Coming from McKendree University, redshirt senior tight end Jordan Sprycha decided to transfer to Eastern.

Playing for the McKendree Bearcats, a Division II university, Sprycha played in 11 games during the 2023 season and recorded 24 catches for 188 yards and one touchdown.

Throughout his four years with the Bearcats, Sprycha recorded 56 catches for 515 yards and nine touchdowns.

In this Q&A, Sprycha talked about his journey in football, how he never played tight end until college and why he loves the small town feel of Charleston.

Q: When did you first start playing football?

A: “I think it was my seventh-grade year. I just did it because my dad loved it. We’d throw around the ball a little bit in the front of the yard. He loved it, and I was like, ‘I want to be a quarterback for him.’ I started playing around seventh grade. I didn’t really like it at first. I actually didn’t like football growing up. I remember my dad would watch the Bears’ games, and we’d watch them with my grandpa, and it was terrible. I couldn’t sit down for four hours. I just wanted to run around and have fun, but being in it more and the lessons it taught me, that’s what made me love football more.”

Q: So, you weren’t always a tight end?

A: “No. I was a quarterback: too big, so I had to move up because of weight limits, so I got to play with the older guys. A lot of guys I played with graduated now and were two years older than me. I had to bump up with the bigger kids because I was a bigger kid I guess. I played mainly defensive line. I didn’t get to play tight end until I got to college.”

Q: Pancakes or waffles?

A: “Easily pancakes. Actually for my birthday, every morning, my mom will make me pancakes. When she was pregnant with me, she loved eating pancakes, so I guess I kind of inherited it. I’m not complaining though.”

Q: Do you put anything on your pancakes?

A: “Just butter and syrup.”

Q: Who are your biggest supporters?

A: “Definitely my family for sure. Parents, sisters, grandparents. We have a smaller family for sure. My mom is from Mexico, so a lot of my family lives in Mexico. On my dad’s side, a lot of us don’t live close to each other, so I’d say my immediate family are my biggest supporters.”

Q: Why did you transfer to Eastern?

A: “I did the whole [transfer] portal thing. It was kind of crazy hearing from all these different schools. Honestly, what brought me here was general proximity to family. I’m big on family, so with my parents being from Chicago and it being a two hour drive, they can ride down and see all the games. That was very important to me. Also, I love what coach Wilk[erson] preaches, and it kind of got reiterated down the line through the coaches. I know the coach who recruited me isn’t here anymore, coach [Jordan] Walsh. When he would always talk about Wilk and his objective is, talking about family, being a hard hat, lunch pail, blue collar type of guy, and I feel like I fit that mold. I think this place is a great place for people to make a name for themselves that are generally overlooked. I think it’s a true blessing honestly. When I first got here, it felt like family, and I didn’t feel that anywhere else.”

Q: Who on the team are you giving the aux to?

A: “It has to go to my fellow Ace, tight end room is called the Aces. That’s coach [Cole] Hoover’s thing, but it has to go to Joe McNab. He’s on aux before practice in the locker room. I think I’m rocking with Joe. He’s a sleeper. Don’t sleep on Joe.”

Q: What is your favorite NFL team?

A: “Bear down, that’s easy.”

Q: Where were you when Justin Fields got traded to the Pittsburgh Steelers?

A: “I literally remember this. I was eating dinner. I see, ‘conditional sixth or seventh round draft pick.’ Face down on the table. I was hurting.”

Q: What is your favorite memory with this team so far?

A: “It’d either have to be the summer cookouts we were having during the lift in or the Indiana State game. Being able to get in there for a good amount, and it felt like that was our most complete game for sure. The defense balled, had a couple turnovers, a crazy ending. I’m talking about the fireworks. They were amazing. I loved the fireworks. It was a great night, and we won.”

Q: Do you think the Earth is round or flat?

A: “Definitely round. How could it be flat? It’s got to be round unless everything is a lie. I’m going with round; I’ll stick with school.”

Q: Who’s the funniest person on the team?

A: “There’s some goofy guys for sure. Definitely Jamal [Jeffers]. That shows a lot because I’m new.”

Q: If you had the power to bring one celebrity on this campus, who would it be?

A: “I would go with Druski or Adele. So polar opposites.”

Q: Why would you bring Druski?

A: “Having Druski here would be funny. Him and Jamal [Jeffers] would be really funny.”

Q: Why would you bring Adele?

A: “She’s got great music. Pregame playlist, I’m listening to Adele. ‘Someone Like You.’”

Q: How do you like your steak cooked?

A: “Medium rare for sure. That has to be the only way you eat it. Who goes well done? You just killed it. It’s so dry. My parents like their steaks well done. They don’t like any pink, and I’m like, ‘What are we doing? We just dropped thirty bucks on a steak, and you’re just going to eat a tire. What are we doing?’ I love you mom and dad but come on.”

Q: What school did you come from?

A: “I came from a D[ivision] II school called McKendree. It’s a small school, small town. Probably about 3,000 people.”

Q: So Charleston isn’t big to you?

A: “Yeah. I love it here.”

Q: Why do you love Charleston?

A: “I love the small town feel. I like how we can go see bigger things, and it’s not super far away. Like St. Louis is two hours away; Chicago is two hours away. Maybe it might be cooler if they were an hour away. I think the small town is an oasis to figure out what your craft is and keeping the main thing the main thing. It limits your distractions, but it also allows you to have your family and close friends to call it a home.”

Q: Knowing everything that you know now, what would you tell 10-year-old you?

A: “You will no longer need to wear sports goggles. The sports goggles were so bad. I’d tell him life isn’t that bad. The sports goggles will go away.”

Zaria Flippin can be reached at 581-2812 or at zhflippin@eiu.edu.