Known for his connections to the Sunshine State, the now former Eastern defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni was a major recruiting edge for the Eastern football team. Bellantoni played a large role in bringing in Florida natives CJ James, Rashad Haynes, Ke’Andre Sams, Nick Ricks and Seymour Loftman.

However, Bellantoni also spent a little bit of time in the Bluegrass State, as he was a key figure in the recruiting of high school seniors Jake McNair and Darnell Gardner of Kentucky’s duPont Manual High School.

McNair, a linebacker, and Gardner, a wide receiver, were both recruited by Bellantoni to play for the Eastern team next season, but now with Bellantoni out of the picture, the two may be having second thoughts.

“(Bellantoni) was honestly the main reason I even considered Eastern Illinois at first,” McNair said. “He made a really good impression on me and my dad, and he was the main reason I kept coming back, and it was a very sad thing to hear yesterday.”

McNair said Bellantoni personally called him to tell him he would no longer be the Eastern defensive coordinator.

“I talked to him on the phone a couple of times and he was really cool,” Gardner said. “He was the one who got me interested in the school and all and then when I heard the news, I was kind of let down.”

Both McNair and Gardner said they were both under the impression that Bellantoni would be the next head coach.

“He had always told me that he was the main guy for the job and he was almost certain that he was going to get it,” McNair said. “He told me that’s why he stuck around for so long, was because that he was in line to get the head coaching job, so when I committed I was under the impression that I was going to be playing for him.”

Gardner said he had heard from players on the team that Bellantoni would be next in line to lead the team.

“I was told from some of the players on the team that he would probably get the head coaching job,” Gardner said. “I was really excited for him to get it. I was kind of expecting him to get the job too.”

With the recent coaching changes at Eastern, both McNair and Gardner said they are unsure if they will play for Eastern next season.

“Now, I’m not really sure what’s going on or what my future is with Eastern Illinois,” McNair said.

While McNair said he’s still committed to the team, he said it will depend on where the new head coach wants to use him in the defense.

“I’m still committed, I guess,” he said. “I guess it all depends on what the new guy wants to do with me. It’s very possible that a new guy could come in and not want me and have some other guys in mind.

Gardner said without Bellantoni, he’ll have to keep his future options open.

“After the visit, I was kind of looking forward to committing there, but now that he was let go, I don’t know anything about the new coach that’s coming in,” he said. “Now I’ll just have to explore my options a little bit more.”

Dominic Renzetti can be reached at 581-7942 or [email protected].