Team Preview: Decatur Eisenhower

EDGYTIM.com previews the 2017 Decatur Eisenhower Panthers here. For more in depth preseason coverage including state wide team coverage along with daily recruiting news and updates, make sure to subscribe to the EDGY Nation today.

School: Eisenhower

Mascot: Panthers

Conference: Central State 8

Team Twitter:

Head Coach: Drew Wagers

Assistant Coaches: Doug Smith, Tom Beller, Tim Seider, Bryson Taylor, Kevin Hale, Michael Kidd

2016 results: 7-4 (6-3 Central State 8 Conference). The Panthers made the Class 5A state playoff field, defeated Jacksonville then lost to Peoria.

2017 Eisenhower Panthers schedule

vs MacArthur

@ U High

vs Jacksonville

vs Lanphier

@ Southeast

vs Chatham

@ Springfield

vs Rochester

@ SHG

Returning Offensive Starters

Matt Skeffington- QB/ 6'0/185/ 2018

Shalin Bond- WR/5'9/150/2018

Joseph McKinley- WR/5'11/175/2018

Returning Defensive Starters

Jakob Davis- LB/6'0/190/2018

Shalin Bond- DB/5'9/150/2018

Joseph McKinley- DB/5'11/175/2018

Newcomers to Watch

Julian Coleman- LB/5'8/200/2018

TJ Gaines- WR/6'2/170/2018

Daniel Morford- LB/6'0/180/2018

Laquane Crue- DB/5'10/165/2018

Top Impact Player for Eisenhower in 2017? Either senior QB Matt Skeffington or senior LB Jakob Davis. Both Skeffington and Davis played big roles for the Panthers in last season's state playoff team and expect both to have an even bigger role on and off the field.

Biggest Concern heading into 2017? Can the Panthers reload on both sides of the football with just 6 returning starters back?

EDGYTIM's Way Too Early Take on the 2017 Eisenhower Panthers?

The Battle of Decatur seems to trade off every few years and Eisenhower has been to back to back state playoff appearances over the past two seasons. If the Panthers can find some answers this summer on both sides of the football they have a shot at contending for another state playoff spot. However, the CS8 is always stacked and that includes cross-town rivals MacArthur this fall.

EDGYTIM's Way Too Early regular season record prediction for the Eisenhower Panthers? 5-4/4-5