EIU Football Opens Season Sept. 3 at Western Illinois

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois football reported for fall camp Tuesday with the Panthers set to start practice for the 2015 season on Wednesday afternoon.   Over the summer the Panthers added depth at several positions as head coach Kim Dameron announced the addition of 12 transfers that will compete for EIU this season.  The additions on the roster give the Panthers depth on both sides of the ball with seven offense and five defensive players.

EIU will open the season on Thursday, Sept. 3 at Western Illinois. After a Sept. 12 game at Northwestern, EIU opens its home season on Sept. 19 against Illinois State in the 104th playing of the Mid-America Classic. Season and single game tickets are now on sale by calling 217-581-2106 or online at www.eiupanthertickets.com

Mack Weaver and Jerron Seymour both transferred from Vanderbilt University. Weaver is a 6’5” 255, tight end who was a two-year member of the Commodores program. Seymour graduated in May from Vanderbilt and has one year of eligibility remaining. The 5’7” running back led the team in rushing with 716 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2013. His production was limited last season due to injury.

The Panthers added a pair of transfers from Northern Illinois with the addition of Scott Taylor and Jareem Fleming. Taylor is a 6’2”, 274, offensive lineman that appeared in games each of the last two seasons for the Huskies. He will compete for a starting spot upfront after the Panthers lost three starters in that unit from last year. Fleming is a 5’11 linebacker that redshirted last season at NIU. He played his high school football at Morgan Park in Chicago where he earned All-Conference honors.

Kent State transfer James Brooks is one of four incoming wide receivers that bring experience to the Panthers this fall. Brooks (5’9”) was the team’s top punt returner last season while hauling in 16 passes for 283 yards. He had one 100-yard game against Army. The Panthers added three junior college wide receivers in Andrew Gamble, Brandon Neverdon and Isaiah Nelson. Gamble (6’2”) played last season at Feather River College in California where he caught 51 passes for 1,019 yards and eight touchdowns. Neverdon (5’8”) played last season at Hartnell College in California where he saw action as both a running back (302 yards) and wide receiver (21 catches, 295 yards). Nelson (6’0”) played at LA Pierce College in California where he had 32 catches for 466 yards and two touchdowns.

The offensive transfers were rounded out by tight end Ben Odugbesan (6’4”, 215) who played at Nassau CC in New York last season helping the team post a 10-0 record while winning the Valley of the Sun NJCAA Bowl.

On the defensive side of the ball EIU added depth at defensive back with Jermiah Rainey and at linebacker with Steven Mychalchuk and Isaiah Riddle. Rainey (5’9”) played at Contra Cost College in California helping the team post a 10-1 record as he made 15 tackles with four pass break-ups. Mychalchuk played two seasons with one at Dean College in Massachusetts and one at College of DuPage. Between the two schools the 6’3” linebacker made 110 tackles with 22 tackles for loss. Riddle is 6’3” and redshirted at Kansas State last season.

In addition to the 12 transfers joining the team this summer and reporting camp, former EIU men’s basketball player Dylan Chatman is listed on the camp roster during his final season of collegiate eligibility. Chatman was a two-year member of the Panthers basketball team after transferring from Southwestern Illinois College. Last season he helped the Panthers hoops team advance to the second round of the CollegeInsiders.com Postseason Tournament.