Issue date: 9/9/09 Section: Fall Sports Guide

Quarterback Jake Christensen looks to make a pass during practice August 31, in O'Brien Stadium. (Rob Warren/The Daily Eastern News)

Despite coming off a 5-7 season that saw the Eastern football team miss the playoffs for the first time since 2004, optimism is high as the Panthers open their 23rd season under head coach Bob Spoo.

The reason for the optimism can be translated in a number of ways, but the most obvious starts at the most recognizable position. Jake Christensen - a graduate student who transferred from Iowa - is the new Eastern starting quarterback and he brings with him a Big Ten pedigree as he started 14 games over two years for the Hawkeyes.

Christensen beat out returning starter Bodie Reeder for the job during training camp. Reeder started all 12 games for the Panthers in 2008, throwing for 1,931 yards, 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

While Spoo said when Christensen entered camp there would be a competition between the two for the starting job, when the decision to go with Christensen was made, he was confident in the decision.

"I think that was the right decision for us," he said. "He has done a good job. It was what was best for our football team."

But while quarterback is usually the most looked at position and the most noticeable upgrade, another position the Panthers hope to get a boost out of this season is out of the guys who line up directly behind Christensen - the running back.
Travorus Bess, last year's leading rusher with 1,086 yards, graduated and the two returnees, junior Chevon Walker and sophomore Desmin Ward combined for 687 yards behind Bess last season.

To help make up for the loss of Bess, Eastern brought in two transfers who hope to share the workload with Walker and Ward.

Junior Mon Williams joins Walker as the second running back to transfer to Eastern from Florida in as many years. Williams was Scouts.com's No. 5 rated running back in the nation coming out of high school, but tore his ACL in 2006, ending his Florida career.

Along with Williams, the Panthers brought in sophomore Jimmy Potempa, a former walk-on with Michigan. Potempa is more of a scat-back type player who will be seen lining up in a variety of ways, including as a slot receiver.

Eastern offensive coordinator Roy Wittke said the addition of Williams and Potempa to the depth chart with Walker and Ward gives the Panthers a luxury they didn't have in years past.
"That's been a tough position on us the past several years," Wittke said. "We've had some guys get injured and you can never have too much depth at that spot. We feel good about that group right now as long as we can keep them all healthy.

The offense is rounded out by an inexperienced group of wide receivers led by junior Charles Graves, the only returning starter from last year's unit. Senior Chaz Millard, a second team preseason All-American who moves from right guard to center this season, anchors the offensive line.

While an abundance of new faces grace the offensive side of the ball, the defense is loaded with experience, including upperclassmen at nine of the 11 starting spots. The secondary is led by senior safeties Adrian Arrington and Seymour Loftman.
Loftman is the team's top returning tackler and Arrington, who was cleared to play late in camp after questions about his status because of past head injuries, is hoping to anchor the defense.

"Last year we felt like our leadership wasn't really what it could have been," Arrington said. "I feel like it is (Loftman and my) responsibility on the team to make sure we're doing what the coaches are doing.

The Panthers are off to a 1-0 start on the season following a 31-6 season-opening victory against Illinois State.

They play Indiana State (0-2) at 11 a.m. Saturday in Terre Haute, Ind.

Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.

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