Follow this week (April 7-11) for Eastern Illinois Football Spring Position Previews with EIU Spring Game set for Saturday, April 26 at 11 a.m. at O'Brien Field.
 
April 7 – Quarterbacks (Click To Read)
April 7 – Safeties (Click To Read)
April 8 – Running Backs (Click To Read)
April 8 – Linebackers (Click To Read)
April 9 – Wide Receivers (Click To Read)
April 9 - Corner Backs (Click To Read)
April 10 - Tight Ends (Click To Read)
April 10 - Special Teams (Click To Read)
April 11 - Offensive Line (Click To Read)
April 11 - Defensive Line 

The Great Unknown might be a way to describe the Eastern Illinois defensive line unit for second year position coach Carlif Taylor.
 
The Panthers return two proven commodities in Drake Van Hyfte and Alton Jefferson on the defensive line with Trevon Piggee-Blake an emerging talent.
 
The remainder of the position group is made up of transfers and returning players that have not yet seen the field for the Panthers.
 
"As we head into spring ball, our defensive line is leveling up in a big way. We've added three key pieces who will bring tremendous value to the room, and I am excited to see them out on the field," said Taylor.   "We have a lot of different talent with the defensive line and it will be great to see our players compete throughout the 15 practices. Spring ball is about the man vs. himself. Every guy in our room brings something vital to the table, and our goal is simple: Win the day—on and off the field."
 
Van Hyfte emerged two years ago leading the team in tackles for loss.  Last season he made two starts appearing in nine total games but battled injuries throughout the season that limited his effectiveness.
 
Jefferson missed all of last season due to injury after appearing in 28 games over his first three seasons with eight starts on the defensive line.
 
Piggee-Blake made 12 tackles last year playing in ten games as a reserve defensive lineman.
 
King Smith, Isaiah Hare, Aidan Archibald and Tray Ross all redshirted as true freshmen last season while Christian Takatch redshirted as a transfer into the program from Notre Dame College. 
 
Cole Silzer is the other returning EIU player having missed last season due to injury after playing in two games as a redshirt freshman in 2023.
 
In terms of transfers EIU brought in three junior college transfers at the semester break with James Collins (College of the Sequoias), Knowledge Davis (Tyler JC) and Kefa Pereira (Monterey Peninsula College).