A Look at Today’s Opponent: EKU

A QUICK LOOK AT TODAY’S OPPONENT: EKU

u After playing its complete, nine-game schedule during the fall semester of 2020, Eastern Kentucky makes its 2021 debut in Cullowhee in the season-opening road trip ... EKU plays its first two games away from Richmond before enjoying four-consecutive home dates through early October; u EKU finished the 2020 fall season with a 3-6 overall record – but were just two plays away from flipping that mark to a 5-4 season ... On Oct. 3 against Houston Baptist, EKU scored a touchdown to pull within one with 4:04 left in the game. The game-tying extra-point was blocked and returned for two points and a subsequent three-point swing in a 33-30 loss ... On Oct. 17 at FBS Troy, EKU took a 29-28 lead with 21 seconds left in the game. The Trojans drove 30 yards in three plays and made a game-winning 47-yard field goal as time expired. u The Colonels faced a very difficult schedule in 2020 including three games against NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponents – Marshall, West Virginia, and Troy – and two against nationally-ranked FCS opponent Central Arkansas; u Head coach Walt Wells earned a one-year contract extension from the university taking his contract through the 2024 season; u Eastern Kentucky is now 612-397-38 in 107 seasons of football dating back to 1909; u EKU saw six players named to the first-ever Preseason All-ASUN football team back in late July; u The five Colonels named Preseason All-ASUN include PAYTON COLLINS (offensive line), JYRAN MITCHELL (all-purpose), QUINTEN FLOYD (defensive line), MATTHEW JACKSON (linebacker) and JOSEPH SAYLES (defensive back); u EKU was picked to finish FIFTH in the Preseason ASUN / WAC AQ7 Coaches Poll ... Defending national champion Sam Houston State is the preseason favorite after taking all seven firstplace votes in the poll. u Redshirt junior LB MATTHEW JACKSON has received a lot of attention entering the 2021 football season from national publications: u Jackson was named to the 2021 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America team as a thirdteam selection; u Jackson was selected to the 2020-21 Stats Perform FCS All-America team following a breakout season ... He garnered a second-team selection after leading EKU with 79 tackles including 8.0 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks ... He was one of just 11 linebackers across the nation to earn a spot on one of the two teams; u EKU returns 17 combined starters off of the 2020 squad including six on offense, nine on defense, and two specialists ... Among the offensive starters are three linemen, a tight end, a wide receiver, and redshirt sophomore QB PARKER MCKINNEY ... On defense, EKU only lost a defensive end and a cornerback from last year’s roster; u DID YOU KNOW: A long-time member of the Ohio Valley Conference since its founding in 1948,

Eastern Kentucky University and all 16 of its athletics teams officially joined the ASUN Conference on July 1, 2021 ... All EKU teams are immediately eligible for conference awards, postseason play and NCAA Tournament automatic bids ... In addition to EKU, Jacksonville State University and the

University of Central Arkansas are also joining the ASUN Conference. These three join Kennesaw

State and the University of North Alabama as scholarship FCS football members of the ASUN. u DID YOU KNOW, PART TWO: Eastern Kentucky University has made 21 appearances in the NCAA

FCS playoffs all-time with a 16-19 overall record ... EKU has won 21 total conference championships while a member of the Ohio Valley Conference, most recently coming in 2011.

ABOUT EKU

SCOUTING THE COLONELS QUICK FACTS:

Location: ....................... Richmond, Ky. Founded: ...............................1906 Enrollment: ........................... 13,327 Colors: ....................... Maroon & White Conference: .................ASUN Conference Facility (Capacity): .... Roy Kidd Stadium (20,000) President: ..................Dr. David McFaddin Athletics Director: .................. Matt Roan Head Coach: ............Walt Wells (Belmont, 1993) Record at EKU: ................... 13-14 (3rd yr) Overall Record: ........................ same Basic Offense: .................Multiple Spread Basic Defense: ........................... 4-3

2021 SCHEDULE:

Sept. 4 at Western Carolina 6 pm

Sept. 11 at Louisville 7 pm Sept. 18 Indiana State 7 pm Sept. 25 Austin Peay 3 pm Oct. 2 Tarleton 3 pm Oct. 9 Abilene Christian 6 pm Oct. 16 at Central Arkansas 5 pm Oct. 30 Lamar 2 pm Nov. 6 at Stephen F. Austin 5 pm Nov. 13 at Sam Houston 1 pm Nov. 20 Jacksonville State 2 pm

HEAD COACH WALT WELLS