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Eastern Illinois football opens the 2024 season on August 29 at Illinois, the first of two games this season against Big Ten Conference schools.
 
The Panthers enter the 2024 season with veteran Nick Coates leading a talented group of Nickel/Outside Linebackers in the Panthers defense.
 
Coates was an All-OVC selection at Nickel two years ago who has made 18 starts at the position over the last two seasons with 100 tackles to his credit.
 
"Put simply - Nick Coates is a ball player.  He comes to work every day with a blue-collar mindset and holds himself to a high standard.  He plays with a chip on his shoulder and refuses to settle for anything but his best," said nicker/outside linebacker coach Andrew Brady.
 
EIU will use a rotation of players at the spot during times of a game with Malik Rainey sliding over from corner and Isaiah Richardson over from safety to bolster the position after seeing time at those other spots last year.
 
The fourth key player in the group will be Tienne Fridge who played early last season before taking a redshirt year.  All four will contribute either on defense or the special teams group.
 
"I've loved working with this group of OLBs.  They're extremely coachable and embody the #WeNotMe mindset Coach Wilkerson preaches," added Brady.  "Our Nickel/OLB position is asked to do a lot of different things within our defense, but these guys have handled it extremely well and take pride in the embracing the challenge that comes with it.  I couldn't be more excited to watch them continue to develop over the rest of training camp and watch them take the next step this season."