& MEET THE COLONEL OFFENSE CENTERS

Toby Coyle Junior 2L.6a1.. . 271 ... One

Letter Berea,. ~KY Toby left ll'pring pract ice as the starter at the.'center position started 50 percent of the games in '97, playiqg every other1qua.rter puts his hat on the right ,persop :'rl:ms good for his s ize needs to improve his strength"'and' flexibility to becom ~ the player he wants to be staying 1in shape in the summer is important for Toby to holding down the starting spot. was on the Dean's List in 1997 high scho ~)° teammate of current Co) el fu!lba"ck Jorn{s l'iill :his ' father, Mike, played for coach Roy Kidd at Eastern in 1969-70 graduate of Madison Southern High School.

Chris Holder .... Senior ....22 .... 6-2 ... 285 .... 0ne

Letter Lanca~ter, CA Chri§ ll at out all ofl spring practice because of shoulder surgery played every o~her quarter ~nd st~~-ed half of the games) n/ 997, along with Toby Coyle .: .w!ll batt,le Toby this faWfor the starting nod if his shoulder is not ready for contact, he could be redshirted in 1998 has ~II the tooli/ to be a great one one of strongest players on , the team who has benched 225 pounds tor 42 repetltions needs to stay healthy to reach his potential an.d 1ieeds to concentrate on his assignments if he ca'n l overcome these Ob· stacles, the sky is the limit...was a January junior college transfer from Antelope Valley College (CA) in 1997 a graduate of Antelope Valley High School.

Lewis Diaz ... Sophomore ... 20 ... 6-1 ... 258 ... No

Letters Mia'ml, Ft .,,Gewis was redihirted in 1996 and played sparingly in 1997 is comi ~goff a solid,Spring has • ¢;• • committed l]imself to becoming a b'etter football player one 'of the , tjetter athletes in !the offensive line extremely quic~ needs to concenfr~{e on gaining strength if additional strength is attained, he will figure in the Colonels' two-de~p lineup thi ~ fall. graduate of South Miami High Sctiool.

Guards

Tyrone Hopson .. ._!)enior . .. 22 ... 6-3 .. . 309 ... Three Letters Owenstjo'£o·f KY Tyrone had "' a solid 1997 season, being na"m'ed first-team AII-OVC and third team Associated F?rel s AII -American wui' serve as one of Eastern's capta.ins for the '98 seaso ( is Eastern's most experiencett offens iye linemen r~furning started first half of the ~eallon at tackle ,and ITioved to guard after the season-enging injury to Reggie Myrti l... is an excellent athlete and plpys well ih space definite All-American candidate in 1~9~ -;,;was.,.the first true fre5,hman to play for EKU In the last rovears' on the offensive linein 1995 was a starter at left tackle in '96 is a very good pass blocker graduate of Daviess County High School.

Reggie Myrtil ~enior 22 ... 6-1 1/2 .. ,301 ... Three Letters Nort~ '!'!1ahii Be~p h,j=~;,; -'3eggie" was playing his best Jo9,tball last year when he inj4red his knee on the a1iflcial turf in the 29·8 victory at Murray State sat out the spring rehabilitating his knee could play either gu.,9- td ;Q! 'Center in 19~8-y is a tremendous tale~t...tias ,a:1I the toolS\ has run/ a 4 89 40-yard dash and Is a 149·pound b~nch preslle l'. .if he stays healthy, he could'¼ d,? finitely Jb? con;5iq ered for post - seaon honors wa~; a back1;1p center during the 1995 season and a part-tiinestarfer in '96 the only thing keeping Reggie from being a great one will be his ability to stay away from the injuries that have plagued him throughout his EKU career. forme r state high school heavyweight wrestling champ in Florida graduate of North Miami Beach High School.

Josh H\Jnter Juni.or 21 ... 6-2 ...,280 ... Two Letters Bradenton, FL. t Josh is coming off a solid 1997 season which saw him earn first -team All·OVC honors and be selected as the te_/m;s niost valuable offensive lineman t has a "pit-bull;: mentality--once he locks on he will not let go was 9 part-time starter in 1996 as a true freshrpari has good strength could improve his overall athJetic ability if he coritinl.Jes to"improve he fl , , should bea 1andIdatefor post-season honors again can be counted on for leadership was a four-year, threesport (fo6tb"all, track, wrestling) participant in high school. graduate of Southeast High School.

Jacob Johnson Freshman 19 ... E!-2 1/2 ... 293 ... No

Letters Couisville, KY ! Jacob ~a ~ redshirted in t "'"" )~ - / 41, 1997 had a solid sprinQ positioned himself to figure in the two-deep lineup"' Jnis fall knowsi the game and catches on quickly 1 has a lot of pride ,l rfe eds to improve fe A k his overall strength 1and athletic ability before he can push for a starting position was a two tim~ all-district and four-yea'.r/ participant in football in high school graduate of Valley High School ?

Brett O'Buck Sophomore 20 6-3 1/2

270 0ne Le~er ... Roswell, GA.f..Brett is c6J!l-ing off'ap excellent spn~g played both guard ~nc:Vtackle iQ 1997 has received more experience at t,ackle will definitely push for a starting pos[tion in 1998. !.if that doesn't l]appen, he will back up both guards and get lots of playing time tested out as the No 1 offensive lineman in the spring needs to improve his fliexibility was red shirted in 1996 graduate of Pope High School.

"Howard Jones Freshman 19 . .. 6-1 1/2 ... 330 ... No Letters .. . Dania, FL rfowar d!wa; • redsh"irted in 1997 has ail the tools ' to be a great on~ came to Eastern completetly ourof shape has lost solne weight, needs to continue this trend ,,to competedin College , he must get his body in shape has~xcelleptJuture at EKU i' -·-~--"19 occurs was a first-team all-county selection by the Mi~mi Herald and the Sun Sentinel graduate of St. Thomat Aquinas High Scho