Spring Break
Football: Only two running backs return for next season
Transfer, freshmen could key backfield
Kevin Murphy / Sports Editor
Issue date: 2/4/09 Section: Sports
The Eastern football team has had 19 1,000-yard rushers since 1963. Seven of those running backs put up multiple years of more than 1,000 yards rushing.
It's been established that the Panthers need a running game in order for their offense to succeed.
They could get some more options with National Signing Day today as dozens of high school seniors will sign National Letter of Intents to play football at Eastern next season.
But it's not always an easy process.
"It was hectic," said junior running back Ron Jordan during his senior year. "I did a lot of stuff on my own."
Jordan said he was the first Division I athlete at his high school to sign. There was a television crew, various newspapers and a giant assembly.
But a few weeks up to that point, Jordan wasn't sure he was going to sign with the Panthers.
Jordan said the visit process was the most difficult.
Former Eastern assistant coach Noah Joseph and Eastern head coach Bob Spoo helped in the recruiting process.
Jordan visited Charleston the last weekend before announcing Eastern as his school.
But Jordan has numerous options including Indiana State, Illinois State and Miami (Ohio), which pulled its scholarship at the last minute, plus some other small schools in Ohio.
Although Jordan will not be playing this upcoming season because of another shoulder injury, he still has high expectations for the program.
"There should be no reason we shouldn't go for an (Ohio Valley Conference) run," he said.
Jordan said he had high expectations coming in as a freshman.
Jordan did play after expecting to red-shirt his first year. He also had a breakout game (115 yards) against Southeast Missouri in his sophomore year.
But Jordan was out most of this past season with a shoulder injury.
And with other injuries to the running back position - including Norris Smith, Eastern's running game faltered.
"(Spoo) just wants to get back where we could run the ball consistently," Jordan said.
A lot of eyes will be looking at red-shirt sophomore running back Chevon Walker and freshman running back Desmin Ward (short yardage situations). Ward had 11 touchdowns and 322 yards rushing. Walker finished with 365 yards and two touchdowns.
"A guy with speed like that doesn't come very often," Jordan said about Walker.
Walker was rated the No. 5 running back in the nation by Rivals.com as a senior, and was a part of Florida recruiting class that includes Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and expected first round pick Percy Harvin. Walker red-shirted his first season and only appeared in five games a red-shirt freshman with the Gators. He now competes on the Eastern indoor track team.
Other possibilities at running back include gray shirt freshman running back Kenny Williams and Mon Williams, also a Florida transfer in Walker's recruiting class.
Mon was rated as the No. 16 running back in the nation coming out of Mesquite Horn High School (Texas) in 2009. A first team All-State performer, he rushed for 1,672 yards with 17 touchdowns as a senior after a junior campaign with 1,499 yards and 13 touchdowns. Kenny was a three time All-Upstate Eight Selection rushing for 884 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior.
The other running back on Eastern's roster is freshman Bobby Earnest. Other possibilities include verbal recruitments: those one person who should sign tomorrow is Antioch senior running back Cameron White. Ward hosted White when White came to visit, and they really connected.
"He can help us out a lot," Ward said. "I like his film. He's a good all-around player."
Football Verbals:
High school football verbals/transfers
Name / Position / Previous School
Jake Odom / DL / Lakota West, Ohio *attending Eastern
Mon Williams / RB / University of Florida *attending Eastern
Kenny Williams RB / Elgin *attending Eastern (grayshirt)
Other high school verbals
Name / Position / High School/Previous School
Judes Amilcar / DE / Olympic Heights, Fla.
Jason Baker / K / Milwaukee Hamilton
Zach Bruce / TE / Ben Davis, Ind.
Artavious Dowdell / OL/LB / Glades Central, Fla.
DeShawn Harris / DB / Wyoming, Ohio
Roosevelt Holliday / DL / Bolingbrook
Joe Kripp / OL / Joliet Catholic
Erik Lora / WR / Christopher Columbus, Fla.
Dalton Morgan / DE/TE / DuQuoin
Earnie Morris / WR / Bloomington (Ind.) South
Jake Odom / DL / Lakota West, Ohio*attending Eastern
Dominic Pagliari / T / Quincy Notre Dame
Alex Pierce / OL / Carmel, Ind.
Amari Sapp / DB / Cypress Bay, Fla.
Antonio Taylor / LB / Immaculate Conception
Randolph Tribble / DB/WR / Palm Beach Garden, Fla.
Ryan Turner / LB / Lakota West, Ohio
Kenny Whittaker / WR / Christopher Columbus, Fla.
Cameron White / RB / Antioch
Chris Wright / WR / Niles West
Also
Name / Position / High School/Previous School
Mon Williams / RB / University of Florida
Kenny Williams / RB / Elgin*attending Eastern
Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.
