Eastern quarterback Jalen Whitlow can’t wait to see Dy’Shawn Mobley on Saturday, but that is only because the two former Kentucky teammates will be reunited in Roy Kidd Stadium in Richmond, Ky.

This time though, the former Wildcats will be on opposite sidelines, as Eastern plays its first Ohio Valley Conference road game at 5 p.m. Saturday at Eastern Kentucky.

The trash talking has not started yet, but Whitlow is sure it will begin prior to kickoff.

“I was kind of waiting for him to send the first text or call, but I’m not going to initiate anything,” Whitlow said. “If we don’t talk leading up to the game, I’m sure we’ll see each other during pregame warm ups, or definitely after the game, so I’m looking forward to that.”

Both players started their college careers at the same time and received playing time as freshmen at Kentucky in 2011. Although Whitlow might be excited to reconnect with his former teammate and friend, the Eastern defense has the difficult task of trying to stop the 5-foot-11, 215-pound, running back.

If there were one guy that knows how good of a player Mobley is, it would be Whitlow.

“When were at Kentucky, he was the one running everybody over,” Whitlow said.

Mobley leads the OVC with 530 rushing yards, first in average yards per carry and second in touchdowns with five. Whitlow describes Mobley as a powerful running back that is physical, while Eastern head coach Kim Dameron said the junior is tough to bring down.

Whitlow remembers one specific game in 2011, against Arkansas that perfectly portrays Mobley’s running style.

“He got in and we were handing him the ball and he was just running like a, I don’t know, like a wild bull – that’s just his style,” Whitlow said.

But Mobley did not get many chances at Kentucky and after the 2013 season he transferred to Eastern Kentucky, while Whitlow followed and transferred to Eastern.

The Colonels also have quarterback Bennie Coney, who transferred from Cincinnati, which is also an FBS program. Coney began the season as the starter, but during the last couple games he and Jared McClain have been sharing time.

That decision was made by head coach Dean Hood and for now he is comfortable with it, especially with the program’s best start since 1990, at 5-0.

“Usually when you have a two-quarterback system, so to speak, you have one guy who comes in and runs and the other guy comes in and throws, or some variation of that,” Hood said. “Our guys can run the entire package of the offense and that’s the only way to do it.”

Dameron’s transfer quarterback split time in the Panthers’ first three games, but has since been declared the outright starter. Whitlow isn’t the only FBS transfer affecting Eastern this season, though.

Anthony Standifer, who transferred from Ole Miss, leads the Panthers with two interceptions as a starting corner for Eastern’s defense. Dameron said getting transfers from FBS programs is important each year and is something that coaches need to benefit from.

“You see around the country in the FCS that it’s vital, it’s a part of recruiting that we have to take advantage of,” Dameron said. “We got three guys from the SEC playing for us. Two are starting and one of them is playing a backup role in the d-line. We have a starting corner and a starting quarterback out of it. Sometimes those positions are the toughest to recruit out of high school.”

Defensive lineman Horace Arkadie transferred from Arkansas to Eastern along with Whitlow and Standifer.

Dameron said transfers definitely could upgrade your program. So far, for Eastern Kentucky the addition of Mobley and Coney has gotten the Colonels within one win of last year’s 6-6 record.

For Eastern, the end result is yet to be determined, but Saturday’s meeting could answer some questions.

While Whitlow not only prepares for Eastern Kentucky’s defense but a reunion with Mobley, Standifer will get his first close up with the running back.

“I’ve never heard of him,” Standifer said. “Our coach said he’s a pretty good back and he’s broken a lot of big rushes. We just have to focus on our tackling. If we just wrap up and all swarm to the ball then we’ll have no problem stopping him.”

Aldo Soto can be reached at 581-2812 or asoto2@eiu.edu.