EIU Picks Up Second FCS Top 25 Ranking

CHARLESTON, Ill. -- As preseason football magazines find their way to local news stands and the internet, Eastern Illinois football has picked up its second preseason FCS Top 25 ranking this season. The Panthers under second year head coach Kim Dameron have been ranked 15th by Athlon in its preseason Top 25. EIU was ranked No. 25 in the Sporting News FCS Preseason Top 25 released earlier this summer.

EIU returns 16 starters from last year's team that was in the thick of the Ohio Valley Conference Championship race until the final weeks of the season. Of those 16 starters two return as first team All-OVC defensive players in linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill and safety Jourdan Wickliffe. EIU has four players returning that earned second team All-OVC honors last year with quarterback Jalen Whitlow, offensive linemen Nick Borre and Evan Kanz and defensive lineman Dino Fanti. Kicker Nick Bruno returns after earning freshmen All-American honors as a member of the All-OVC Newcomer team. After missing part of last season with injuries EIU will return running back Shepard Little, a first team All-OVC back in 2013; and offensive tackle Jimmy Lowery, a freshman All-American in 2013. Add to that mix two transfer running backs in Devin Church and Korliss Marshall and the Panthers should once again have a potent offense to go with a veteran defense.

Defending National Champion North Dakota State was ranked as the preseason number one followed by Illinois State, Sam Houston State, Jacksonville State and Villanova. Eastern Washington is sixth with Coastal Carolina, Chattanooga, New Hampshire and Youngstown State rounding out the top ten. Northern Iowa is 11th followed by Liberty, Montana State, James Madison, Eastern Illinois, McNeese State, Montana, Idaho State, South Dakota State and Richmond in the top 20. Eastern Kentucky is ranked 21st leading the final five schools with Harvard, Western Carolina, Cal Poly and Indiana State rounding out the poll.

The Panthers open the season on Thursday, Sept. 3 at Western Illinois and then visit Big Ten member Northwestern on Sept. 12. EIU's home opener is the Mid-America Classic against Illinois State on Sept. 19. The Panthers will host a total of three preseason Top 25 teams this season at O'Brien Field with Jacksonville State coming to town on Nov. 7 and Eastern Kentucky visiting on Nov. 21. Season tickets are now on sale by calling 217-581-2106 or online at www.eiupanthertickets.com