Another Panther announced his decision to enter the transfer portal.

Senior safety Nick Coates announced on his X account that he will enter the transfer portal on Dec. 9.

The Louisville, Kentucky, native has one year of eligibility remaining after spending four years with the Panthers.

“After much thought and consideration, I want to announce that I will be entering the transfer portal with one year left of eligibility,” Coates’ post reads. “I would like to thank my coaches and teammates at Eastern Illinois for helping me develop as a player and as a person, and to my family for their continuous love and support. I am honored to have been a Panther for the last four seasons; the experiences and relationships built will always be apart of me.”

Coates suffered an injury within the season, limiting him to only four games in the 2024 season. Last season, Coates played in all 11 games, recording 32 total tackles, five passes defended and one interception.

The NCAA transfer portal opens on Dec. 9 and closes on Dec. 28.

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