Preseason Football Camp Report
EUREKA, Ill. – The Eureka College football team began preparing for its 112th season of intercollegiate competition and seventh campaign as an associate member of the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, last Friday afternoon. A total of 84 student-athletes reported to participate in preseason camp.
"We are very pleased with camps so far," seventh-year head coach Kurt Barth said after the first weekend of camp. "It is obvious our guys put a great deal of time and effort into preparing for the season."
The Red Devils began arriving late Friday morning to check in at the Cerf Center and participated in fitness testing early in the afternoon. The squad's first official practice started at 5:05 p.m. Friday's events kicked off nearly three full weeks of preseason workouts that will include practices, walk-throughs, meetings and team meals.
Fall semester classes are scheduled to begin Wednesday, Aug. 26. The Red Devils will participate in a controlled scrimmage against outside competition on Saturday, Aug. 22 and host their annual Maroon & Gold intrasquad scrimmage at McKinzie Field on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 1 p.m.
Following the scrimmage, Eureka will begin their weekly game preparation to host Knox in the regular season opener on Saturday, Sept. 5 at McKinzie Field. The non-conference matchup with the Prairie Fire marks the fourth annual Abraham Lincoln Bowl, where the Red Devils currently own a 2-1 advantage in the series over the Prairie Fire.
Eureka returns 51 letterwinners from last season's squad, 16 of which were regular starters, when the regular season begins next month. The Red Devils also welcome 33 newcomers to the program. The Red Devils went 2-8 overall last season and 2-7 in UMAC play.
2015 Newcomers:
Colton Fauver, 5-11, 185, DB, Catlin, Ill., Catlin H.S.
Jake Jepson, 5-8, 180, DB, Farmington, Ill., Farmington H.S.
Jake Griffin, 5-11, 190, WR, Rutland, Ill., Fieldcrest H.S.
Josh Kuse, 5-11, 165, RB/WR, Heyworth, Ill., Heyworth H.S.
Colton Johnson, 6-1, 215, QB, Lewistown, Ill., Lewistown H.S.
Andy Cain, 5-9, 155, WR, Canton, Ill., Canton H.S.
Jacob Davis, 5-9, 165, QB/DB, Gilman, Ill., Iroquois West H.S.
Jonas Elterich, 5-10, 235, ATH, Bloomington, Ill., Bloomington H.S.
Dylan Chandler, 6-2, 190, LB, Carthage, Ill., Illini West H.S.
Josh Mead, 5-10, 185, RB, Tampico, Ill., Bureau Valley H.S.
Dustyn Brown, 5-9, 180, LB, El Paso, Ill., El Paso-Gridley H.S.
Cody Herrick, 5-10, 180, LB, Elizabeth, Ill., River Ridge H.S.
Chris Friend, 5-11, 230, LB, Washington, Ill., Washington H.S.
Jonmarc Rasberry, 5-10, 200, OL, Newbern, Tenn., Metamora H.S.
Ryan Barth, 6-1, 260, OL, Minonk, Ill., Fieldcrest H.S.
Derek McGowen, 5-10, 245, OL, Carrolton, Ill., Carrolton H.S.
CJ O'Rourke, 5-10, 205, OL, Riverside, Calif., Pana H.S.
Colby Brannock, 6-0, 200, LB, Heyworth, Ill., Heyworth H.S.
Kyler Walle, 6-3, 260, DL, Petersburg, Ill., Porta H.S.
Joey Rasmussen, 5-9, 170, LB, Seneca, Ill., Senca H.S.
Tristan Rose, 6-1, 250, TE, Herscher, Ill., Herscher H.S.
Gage Rudloff, 5-11, 150, WR, Pekin, Ill., Pekin H.S.
Macae Skaggs, 6-5, 260, DL, Farmington, Ill., Farmington H.S.
Jordan Lamb, 6-0, 215, DE, Catlin, Ill., Catlin H.S.
Tristun Reeves, 5-11, 235, DL, El Paso, Ill., El Paso-Gridley
Jayson Alexander, 5-9, 170, RB
Nicholas Duy, 5-8, 185, DB
Tajai Williams, 6-1, 205, DE
Byron Cottrell, 5-11, 160, DB
Xavier Terrell, 5-9, 220, RB
Christopher Koll, 5-9, 180, RB
Paul Rhodes, 5-8, 185, RB
Tony Diaz, 5-9, 210, OL