Almost a week after signing its first 10 recruits of the year, Eastern signed three more high school students to play for the Panthers in the 2001 season.

The newest recruits, Chad Cleveland from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Ricky Johnson from Miami, Fla., and Wale Dala from Orland Park, Ill., will all help the Panthers try to build on their success of last season.

Although all three players are true freshman, Eastern’s head coach Bob Spoo expects the players to make an impact for Eastern this season.

“You know if the true freshman that we had last year are any indication of what kind of success they can have then they should do well this year,” Spoo said.

The three players, who all play on the defensive side of the ball, will help a Panther defense that graduated more than it’s share of players.

Cleveland and Dala, who both play in the defensive backfield, will be looked at to play right away, but will have to take a step back and try to take in the new defensive scheme they will be playing in.

“I don’t think you can ever have enough good defensive backs,” Spoo said. “And I think that anytime we can improve our defensive backfield back-ups it’s a good thing.”

Johnson, who played at southwest suburb Carl Sandburg high school, is a defensive end that will be looked at to come in and contribute to a depleted defensive line.

“Well, we do have Steve Rangel at one defensive end and Alex Schmink at the other,” Spoo said. “But we are in need of players on the defensive line, but he will have to play well to dislodge any of the players that we have already.”