The 2026 season opener for Eastern Illinois football is still six weeks away, but this week the Ohio Valley Conference is releasing its preseason football honors leading into the 2026 OVC Football Media Day presented by Shaw Sports Turf which takes place on Friday in Nashville.
 
On Tuesday, the league released its preseason offensive players to watch from each team with seven Panthers listed.  Cole LaCrue, Charles Kellom, Landers Green, Alex Ginnever, Rahfeeq Katumbusi, Max Loveall and Drew Schiller were all honored on the preseason list.
 
The league will release its defensive preseason players to watch on Wednesday with the predicted order of finish for this year's football season on Thursday leading into Friday's event.
 
EIU opens the 2026 season on Thursday, August 27 at Murray State.  The home opener is Saturday, September 12 against Indiana State.  Sesaon tickets are available online at www.EIUPanthers.com or by calling 217-581-2106.
 
LaCrue was named to the preseason list at the quarterback position.  A dual-threat last season he set the EIU single game rushing record for a quarterback with 193 yards and three touchdowns against Dayton.  He ended the year rushing for 498 yards and seven touchdowns.  Through the air LaCrue passed for 851 yards and four touchdowns with a 54.1 completion percentage.
 
Kellom started all 12 games at running back for EIU last year and was named to the preseason list for this season.  He ranked fifth in the OVC in rushing yards last year finishing with 711 yards and three rushing touchdowns.  He had one 100-yard rushing game during the season with 133 yards in the opener against Dayton.  He added 18 receptions for 92 yards.
 
Green was named a preseason selection at wide receiver.   He is the Panthers top returning wide receiver from last year with 16 catches for 258 yards and a 16.1 yards per reception average.  He had a season best four receptions for 77 yards against UT Martin.
 
Ginnever played in all 12 games last season with five starts at the tight end position.  He was named a preseason selection at the tight end role having caught 33 passes for 307 yards and two touchdowns over the last two seasons.  
 
Katumbusi was an anchor on the EIU offensive line last season as a redshirt freshman earning preseason honors on the offensive line this year.  Last year he made 11 starts at the center position earning Freshman All-America honors and second team All-OVC honors.
 
Loveall was named a preseason selection at the All-Purpose position after appearing in all 12 games for the Panthers last season.  He was a starter on EIU's special teams units and a reserve wide receiver.  This spring he switched positions from wide receiver to tight end.
 
Schiller was a preseason selection at the kicker position serving as the Panthers starting place kicker for field goals and extra points for ten games last season.  He served as the kickoff specialist in all 12 games.  Schiller knocked home 11 field goals making 21 extra point attempts during the year.