Former EIU Erik Lora Signs With Jacksonville Jaguars

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Former Eastern Illinois All-American wide receiver Erik Lora was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday as the club released wide receiver Damian Copeland. The Jaguars have two exhibition games remaining against Detroit this Friday and at Washington on Sept. 3.

Lora was signed by the Lions as a free agent in the spring but was released before the team opened camp this year. Last season Lora signed as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings playing a portion of the exhibition season with the club before being released.

At Eastern Illinois Lora earned All-American status in both 2012 and 2013 catching passes from current New England Patriots quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. In 2012 Lora set the FCS single season record for pass receptions with 136 catches for 1,664 yards as he finished fourth in voting for the Walter Payton Award. As a senior he was seventh in voting for the award won by Garoppolo. During the 2013 season Lora hauled in 123 passes for 1,554 yards as he became the career receiving leader for both Eastern Illinois and the Ohio Valley Conference. He finished his career with 332 catches, second most in FCS history while his 4,006 career receiving yards were 11th-most in FCS history.