There’s a reason senior flanker Will Bumphus thanks God before every interview he gives.

It goes beyond his mother and father who are both preachers. It goes beyond thankfulness for his God-given abilities including speed and instincts that Panther head coach Bob Spoo said are almost unmatched.

His praise to God stems from someone he’d never met before.

“I met her while I had my knee surgery,” Bumphus said. “She came out and witnessed to me and gave me a whole new perspective. I gave my life to God right there.”

Bumphus underwent season-ending reconstructive surgery on his left knee last year after Eastern’s second game. His recovery was swift and may have gotten a few steps quicker since.

“He’s been playing like it never happened,” Spoo said of this week’s Top Cat. “We’re all extremely proud about the way he was able to come back.”

Bumphus’ play Saturday against Indiana State solidified that comeback. He caught four passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns – an effort worth bragging about.

But Bumphus is more humble and will give God credit every chance he gets.

“My goal this year is just to follow Matthew 6:33, ‘Seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you,'” Bumphus said.

But his attitude was not always that way.

Bumphus said he had a problem with authority when he was younger. He said he respected his coaches, but had a hard time listening to someone who told him what to do.

“I just had a hard time taking anything from my mom and pop,” Bumphus said. “But now I’ve really had an attitude change.”

The change couldn’t come at a better time.

Bumphus leads a receiver corps with a gaping hole left by Frank Cutolo, who graduated last year. But the Indianapolis native is cool with taking on that roll.

“He’s a leader, but not by word,” Spoo said of the soft-spoken 211-pounder. “I don’t think he talks a whole lot out there, but his actions say a lot and I think the rest of the receivers take notice.”

Bumphus was a sprinter at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis in addition to playing football.

“He had raw talent and that was the reason why we wanted him,” offensive coordinator Roy Wittke said. “He had good size and didn’t have great hands, but he had the ability to improve.”

Bumphus mentions Wittke on the next breath after God when he’s passing out credit – something he does a lot of.

“I’ve got to give props to him,” Bumphus said. “If it weren’t for him I wouldn’t have been able to improve the way I have.”

Wittke said there’s room for more improvement and also said he wouldn’t be surprised if it came as the season progresses.

“He needs to work more at catching the ball underneath,” Wittke said. “And he’s also got to get more consistent. There’s always room for more consistency.”

The current Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Week joined the Panthers in the same class with Walter Payton Award candidate Tony Romo, whom Bumphus also gives credit.

“He and I talk all the time,” Bumphus said. “We have a bond because we came in together. We laugh about it, but I say that he didn’t look too good when he first came in here. I didn’t think he’d do so well. But he’s a guy who has really worked hard at it and you’ve got to give Wittke credit for that too.”

Bumphus and the rest of the Panthers have their sights set on a decisive win over Illinois State after squeaking past the Sycamores 26-19 Saturday.

“I think it’ll really be a good game,” Bumphus said. “I believe we’ve got things straightened out. We lost a little bit of our first-classness last week, but coach Spoo and everyone else have been saying all the right things to help us correct it.”