Issue date: 2/5/09 Section: Sports

Eastern head football coach Bob Spoo responds to a question Wednesday afternoon in O'Brien Stadium after announcing the 21 players who signed National Letters of Intent to play for the Panthers next season. (Eric Hiltner/The Daily Eastern News)

Eastern head football coach Bob Spoo said on last year's National Signing Day that the Eastern football team was switching to a spread offense.

That never materialized in the fall, but Spoo said on Wednesday that the program was still looking to head that way at a press conference at O'Brien Stadium to announce the 2009 recruiting class with 23 football athletes.

"We're going to do some of those kinds of things," Spoo said about this year's recruiting class. "We're moving in the right direction. That's something that's not been forgotten about. It's very much in my thinking (and offensive coordinator's Roy Wittke's as well)."

Spoo also said this year's recruiting class (20 high school seniors signing National Letter of Intents, a four-year college transfer, a two-year college transfer and an early-entry high school senior) is one of the most athletic he has seen in years.

"There should be no doubt that we're moving forward," Spoo said.

Those athletic players include red-shirt sophomore running back Mon Williams. Williams transferred from the University of Florida.

"We feel like he fits into our system," said special teams and running back coach Justin Lustig.

Williams 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.

Lustig said Williams is a strong, North-to-South running back.

There is a long list of athletic players in this recruiting class. This includes Antioch senior running back Cam White.

Lustig sees using White in a variety of ways, and maybe even running the ball back on special teams.

"He scores touchdowns in every single way," Lustig said.

White plays basketball and runs track as well. He rushed for 1,796 yards and 35 touchdowns during his senior year.

"You're getting one of the best offensive weapons in the state," Antioch head football coach Brian Glashagel said. "He's a Devin Hester on the field. Anytime he touches the ball, you hold your breath."

Eastern defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni targeted Randolph Tribble as another athletic player.

Tribble, a senior at Palm Beach Gardens in Riviera Beach, Fla., also plays basketball and competes in the long jump.

The Panthers also have an early enrollee as part of their signing class.

Jack Odom, a defensive lineman from Lakota West High School in West Chester, Ohio, is enrolled during the spring semester.

Eastern secondary coach Bobby Babich said while Odom, son of former Ohio State offensive lineman Tim Odom, might be undersized his passion for football is unmatched.

"When we were recruiting Cincinnati, people were telling us we got the best defensive lineman in the city," Babich said.



Roosevelt Holliday, a defensive lineman from Bolingbrook, and Joe Kripp, a 6-4, 282-pound offensive lineman from Joliet Catholic Academy, tied and set a state record at a state power-lifting meet at squatting 700 lbs.

"Take two Volkswagen's and cut them in half, and that is what those guys squatted," said Eastern offensive line coordinator Jeff Hoover.

Hoover said they had been watching Holliday for a while, and his size will help the Panther frontline.

Kripp was a force for the Hilltoppers this season at right guard.

Champaign Central's Adam Baker is the first known long snapper to sign since 1987.

"He came into our one-day camp and really impressed us," Wittke said.

Eastern's lone long snapper was walk-on Brady Woolverton, who is finished with his eligibility.

Spoo wanted his coaches to look to expand the wide receiver position.

"I believed we've increased and enhanced that position dramatically," Spoo said. "The yards after a catch are important. Look at the Super Bowl. We expect that when they receive the football, they're going to be able to make some extra yards for us. I don't feel like that we lack that now."

There were four wide receivers in this year's recruiting class.

Bellantoni said Columbus (Miami) senior wide receiver Erik Lora visited New Hampshire the week before Eastern, and once Lora visited Charleston, he was hooked.

Bellantoni said Lora, 5'10'' and 166 pounds, is a fierce blocker as well. Also, Columbus (Miami) senior wide receiver Kenny Whittaker stood out as well.

Whittaker had a hip and groin injury toward the end of the season, and Bellantoni said Whittaker's scholarship to a Football Bowl Subdivision team had been taken away.

Also in the signing class for receivers is Earnie Morris, from Bloomington South High School in Bloomington, Ind., and Chris Wright from Skokie, who played at Niles West High School.

There are no quarterbacks in this year's recruiting class.

Spoo said that all positions are not set yet, and there still could be some scholarships left for any position.

The Panthers finished the 2008 season with a 5-7 record after making three straight NCAA Football College Subdivision playoff appearances from 2005-07.

The Panthers will open the 2009 season on Sept. 3 against Illinois State.


Football recruits: Other high school verbals

Name / Position / High School/Previous School
Judes Amilcar / DE / Olympic Heights, Fla.

Adam Baker / LS / Champaign Centennial

Jason Baker / K / Milwaukee Hamilton, Wis.

Nick Beard / S / Delray Beach, Fla. (Atlantic)

Zach Bruce / TE / Ben Davis, Ind.

Cody Bruns / TE / Moon Valley/Scottsdale CC

Roosevelt Holliday / DL / Bolingbrook

Joe Kripp / OL / Joliet Catholic

Erik Lora / WR / Christopher Columbus, Fla.

Alex McNulty / S / Bolingbrook

Dalton Morgan / DE/TE / DuQuoin

Earnie Morris / WR / Bloomington (Ind.) South

Dominic Pagliara / T / Quincy Notre Dame

Alex Pierce / OL / Carmel, Ind.

Amari Sapp / DB / Cypress Bay, Fla.

Antonio Taylor / LB / Immaculate Conception

Randolph Tribble / DB / Palm Beach Garden, Fla.

Ryan Turner / LB / Lakota West, Ohio

Cameron White / RB / Antioch

Kenny Whittaker / WR / Christopher Columbus, Fla.

Chris Wright / WR / Niles West


Also

Name / Position / High School/Previous School
Jake Odom / DL / Lakota West, Ohio*attending Eastern

Kenny Williams / RB / Elgin*attending Eastern (grayshirt freshman)


Kevin Murphy and Dan Cusack can be reached at 581-7944 or at DENsportsdesk@gmail.com.

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