Eastern Illinois football has announced the addition of 17 players this summer as teams report to campus for summer workouts.   The new players include a combination of high school, junior college and four-year transfers into the Panthers program.

The mixture includes four high school athletes, six junior college transfers and seven four-year college transfers.

2026 Signing Day Class  |  2026 Spring Mid-Year Transfer Class

Bios on incoming players listed below...

Danny Majoney (LS, 6-2, 225, Fr., Carol Stream, Ill. / Glenbard North HS) – Was a two-year varsity starter playing on both the offensive and defensive lines at Glenbard North HS for coach Ryan Wilkens... will transition to be a long snapper at the collegiate level… earned All-Dukane Conference honors as a senior…  rated as a 4.5 star recruit as a long snapper and ranked No. 37 in the nation by Kohl's Kicking… helped lead team to an 8-4 record as a senior advancing to the quarterfinal round of the IHSA Class 7A state playoffs…
 
Calvin Ogawa (K, 6-2, 185, Fr., San Diego, Calif. / Carlsbad HS) – Played final high school season at Carlsbad HS after beginning prep career playing football at Torrey Pines HS… converted at 93 percent on extra point attempts during senior season… also earned varsity letter in soccer at both schools… participated in camp at Chris Sailer Kicking…  
 
OJ Powell (WR, 6-3, 210, Fr., Villa Park, Ill. / Willowbrook HS) – Was a three-sport athlete at Willowbrook HS earning varsity letters in football basketball and track… named school's most valuable athlete for 2025-26 academic year… was an all-conference selection in football helping team advance to the IHSA Class 7A playoffs as a senior… was a IHSA State Track qualifier in the 4x100 relay and high jump as a senior…
 
Peter Williams (OL, 6-5, 310, Fr., San Diego, Calif. / University City HS) – Played football at University City HS in San Diego, Calif… saw time on both sides of the ball at offensive and defensive line in high school… blocked for an offensive unit that averaged 29.8 points per game reaching the second round of the state playoffs during senior season… recorded 51 pancake blocks while not allowing a sack as a senior… was named a San Diego Area Top 25 offensive lineman of the year as a senior… on defense finished with 31 tackles…
 
Tatum Bentley (OL, 6-4, 285, Jr., Cedar Park, Texas / Vista Ridge HS / Monterey Peninsula College) – Was a two-year member of the Monterey Peninsula College football program… helped lead team to a 7-4 record during the 2025 season blocking for an offensive unit that averaged 325.5 yards per game while scoring 25.9 points per contest… in 2024 blocked for an offensive unit that ranked among the league leaders in offense averaging 446.3 yards per game with 44.7 points per contest… was a member of team that went 11-0 during the season… HIGH SCHOOL: Played football at Vista Ridge HS… starter on offensive line that averaged 279.3 yards per game during senior season…
 
Ayden Billups (WR, 6-1, 185, Jr., San Diego, Calif. / Lincoln HS / Grossmont CC) – Played the 2025 season at Grossmont CC… hauled in 64 passes for 917 yards and nine touchdowns during the year… posted three 100-yard receiving games including an 11 reception, 151 yard day against Victory Valley College… had a two touchdown game against Glendale College helping team post a 7-4 record an win over West LA College in the Beach Bowl… played the 2024 season at Palomar College… finished season with 17 receptions for 201 yards… HIGH SCHOOL: Versatile athlete playing football at Lincoln HS… had 437 yards with six touchdowns averaging 10.2 yards per reception…  
 
Jeremiah Cadet (RB, 5-9, 175, Sr., Orlando, Fla. / Ocoee HS / Anna Maria College) – Played the 2025 season at NCAA Division III program Anna Maria College rushing for 333 yards and two touchdowns in nine games… rushed for a season high 79 yards and one touchdown against Fitchburg State… hauled in nine passes for 151 yards and three touchdowns including a 67-yard touchdown reception against Westfield State… played two seasons at NCAA Division II Central State in Ohio… in 2024 caught 13 passes for 87 yards while rushing for nine yards… served as kick return specialist with a 19.3 yards per return average… was also a member of the Central State track program… HIGH SCHOOL: Played football and ran track at Ocoee HS… averaged 115 all-purpose yards per game as a senior…
 
Cade Cox (P, 6-0, 175, Grad, Redding, Calif. / Football HS / UC Davis) – Was a four-year member of the UC Davis football program… redshirted freshman season in 2022 and did not see action in any games in 2023… punted in seven games during the 2024 season including four punts all going as fair catches against Illinois State in the FCS playoffs… averaged 34.6 yards per punt for the season with nine fair catches and two punts inside the 20-yard line… in 2025 punted in two games against Washington and Weber State with a 45.0 yards per punt average… HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Foothill HS in Palo Cedro, Calif… was a three-sport athlete earning letters in football, soccer and track… set school record by connecting on all 54 extra point attempts during senior season… Sac River-EAL All-League Punter and Northern Section All-Section Punter…
 
Jacob Gettman (P, 6-0, 195, R-So, Daytona Beach, Fla. / Mainland HS / Samford University) – Was a two-year member of the Samford football program… appeared in one game against Western Carolina in 2024 knocking home 6-of-6 on extra point attempts before taking NCAA redshirt season based on participation… did not appear in any games during 2025… HIGH SCHOOL: Played football at Mainland HS… was 7-for-7 on field goals with a long of 45 yards as a senior… knocked know 25-of-29 extra point attempts… was 7-of-8 on field goals as a junior making 33-of-41 extra points… as a sophomore was 35-of-38 on extra points… also punted as a senior with a 40.4 yards per punt average…
 
