Eastern head coach Bob Spoo is most concerned about the quarterback position.

He addressed the importance of the position on National Signing Day at O’Brien Stadium to announce the 2010 recruiting class with 19 football athletes.

Football Bowl Subdivision quarterbacks have led the Panthers for the past three seasons, including Jake Christensen (Iowa), Bodie Reeder (Wyoming) and Cole Stinson (Ball State). Mike Donato was the last non-FBS quarterback.

The Panthers signed three quarterbacks, including one athlete-quarterback this season.

Marshall quarterback Taylor Duncan, Rolling Meadows’ Jimmy Garappolo and athlete Sam Hendricks join Brandon Large and Doug Reynolds as potential starters.

Spoo said Jeff Thorne was the last true freshman quarterback to

start for the Panthers in 1990.

“It’s not beyond the realm of possibility,” Spoo said. “They’re going to compete. Whoever emerges will be the guy.”

Eastern offensive coordinator Roy Wittke is not ruling out a No. 1 signal caller quite yet.

Wittke said getting a quarterback out of high school was a priority. He also said this year, the Panthers been able to gain a couple special kids and that they will be able to get their opportunities.

Also in the signing class were 10 defensive players, including two first-team Tribune All State honorees. This includes Providence’s Pete Houlihan and De La Salle’s D.J. Bland. Bland originally verbally committed to Alcorn State, but changed to Eastern according to the Northwest Indiana Times.

The Eastern coaching staff also picked up a commitment from

Bolingbrook’s Marcus Lee, who originally committed to Toledo.

The Bolingbrook connection has been established before, but this is the first time where the Panthers have had recruits in successive years.

“Coach (John) Ivlow knows we’re taking care of his kids and treating them well, and he was the first one he called when that happened,” said Eastern defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni. “It lets you know you’re doing something well.”

The Panthers also picked up Bolingbrook defensive tackle Brandon Tucker. Last year’s recruiting class included defensive lineman Roosevelt Holliday and defensive back Alex McNulty. Sophomore defensive end Perry Burge also came from Bolingbrook.

Other standouts from this year’s class include Parkway Central’s (St. Louis) Cameron Berra, a relative of Yogi Berra. Cameron will play baseball at Eastern as well.

Charleston’s Adam Drake will join a receiver corps that will return most its starters from last season. Drake had 41 catches for 572 yards and two touchdowns as a senior for the Trojans.

The Panthers finished 8-4 and captured the Ohio Valley Conference Championship, but still fell short in the playoffs.

They open up the 2010 season Sept. 4 at Iowa.

“We have to get over that hump,” Spoo said.

Kevin Murphy can be reached

at 581-7944

or [email protected]