Independence Bowl… made three tackles on special teams.. hauled in two passes for seven yards against UCF… named Scout Team Offensive Player of the Week one time… multi-faceted athlete at Richland High School that was ranked a 3-star recruit by 247Sports… rated the No. 69 overall wide receiver and No. 60 overall player in Texas, both by 247Sports… playing quarterback as a senior passed for 1,820 yards and 15 touchdowns… rushed for 651 yards with 12 touchdowns as a senior… as a junior playing wide receiver hauled in 48 passes for 1,079 yards and 14 touchdowns… during sophomore year caught 49 passes for 668 yards and six touchdowns… lettered in football, basketball and track… in track competed in 100-dash, long jump and triple jump… named first team Texas District 4-5A D1 at wide receiver as a junior… first team All-District as a sophomore…

Jerrad Price (DL, 6-2, 295, Spurlockville, W.Va. / Lincoln County HS / University of Charleston) – Played the 2023 season at the University of Charleston (W.Va.) helping the team post a 10-2 record while advancing to the second round of the NCAA Division II playoffs… appeared in 12 games making nine tackles with two tackles for loss and one fumble recovery… season high four tackles against Glenville State… was a member of Davidson College football program for four previous years… took redshirt season in 2019 and appeared in four games during 2021 COVID spring season making six tackles… played in 20 games over next two seasons with 15 tackles, two tackles for loss and one quarterback hurry… was a three-time Pioneer Football League Academic Honor Roll selection… played high football at Lincoln County High School in Hamlin, West Virginia… as a senior started on both sides of the ball making 59 tackles with 19 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks and two interceptions…

Joseph Solomon (OL, 6-4, 295, Indianapolis, Ind. / Bishop Chatard HS / Appalachian State University) – Was a member of the Appalachian State football program during the 2023 season but did not appear in any games… prior to that appeared in two games over three seasons at Tulane (2020-2022) with a COVID season in 2020 and a redshirt season with one appearance in 2021… appeared in one game in 2022 against Alcorn State… attended Bishop Chatard High School helping lead the team to the 2019 Indiana Class 3A State Championship… named a 3-star recruit by 247Sports… was part of 2018 Class 3A semifinalist team… is the younger brother of former EIU offensive lineman Ben Solomon…

Elijawah Tolbert (LB, 6-1, 240, Country Club Hills, Ill. / Hillcrest HS / Missouri State University / EIU) – Transferring back to Eastern Illinois after spending spring 2024 football practice at Missouri State… previously at Eastern Illinois was a two-time first team All-Conference selection at linebacker… last season (2023) led EIU in tackles with 87 as part of a defensive unit that ranked second in the FCS in turnovers gained… was third on team as a sophomore in 2022 with 70 tackles… appeared primarily on special teams as a freshman in 2021 finishing season with five tackles…