Editor’s note: After posting a disappointing 2-6 Ohio Valley Conference record last season, the Panthers are looking to regroup and reload for the 2011 season. The Panthers are ranked No. 7 in the OVC preseason poll. Here’s a breakdown of the prospective OVC rankings.

1. Jacksonville State – The Gamecocks are not only one of the strongest teams in the OVC, but also in the entire Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). In the preseason Top 25 FCS Coaches Poll, Jacksonville State is ranked ninth. They are the only OVC team on the list. Jacksonville State defeated the Panthers 28-23 last season. They will face an even bigger challenge this season with Jacksonville State’s addition of running back Washaun Ealey, who transfers from the University of Georgia, who is ranked 19th in the nation this preseason. Ealey was the Bulldogs leading rusher for two seasons, in which the team made two NCAA bowl appearances.

2. Murray State – Murray State defeated the Panthers by 10 points on Homecoming last season, where Eastern was unable to get the ball moving on the ground, finishing the game with only 31 rushing yards. The team finished with a record 5-3. Murray State’s offense has the ability to score points, as they scored more points on the Panthers than any team on Eastern’s schedule last season. The Racers have lost a number of wide receivers since then, but the team still runs an offense able to put points on the scoreboard.

3. Eastern Kentucky – Eastern Kentucky’s offense scored 35 points against the Panthers last season, and with nine offensive starters returning, the Colonel offense shouldn’t be slowing down anytime soon. Wide receiver Orlandus Harris was a major weapon last year for the Colonels, raking in close to 1,000 receiving yards. Harris played his best in November when he went for over 200 yards receiving in back-to-back games against Jacksonville State and Tennessee Tech. The preseason All-OVC wide receiver will look to improve on those numbers this season. The team finished 6-5 overall last season.

4. Southeast Missouri – Though SEMO, who finished 7-1 overall last year, will retain their starting quarterback Matt Scheible from last season, they will be without OVC Offensive Player of the Year, running back Henry Harris, as well as three offensive line starters. However, on the other side of the ball, the team will return five defensive starters, including Tylor Brock, who ranked as one of the nation’s leading players in interceptions. SEMO beat Eastern at home last season on Family Weekend, 28-13.

5. Tennessee Tech – The Panthers were defeated on the road last year by Tennessee Tech 20-34, who will retain nine starters on defense. The Golden Eagles will be without running back Joc Crawford. The former Kansas Jayhawk ran for 127 yards and two touchdowns against Eastern last season. Tennessee Tech finished with a record of 5-6 last season. Time will tell if a Crawford-less Tennessee Tech will be as successful against the Panther’s defence.

6. University of Tennessee-Martin – The homecoming opponent for the Panthers this year has never had a losing season in conference play under the team’s current coach Jason Simpson. Last year, the Skyhawks beat the Panthers 20-10 and finished with a record of 6-5. The Skyhawks will be lead by quarterback Derek Carr, who despite throwing for an OVC-best 2,543 yards, also threw 13 interceptions last season, tied for the most in the OVC.

7. Eastern – Finishing with a record of 2-9 last season, the Panthers will hope to rebound in what will be Bob Spoo’s final season as head coach, a position he has held for the last 25 seasons. Sophomore quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will be the team’s starter under center, where he threw for 1,639 yards in his first year. Freshman Reggie Box out of Edwardsville should be a compliment to red-shirt junior Jake Walker at the running back position. The Panther defense also features junior Artavious Dowdell, who had 51 tackles last year.

8. Tennessee State – After the Panthers’ 31-28 overtime victory on the road against Tennessee State last season, the Tigers will be hungry during their Nov. 5 matchup when they come to O’Brien Field to face the Eastern. Tennessee State’s biggest name is potential NFL draft prospect, linebacker Rico Council. Council had 79 tackles and four sacks last season. Council’s defense ranked fifth overall in the OVC last season. The team finished 3-8 overall last season and failed to win a conference game in 2010.

9. Austin Peay – The Panthers’ first win of last season came against Austin Peay, who finished with a 2-9 record overall last season, in week nine, 28-10. One of the Governor’s top recruits from the off-season was quarterback Landon Curtis from Calhoun, Georgia. Curtis led his high school team to the state finals in his senior year. However, junior Jake Ryan is expected to be the team’s starter. Ryan threw for 593 yards last season. Austin Peay was ranked last in both total offense and total defense in the OVC last season.

Dominic Renzetti can be reached at 581-7944 or dcrenzetti@eiu.edu