Prairie State Pigskin

Bengals draft Illinois State defensive back in fifth round

The last two Illinois State defensive backs taken in the NFL Draft turned out to have pretty strong careers. Perhaps that will bode well for Davontae Harris, the latest Redbird to be selected. The Cincinnati Bengals tabbed Harris as their fifth-round pick of this year’s NFL Draft. The Wichita, Kan. native was the 151st player... Read more »

By Dan Verdun,
April 28, 2018 at 2:59 pm

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New faces at QB, defense deliver headlines in Eastern spring game

Defense won the day last weekend at the Eastern Illinois spring football game. The Panthers’ defensive unit won, 34-27, over the offense at O’Brien Field in Charleston, Ill. But perhaps the biggest winners were two new faces at quarterback running the Panthers’ new-look Air Raid offense. Navarro Junior College transfer Harry Woodbery (17-for-27, 198 yards,... Read more »

By Barry Bottino,
April 28, 2018 at 2:20 pm

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Will Illinois State's Harris be the latest Land of Lincoln FCS player drafted?

With this year’s NFL Draft taking place today through Saturday at the home of the Dallas Cowboys, a group of former Illinois FCS players are hopeful of being lassoed by one of the league’s 32 teams. If their names are not called for any of the 256 selections over seven rounds, signing as an undrafted... Read more »

By Dan Verdun,
April 26, 2018 at 5:00 am

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Western Illinois wraps up spring practice with 'consistent improvement'

A year ago, Western Illinois debuted a new defensive scheme in its spring practices. This time around the Leathernecks debuted a new head coach. Jared Elliott, who took over for Charlie Fisher in January, closed his first spring camp as head coach with the Bruce Craddock Memorial Spring Game. Last season, Elliott served as Fisher’s co-offensive... Read more »

By Dan Verdun,
April 25, 2018 at 5:00 am

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ISU defense 'pretty solid and will be even better next fall'

If this spring’s practices are any indication, then Illinois State head coach Brock Spack has reason to believe his defense will be more than ready for the rigors of the Missouri Valley Football Conference schedule. “The defense played well again today,” Spack said following Saturday’s Spring Showcase scrimmage at Hancock Stadium. “Our defense is pretty... Read more »

By Dan Verdun,
April 24, 2018 at 5:00 am

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Addition of new Redbird OL Megginson is no laughing matter

Gabe Megginson has made quite an impression so far in only four months on Illinois State’s campus. The 6-foot-5, 300-pound offensive tackle has been “a tremendous addition to our team,” said ISU head football coach Brock Spack. “He’s fun to be around. He’s just goofy enough that he’s awesome. He makes us laugh. He laughs... Read more »

By Barry Bottino,
April 23, 2018 at 5:21 am

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Whether or not the weather affects this weekend's FCS spring games still up in the air

Logic would tell you that by scheduling spring practices essentially two weeks ahead of other state football programs would run the risk of rough weather (albeit playing in a milder climate six hours south of Chicago). Yet, this spring, logic has resembled a wind-blown shanked punt. And that turned out well for Nick Hill. The... Read more »

By Dan Verdun,
April 17, 2018 at 5:00 am

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