2019 NCAA Division I College Football Team Previews: Eastern Illinois Panthers
Eastern Illinois Panthers
Location: Charleston, IL
Coach: Adam Cushing (0-0), 1st Season at Eastern Illinois
Stadium: O’Brien Field (Capacity 10,000)
CSJ Projections:
5th: OVC
7th: Illinois
65th: FCS
192nd: Division I
2018 In A Sentence: Eastern Illinois struggled to a 3-8 season in 2018, but their games were not without excitement. The lowest combined point total in any of the Panthers’ games in 2018 was 45 points, and that game went to overtime. Playing shootout football did not serve Eastern Illinois well, though, as they didn’t have the offense to keep up with most teams in the second half where they allowed 232 points and only scored 191.
Biggest Shoes to Fill: WR Alexander Hollins had a huge senior season; production that will be difficult to replace in 2019. The 2018 2 nd Team STATS All-American hauled in 80 catches for 1102 yards and a staggering 16 touchdowns. Hollins had five games where he had at least 7 catches, five games where he amassed at least 100 receiving yards and five games where he had multiple touchdown catches. The Panthers also have to replace second leading receiver Aaron Gooch for a total of 145 catches, 1797 yards and 21 touchdowns of production between the two.
Key Player: QB Jonathan Brantley returns for his senior season in 2019 and is the next in a line of excellent quarterbacks coming out of Eastern Illinois – a list that includes the likes of Sean Payton, Tony Romo and Jimmy Garoppolo. Brantley completed 65% of his passes for 2016 yards and 14 touchdowns with only two interceptions. Even with the loss of his two top receivers, Brantley is primed for a huge senior season for the Panthers.
Fearless Prediction: Eastern Illinois hopes to return to playoff form in 2019, but it look like more of a long shot for the Panthers this year under new head coach Adam Cushing. They play FBS Indiana as well as three tough FCS foes – Chattanooga, Illinois State and Indiana State – before they get into their FCS slate. Look for a similar record to last year, with the potential for a one or two win improvement.
Jamie is a proud 2002 graduate of James Madison University. He’s witnessed the growth of the program from no one in the stands in 1998, to the hiring of Mickey Matthews, to the 2004 National Championship, to the 2008 team, to the struggles in the early 2010s, and finally the rebuild under Mike Houston. He also allegedly really enjoys Washington, DC-based Stanley Cup winners.
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