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
 
Possibly the deepest position group returning this season for Eastern Illinois is the wide receivers group as they return a first team All-Conference performer in Cooper Willman and several proven play makers for second year position coach Tino Smith II.
 
"I'm really excited about this group. It's been great to see the progress they've made in the weight room with Coach Jacob Hillmann, being intentional with their work and embracing the process. Now, with spring ball starting, I'm looking forward to getting back on the grass with them and continuing the build," said Smith.  Our focus has been placing value on doing your job and having a relentless mindset in everything we do. We want to be detail-oriented, process-driven, and constantly finding ways to add value to the team. This group has the potential to take a big step forward, and I'm excited to see them develop, compete, and grow this spring."
 
The big step starts with the healthy return of wide receivers CJ Nelson and DeAirious Smith to join Willman.  Nelson hauled in 21 passes for 292 yards and a touchdown appearing in 11 games but was hampered by injury in several of those contests.  Smith was the Panthers top receiver two seasons ago in terms of average per catch at 17.6 (24^th in FCS).  Last season he was injured in the second game of the season hauling in just six passes for 110 yards for an 18.3 yards per catch average.
 
Willman returns as a constant in the Panthers offense earning first team All-OVC honors.  He led the team with 66 receptions for 955 yards and enters this season ranked 19^th on the EIU career receiving yards list.  He set the EIU single game record for receiving yards with 291 yards at Gardner-Webb which ranked as the third most in OVC history.
 
Quenton Rogers was the final receiver that came on strong last season as a redshirt freshman.  He finished the year with 22 catches for 349 yards and a touchdown earning Conference Freshman of the Week honors one time.
 
Collin Willard, Johnovan Wysinger, Max Loveall and Jeremy Reeves all redshirted as freshmen last season without appearing in any games. 
 
Twins Taiye Ajose and Kenny Ajose both appeared in less than four games last season without recording any stats and using their NCAA redshirt season under participation rules.  Junior college transfer Cody Davidson also appeared in one game without recording any stats.
 
Surahz Buncom and Landers Green round out the returning wide receivers.  Buncom, a transfer from Kansas last season, played in five games making one catch.  Green, a transfer from Union College last season, played in one game making three catches.
 
Jack Tremblay is currently the only transfer in the room as a spring semester transfer from Central Michigan.