Erik Lora is a name synonymous with Eastern football after his historic 2012 season.

But fellow wide receiver Keiondre Gober knows he has an analogous opportunity in front of him, and it starts with his sophomore season.

“I’m ready to grab balls this year, instead of coming in here and there,” Gober said of his new starting role. “Since the seniors (from last year) are gone, I have my chance to get on the field and show what I can do.”

Last season, Eastern had a glimpse of what the 6-foot, 3-inch, 196-pounder is capable of.

Originally a red-shirt freshman, Gober was forced to have the red-shirt removed after multiple injuries at the wide receiver position.

In his first colligate game, Gober hauled in three catches for 132 yards — a staggering average of 44 yards per reception.

Of those three catches, two were touchdowns of 66 and 56 yards in Eastern’s 65-15 rout over Austin Peay on Family Weekend, Sept. 29.

“One of the reasons we took his red-shirt off, so this year wouldn’t be so new to him,” coach Dino Babers said. “Now, he has a lot more experience out there. We need that experience from last year to carry over early in our schedule, so he can be a major impact in our offense.”

In an offense dominated by pure speed, Babers said Gober is arguably one of the most explosive players on the entire Panther roster.

His 4.42 40-yard dash time is what perfectly blends him with Baber’s philosophy of Eastern’s football team being the fastest thing fans have ever seen.

“If there was a race of the fastest guys on our football team, he would be in that race,” Babers said.

Yet the role transition won’t come as swiftly as Gober’s 40-yard dash time.

Babers and Gober had several discussions about what it will take for fans to remember the Lubbock, Texas native.

The biggest focus has been Babers instilling maturity in Gober.

Most of the maturity the coach and wide receiver refer to is on the field, such as memorizing the playbook, running the correct routes and reading opposing teams’ defenses more thoroughly.

Babers told Gober maturing as a football player is something that comes with a leadership role that is needed as a starting wide receiver — regardless of experience.

Gober said he is ready to take on a leadership role even with just nine games under his belt.

“He told me that even though I’m still young, I need to act like an older player,” Gober said.

After the impact season Lora, the 2012 Ohio Valley Conference Athlete of the Year, had, Gober knows he might get more looks with Lora being double-teamed more often this season.

But perhaps his maturity can already be credited to the fact that Gober knows it is still on him to succeed.

“It’s all on me. (Quaterback Jimmy Garoppolo) doesn’t just look toward (Lora),” Gober said. “He looks for whoever is open. It’s on me how many catches I end up getting.”

Gober is still confident he will see an immense increase in the number of receptions he finishes 2013 with.

But he has just one word for what fans can expect to see from him: excitement.

“I just want to come out and ball, just do me,” he said

If Gober’s definition of doing him is anything contiguous to his debut last season, then Eastern fans and teammates will be able to witness something special when the Panthers open the season Aug. 31 on the road against San Diego State.

That is if their eyes will be able to keep up with him on the field.

Anthony Catezone can be reached at 581-2812 or ajcatezone@eiu.edu.