Two EIU Players Win OVC Weekly Awards

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. -- Two Eastern Illinois football players won Ohio Valley Conference Weekly Awards on Sunday following the Panthers third straight OVC win, a 41-10 victory on the road at Tennessee Tech.

Linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill was named the OVC Defensive Player of the Week while quarterback Jalen Whitlow won his fifth OVC Newcomer of the Week award this season

Grugier-Hill had 19 tackles, 4.0 tackles-for-loss, an interception, pass breakup and forced fumble as Eastern Illinois won 41-10 at Tennessee Tech on Saturday. The 19 tackles are tied for the eighth-most in the FCS this season and his interception came in the end zone to end a Golden Eagle scoring threat. His play helped key a defense that held Tech to 239 yards of total offense on the afternoon; the EIU defense has now allowed only two touchdowns in its last three games. The last EIU player to make 19 or more tackles in a game was Marcus Lorick in 2004 against Jacksonville State with 20 tackles.

Whitlow earned his fifth OVC Newcomer of the Week honors of the season after completing 19-of-24 passes for a career-high 297 yards and four touchdowns and rushing for 45 yards and another score in Eastern Illinois’ 41-10 victory at Tennessee Tech. Whitlow threw an interception in the third quarter, ending his streak of consecutive passes without an interception at 163, which established a new school record (the old record was 157 by Jimmy Garoppolo). One of Whitlow’s four touchdown throws went for 90 yards to Adam Drake, marking the second-longest touchdown in school history and tying for the longest passing play in the FCS this season. Whitlow ranks third in the OVC and 26th nationally in total offense (257.8 yards/game), 21st in rushing touchdowns (10) and 18th in points responsible for (14.9/game). ​

EIU returns to action this Saturday hosting Murray State at 12 p.m. Tickets are available by calling 217-581-2106 or online at http://www.eiupanthertickets.com​