Eastern Illinois football had 11 total players earn All-Conference honors as the Ohio Valley Conference released its post-season awards on Tuesday (Nov. 22). Included on the list were four first-team selections in Cameron Leach, Elijawah Tolbert, Stone Galloway and Trey Wilhoit.
EIU had seven players named to the All-OVC second team with Chad Strickland, Colin Bohanek, Jordan Vincent, Nick Coates, Mark Aitken, Cooper Willman and Jack Valente. Wilhoit was also named to the 11-member All-OVC Newcomer Team.
Leach was an anchor up front for the Panthers defense finishing the season with 22 tackles including 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Leach was a first team selection at defensive tackle.
Tolbert was EIU's third leading tackler on the season finishing with 70 tackles including 6.5 tackles for loss. He was tied for the team lead with three interceptions. Tolbert was a first team selection at outside linebacker.
Galloway was one of the top kickers in the nation finishing the season ranked second in the FCS in field goal percentage. Galloway had a string of 14 straight made field goals between 2021 and 2022 and made his first ten of the season finishing the year 11-of-12. He was named the first team selection at kicker.
Wilhoit finished the season ranked fifth in the FCS in punting average as he just missed setting the EIU single season record in punting average. He finished the season at 44.0 yards per punt as he was named to both the OVC first team as a punter and the OVC All-Newcomer team.
Strickland was a second team All-OVC selection at offensive tackle. He started the first eight games of the season at left tackle missing the final three games of the season due to injury.
Bohanek was a second team All-OVC selection at inside linebacker. He ranked second on the team with 73 tackles including leading the Panthers with seven tackles for loss. He added two interceptions and two forced fumbles.
Vincent was a second team All-OVC selection at safety for the second straight season. He finished the year as EIU's leader in tackles with 84 including leading the OVC with 57 solo tackles. He was tied for the team lead with three interceptions and forced two fumbles.
Coates was a second team All-OVC selection at nickel back in his first season as a starter at the position. He finished the year with 67 tackles to rank fourth on the team adding 3.5 tackles for loss and five pass break-ups.
Aitken was a second team All-OVC selection at kick returner. Aitken averaged 24 yards per return for the season with a long return of 80 yards. He also scored a touchdown on special teams returning a blocked field goal 65 yards for a touchdown.
Willman was a second team All-OVC selection at punt returner as EIU ranked 24th in the FCS in punt return average. Willman had a 13.4 yards per return average with a long return of 55 yards.
Valente was a second team All-OVC selection at long snapper as EIU had some of the best field goal and punt teams in the OVC. Both EIU's field goal kicker and punter earned first team All-OVC honors. The field goal team was 11-of-13 on the season and perfect on extra points. The punt team was fifth in the FCS in net punting.
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