It's been established that the Panthers need a running game in order for their offense to succeed.
They could get some more options with National Signing Day today as dozens of high school seniors will sign National Letter of Intents to play football at Eastern next season.
But it's not always an easy process.
"It was hectic," said junior running back Ron Jordan during his senior year. "I did a lot of stuff on my own."
Jordan said he was the first Division I athlete at his high school to sign. There was a television crew, various newspapers and a giant assembly.
But a few weeks up to that point, Jordan wasn't sure he was going to sign with the Panthers.
Jordan said the visit process was the most difficult.
Former Eastern assistant coach Noah Joseph and Eastern head coach Bob Spoo helped in the recruiting process.
Jordan visited Charleston the last weekend before announcing Eastern as his school.
But Jordan has numerous options including Indiana State, Illinois State and Miami (Ohio), which pulled its scholarship at the last minute, plus some other small schools in Ohio.
Although Jordan will not be playing this upcoming season because of another shoulder injury, he still has high expectations for the program.
"There should be no reason we shouldn't go for an (Ohio Valley Conference) run," he said.
Jordan said he had high expectations coming in as a freshman.
Jordan did play after expecting to red-shirt his first year. He also had a breakout game (115 yards) against Southeast Missouri in his sophomore year.
But Jordan was out most of this past season with a shoulder injury.
And with other injuries to the running back position - including Norris Smith, Eastern's running game faltered.
"(Spoo) just wants to get back where we could run the ball consistently," Jordan said.
A lot of eyes will be looking at red-shirt sophomore running back Chevon Walker and freshman running back Desmin Ward (short yardage situations). Ward had 11 touchdowns and 322 yards rushing. Walker finished with 365 yards and two touchdowns.
"A guy with speed like that doesn't come very often," Jordan said about Walker.
Walker was rated the No. 5 running back in the nation by Rivals.com as a senior, and was a part of Florida recruiting class that includes Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow and expected first round pick Percy Harvin. Walker red-shirted his first season and only appeared in five games a red-shirt freshman with the Gators. He now competes on the Eastern indoor track team.
Other possibilities at running back include gray shirt freshman running back Kenny Williams and Mon Williams, also a Florida transfer in Walker's recruiting class.
Mon was rated as the No. 16 running back in the nation coming out of Mesquite Horn High School (Texas) in 2009. A first team All-State performer, he rushed for 1,672 yards with 17 touchdowns as a senior after a junior campaign with 1,499 yards and 13 touchdowns. Kenny was a three time All-Upstate Eight Selection rushing for 884 yards and 14 touchdowns as a senior.
The other running back on Eastern's roster is freshman Bobby Earnest. Other possibilities include verbal recruitments: those one person who should sign tomorrow is Antioch senior running back Cameron White. Ward hosted White when White came to visit, and they really connected.
"He can help us out a lot," Ward said. "I like his film. He's a good all-around player."
Football Verbals:
High school football verbals/transfers
Name / Position / Previous School
Jake Odom / DL / Lakota West, Ohio *attending Eastern
Mon Williams / RB / University of Florida *attending Eastern
Kenny Williams RB / Elgin *attending Eastern (grayshirt)
Other high school verbals
Name / Position / High School/Previous School
Judes Amilcar / DE / Olympic Heights, Fla.
Jason Baker / K / Milwaukee Hamilton
Zach Bruce / TE / Ben Davis, Ind.
Artavious Dowdell / OL/LB / Glades Central, Fla.
DeShawn Harris / DB / Wyoming, Ohio
Roosevelt Holliday / DL / Bolingbrook
Joe Kripp / OL / Joliet Catholic
Erik Lora / WR / Christopher Columbus, Fla.
Dalton Morgan / DE/TE / DuQuoin
Earnie Morris / WR / Bloomington (Ind.) South
Jake Odom / DL / Lakota West, Ohio*attending Eastern
Dominic Pagliari / T / Quincy Notre Dame
Alex Pierce / OL / Carmel, Ind.
Amari Sapp / DB / Cypress Bay, Fla.
Antonio Taylor / LB / Immaculate Conception
Randolph Tribble / DB/WR / Palm Beach Garden, Fla.
Ryan Turner / LB / Lakota West, Ohio
Kenny Whittaker / WR / Christopher Columbus, Fla.
Cameron White / RB / Antioch
Chris Wright / WR / Niles West
Also
Name / Position / High School/Previous School
Mon Williams / RB / University of Florida
Kenny Williams / RB / Elgin*attending Eastern
Kevin Murphy can be reached at 581-7944 or at kjmurphy@eiu.edu.
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