Alex Koulovatos (SAF, 6-2, 205, R-So, Charlotte, NC. / Providence HS / Long Beach City College) – Played the 2025 season at Long Beach City College… earned second team All-Conference honors… finished season with 71 tackles including four tackles for loss… had two interceptions with two pass break-ups… began college career at East Carolina University redshirting during the 2024 season, did not play in any games… HIGH SCHOOL: Played football at Providence HS in Charlotte, NC… recorded 158 tackles with 40 tackles for loss during three years as a varsity starter… earned All-Conference honors…  
 
Azeon Nelson (RB, 5-10, 205, R-Jr., Kennett, Mo. / Kennett HS / El Camino City College) – Played three seasons at El Camino City College after serving active duty in the United States Armed Forces… rushed for 335 yards and four touchdowns during 2025 season… helped lead team to 8-3 record and appearance in the Southern California Regional playoffs… best season was in 2024 with 500 yards on the ground and four touchdowns… appeared in just three games during the 2023 season with 25 rushing yards… HIGH SCHOOL: Played football at Kennett High School graduating in 2017…
 
Gianni Pangallo (OL, 6-6, 275, Jr., Farmingdale, NY / Farmingdale HS / Buffalo State) – Was a two-year member of the football team at NCAA Division III SUNY Buffalo State… appeared in nine of ten games during the 2025 season blocked on an offensive line that averaged 268.2 yards per game for the season… as a freshman in 2024 appeared in two contests on the offensive line… HIGH SCHOOL: Played football at Farmingdale HS… earned first team All-Conference and first team All-County honors as a senior… helped lead team to conference championship as a senior…  
 
Alex Stoyanovich (K, 5-9, 180, R-So., South Lyon, Mich. / South Lyon HS / University of Colorado) – Was a two-year member of the football team at the University of Colorado… did not seen any playing time in 2025 after appearing in three games during the 2024 season… in 2024 had 18 kickoffs for a 62.1 yards per kick average with three touchbacks serving as a kickoff specialist… HIGH SCHOOL: Played football at South Lyon HS… as a senior went 12-of-14 on extra point attempts with one made field goal on lone attempt… averaged 47.4 yards per kickoff for the season… PERSONAL: Son of former NFL kicker Pete Stoyanovich who kicked in the NFL for more than 10 years and holds the NFL record for longest made field goal in the playoffs (58 yards)…
 
Matthew Toledo (LS, 6-1, 215, R-So., Fairfield, Ohio. / Fairfield HS / University of Rio Grande) – Played the 2025 season at NAIA member University of Rio Grande (Ohio) appearing in six games on special teams as the long snapper… did not record any other statistics…  was a member of the Valdosta State football team during the 2024 season but did not appear in any games using redshirt season… began college career in 2023 at Notre Dame College (Ohio) playing in ten games as the team's long snapper… finished season with three tackles… HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Fairfield HS earning varsity letters in both football and track…
 
David Uzoma (DL, 6-3, 255, R-Jr., Los Angeles, Calif. / Westchester HS / LA Southwestern) – Was a three-year member of the LA Southwestern College football team…  earned first team All-California Region IV honors after being named the American Division Metro League Defensive Player of the Year… finished season with 43 tackles including 15 tackles for loss, eight sacks and two forced fumbles… missed most of 2024 season with an injury after appearing in just one game to take a medical redshirt… in 2023 had 53 tackles with 15 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick… earned first team All-California Region IV honors and first team American Division Pacific League… HIGH SCHOOL: Was a three-year letterwinner at Westchester HS… racked up 151 tackles as a starter in final two years with 31 tackles for loss and eight sacks…
 
Devin Whitlock (WR, 5-6, 155, R-Jr, Monesson, Pa. / Belle Veron Area HS / Indiana University (Pa.) – Played the 2025 season at Indiana University (Pa.) earning first team All-PSAC West honors… helped team reach the NCAA Division II playoffs hauling in 13 passes for 152 yards against Assumption in the playoff game… finished season with 927 yards on 84 receptions with six touchdowns… had four 100+ yard gams and three games with ten or more receptions… started college career at Pittsburgh redshirting during the 2023 season before not appearing in any games in 2024… HIGH SCHOOL: Was a standout player on both sides of the football at Belle Vernon Area HS… as a quarterback threw for 1,023 yards and rushed for 1,189 yards as a senior with 32 total touchdowns (23 rush / 9 pass)… led team to a 10-1 record an the WPIAL Class 4A championship game… named All-State Class 4A and WPIAL Class 4A Player of the Year… Big Eight Conference Offensive Player of the Year and all-conference at defensive back… selected to play in the Big 33 Football Classic… also a basketball standout earning Observer-Reporter Boys Basketball Player of the Year two times…
 
Jadhari Young (WR, 6-0, 210, Jr., Stafford, Va. / Brooke Pointe HS / De Anza College) – Was a two-year member of the De Anza College football program… hauled in 50 passes for 559 yards (11.2 yards per catch) with seven touchdowns during the 2025 season… had a season high 14 receptions for 110 yards and one touchdown against College of the Siskiyous… had two touchdown receptions against Gavilan College… helped lead team to a 10-1 record with lone loss coming in the American Division Championship Bowl… was named the De Anza College Most Inspirational Athlete for the 2025-26 academic year… earned All-League honors… during the 2024 season had 29 catches for 359 yards (12.7 yards per catch) with four touchdowns… had a season high six catches for 80 yards against Hartnell College… team again posted a 10-1 record with lone loss in the American Division Championship Bowl… HIGH SCHOOL: Attended Brooke Pointe HS…