In January of 2026, about 40 new players joined the Eastern Illinois football team, followed by head coach Chris Wilkerson adding five new coaches to the staff.
After losing half of the team to the portal, Wilkerson said he and the staff were intentional with the new additions to the roster this year.
Wilkerson said the experience and age of the new players was a target for him when deciding on who to bring in.
“We were very purposeful in trying to age up our roster, and so we were able to attract and sign some guys that have some collegiate experience,” Wilkerson said. “That part of it has boded well for us, and we’ll be a little older, more physically developed football team this fall.”
Having an older team is something Wilkerson said he looks forward to seeing developed in the fall.
After arriving on campus, the new players went through winter mat drills and midnight lifts, and now Eastern is entering its third week of spring practices with the spring game set for April 25 at 11 a.m.
After two weeks of spring practices, Wilkerson said he’s happy with how the team is beginning to come together.
“I’ve been really pleased with the development that I’ve seen certainly on our roster and with our coaching staff,” Wilkerson said. “We’ve learned a lot about each other over the winter, and certainly the mat drills. Now through the first seven practices this spring, I’m very pleased with the foundation that we’ve laid, but still a lot of work to be done, but a lot of new faces and certainly some talent that we’re very excited about.”
When portal transitions were being made and most college coaches were fielding a team, Wilkerson didn’t buy into that. Instead he emphasized building a prtogram and creating culture as the goal for his team.
Some newcomers have already felt this approach since arriving in Charleston.
“My experience has been very good. The coaches and the team here, they really brought me in and welcomed me with open arms, and [I’m] just very thankful for this group of men,” redshirt senior linebacker Mafileo Tupou said. “As far as my teammates, my brothers and then coaches, people I look up to. They’re just trying to develop me and see me become a better man in general.”
Tupou is a transfer from Adams State University where he earned honorable mention All-Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, and led the team with 83 tackles.
Other new players, such as redshirt junior defensive lineman Aidan Flores, are focused on building relationships and adjusting to the new culture, but also learning.
“This spring has brought a lot to me,” Flores said. “I’ve been learning a lot of new things, a lot of new techniques, new concepts, just like the culture here. It’s been great.”
The new players are adjusting to the culture, but the returning players are also now adapting to their new teammates and coaches.
“It’s different because every coach got their own way of coaching and everything like that, but I like him,” redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Rahfeeq Katumbusi said. “It hasn’t been anything too crazy to get used to. But it’s been cool learning new things.”
After last season, Katumbusi was named first team freshman All-American and second team all-OVC-Big South.
Redshirt senior wide receiver Landers Green agrees with Wilkerson’s thoughts on team chemistry.
“Spring ball has been good. I feel like the team is meshing a lot,” Green said. “I feel like we got a lot of new players. So at the same time, we got to mesh with them too. I feel like everybody has been doing their job, [and] learning their role a lot.”
Green said specific groups like the quarterbacks and receivers that have multiple new players are competing and developing together.
“A lot of new quarterbacks are finding their role, a lot of receivers finding their role, too,” Green said. “I feel like it’s good for all of us to come together and keep working towards the same goal.”
Wilkerson stated that, minus a few walk-ons, the defensive roster is filled out, but the staff still has some things on the offensive side to address.
“We’re a little bit thin still right now today in the offensive line and a little bit thin in that wide receiver,” Wilkerson said. “We just didn’t quite address the entire needs, but there’s still time to do that, and the guys that are here are playing their tails off and working really hard.”
Even with the low number players on offense, the leadership has continued to emerge as a key factor in bringing the team together.
“We do have a core nucleus of returning players that have been very strong leaders,” Wilkerson said. “Some of the new guys have certainly come in and very quickly established a presence through their work ethic and their action in the weight room and on the field during winter program, and it’s carried over into the spring practices.”
With two weeks remaining until the spring game, the focus remains toward continuing to build team chemistry, sharpen development and solidify roles such as the new captains.
The spring game will offer the first real look at how this new group of players and coaches have come together, and what the future could hold for Eastern Illinois football this fall.
Payton Liggins can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].
