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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 some new faces at the tight end position but do have one constant in sixth year player Anthony Manaves.
 
Manaves was listed as a tight end to watch in the preseason Big South/OVC Football Association after making ten starts last season.  Manaves caught 14 passes for 106 yards.  In his career he has played in 39 games with 25 starts.
 
"Manny (Anthony Manaves) has played a lot of football, and it shows," said tight ends coach Cole Hoover.  "The game slows down for him and he is playing faster. Whether he knows it or not, the guys look up to him. He carries himself the right way. He's worked very hard to be in the position he is in right now."
 
The guys that are looking up to Manaves include returners Joe McNab who has played primarily on special teams and Alex Ginnever who has redshirted and missed time due to injury while at EIU.   To add depth to the position group, EIU added transfers Jordan Sprycha (McKendree Univ.) and Alex Herrera (College of the Sequoias) along with freshman Chase McConnell.
 
"I've been very excited about how the room has developed from summer to now. I think they have bought into being the hardest workers and smartest players that they can be. Football is very fun for them, but they are constantly working on their craft and asking questions because they want to help the team take the next step," added Hoover.   "The room as a whole has taken big strides, and we're going to need all 6 to be competitive this fall. Jordan Sprycha plays with a lot of passion and continues to grow. Alex Ginnever has been great to see develop since the last time I was here in 2022. It's starting to click for him."