RICHMOND, Ky. – Eastern Kentucky University’s 2019 football recruiting class is ranked 11th in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) according to rankings by 247Sports released on Thursday.
The Eastern Kentucky class is rated higher than such programs as North Dakota State (12), Illinois State (14), James Madison (16), Montana (17), Kennesaw State (18), Northern Iowa (20), Austin Peay (21) and Jacksonville State (23) among others.
EKU’s overall ranking was higher than Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) member Liberty.
Head coach Mark Elder has engineered four straight top-25 rated recruiting classes. The 2018 and 2019 classes were both ranked 11th by 247Sports.
This year’s Eastern class included 17 high school seniors, three junior college transfers and three FBS transfers. FBS transfers do not factor into the 247Sports rankings.
The group of future Colonels includes seven offensive linemen, three defensive linemen, three defensive backs, two running backs, two wide receivers, two quarterbacks, one tight end, one linebacker, one kicker and one athlete.
The top ranked FCS recruiting classes belonged to Portland State and Harvard. Others in the top-10 include Princeton (4th), Yale (5th) Eastern Washington (8th) and California-Davis (10th).
The results of the staff’s strong recruiting showed this past season as the Colonels ended the 2018 season with four straight wins and were in the conversation for a playoff spot. Eastern Kentucky finished 7-4 overall and third in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 5-2 mark. EKU will begin the 2019 season having won 10 of its last 16 games.
Of the 61 players on the season-ending depth chart, 50 will be back in 2019 including 13 starters. Eastern lost just 15 players from the 2018 squad who had ever played in a game.
Eastern Kentucky has won two national championships, 21 conference titles and has made 21 playoff appearances. No other FCS team has won at least two FCS national titles and 20 or more conference championships.
Fans can get a head start on the 2019 season by placing a non-refundable $50 deposit on season tickets that will be included in the overall price of the package. Fans who place a deposit between Feb. 6 and Feb. 8 will receive four general admission tickets to a remaining basketball game of their choice.
For questions or to place your deposit, call Alex Harrison at (859) 358-9272 or the EKUSports ticket office at 844-3-GOBIGE.
The 2019 season begins at home for the Colonels on August 29 when Valparaiso visits Roy Kidd Stadium.
