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Illinois Football: An Eye on the Opponent’s Top Player

Entering week one of the 2024 season, who is the Eastern Illinois Panthers biggest threat to Illini Football?

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Eastern Illinois Biggest Threat to Illini Football
Sep 16, 2023; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen (13) cannot make a catch near the end zone against Illinois Fighting Illini linebacker Seth Coleman (49) during the first half at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Can the Panthers Upset a Big Ten Program?

Illinois football is nearly underway! The Illini are ready to kick off their 2024 campaign on Thursday evening vs Eastern Illinois. The Panthers will travel just 55 miles to play in Champaign.

EIU heavily progressed last season under 2nd-year head coach Chris Wilkerson. The Panthers nearly made the FCS Playoffs for the first time since 2015. They held an impressive 8-3 overall record. 18 starters return for Eastern Illinois from their talented 2023 roster. The Panthers’ best player may arguably be their running back, MJ Flowers.

 

 

A Guy To Keep an Eye On MJ Flowers.

The rising Sophomore from Cincinnati quickly became a star in Charleston. After racking up 1,046 all-purpose yards, and 8 touchdowns as a true freshman, MJ earned first-team All-OVC honors.  Flowers also earned OVC Offensive Freshman of the Year, in addition to being runner-up for the Jerry Rice FCS Freshman of the Year.

The true sophomore is the Panthers’ top big-play threat, which, is why defensive coordinator Aaron Henry’s defense needs to key in on Flowers. The defensive line is a question mark for Henry’s defense, and if MJ can find lanes, and break off long runs, Illinois Football could get into trouble. If anyone is going to create rhythm and lead the Panthers offense to a win over a Big Ten opponent, it is certainly going to be this guy.

 

 

MJ Flowers - Football - Eastern Illinois University Athletics

Credit: EIUpanthers.com

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Kirkland is an expert source for Illinois athletics news. He is the lead Football analyst at Armchair Illini and has been featured in top media publications like Bleacher Report, Yard Barker, Autograph, Newsbreak, CBS Sports and more.

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