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Eastern Illinois veteran wide receiver Cooper Willman has picked up a preseason honor as Lindy's Sports Magazine has listed the graduate student as its preseason offensive player of the year for the OVC-Big South Football Association.
 
Willman was named a first team All-Big South/OVC Football selection this past season at two different positions earning the honor as both a wide receiver and all-purpose position player.  He finished the season with 66 receptions for 955 yards and eight touchdowns.  He served as the Panthers primary punt returner and late in the season handled kickoff return duties for a good part of the season.   The 66 receptions during the year ranked tenth on the EIU single season receptions list.
 
During the year Willman had three games with over 100 yards receiving including a record setting performance at Gardner-Webb where he set the EIU record for receiving yards in a game.  Willman hauled in 11 passes for 291 yards and three touchdowns.  The total was third most in OVC football history while setting the record for the Big South/OVC Football Association.  He became the 35th player in school history to go over the 1,000 receiving yard mark for their career and ended the season ranked 19th on the EIU career record book.
 
In addition, the preseason publication listed the Panthers seventh in its preseason poll.   EIU had been picked in a tie for sixth by the OVC-Big South Coaches released last week at the conference virtual media day.
 
EIU reports to campus this weekend in preparation for the 2025 season which opens at home on August 28 against Dayton.  Season tickets are on sale at www.eiupanthers.com/fbtickets or by calling 217-581-2106.   Single game tickets will go on sale, Friday, August 1.