Eastern Kentucky football hopes continuity in key areas will boost FCS playoff push

If change was commonplace during Walt Wells’ first two seasons as Eastern Kentucky football head coach, then continuity is the biggest storyline ahead of his third season in charge of the Colonels.

Wells was hired as EKU head coach in December 2019, just months before the coronavirus pandemic altered any semblance of a normal debut season. EKU went 3-6 against a schedule that featured three FBS opponents and one repeat opponent.

In 2021, more change came as the Colonels began life in the ASUN Conference after leaving the Ohio Valley Conference, which brought on a new slate of obstacles and opponents.

EKU went 7-4 last season, put together a five-game winning streak (the program’s longest since 2014) and just missed out on the FCS playoffs.

So now in year three, free of most of the alterations caused by COVID and settled into their new conference, the Colonels are primed to put it all together in an effort to return to the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2014 and win a postseason game for the first time since 1994.

“As a first-time head coach (in 2020), to develop who I am and what we want to see as a program, you have your thoughts and everything’s ready for you. Then you get blown up with COVID, and the next year you’re moving conferences,” Wells said during EKU’s Media Day in early August.

“Now we’re into some normality . . . coaches love routines.”

Wells acknowledged that the Colonels, like most football teams, will go as far as their quarterback can take them. So it’s a good thing redshirt junior Parker McKinney has shown steady progression during his college career.

In 2021, McKinney set career-best marks in: Games played (11), completions (229), passing yards (2,429), passing touchdowns (18), rushing yards (596) and rushing touchdowns (six).

While the EKU offense has lost its leaders from last season in rushing yards (Da’Joun Hewitt) and receiving yards (Matt Wilcox Jr.), McKinney’s versatile skill set should help the Colonels replace that production.

McKinney’s connection with quarterback-turned-tight end Dakota Allen (34 catches for 440 yards and a team-best five touchdowns last season) should remain a core part of the EKU offense.

“He sees the game from a quarterback’s perspective,” McKinney said of Allen. “He can really help me with defenses like, ‘Hey, they’re doing this. They’re doing that.’ And that helps me a lot on the sidelines, so going out for the next drive I know what he’s seeing as well.”

On defense, the conversation starts and stops with redshirt senior linebacker Matthew Jackson, who has received plenty of preseason accolades this summer.

Jackson is one of the most experienced players on the EKU team, with 40 career games played and 207 total tackles to his name across the last four seasons.

Jackson’s 11 tackles for loss last season were four more than any other EKU player.

“He has matured so much from when we walked in the door to now,” Wells said of Jackson. “It’s a culmination of all these guys that pour into him.”

One of the biggest tests for the Eastern Kentucky defense will come in the secondary, which was already a weak spot last season when the Colonels surrendered nearly 250 passing yards per game to opponents.

EKU’s 2021 leaders in solo tackles (linebacker Kyle Bailey) and pass breakups (defensive back Davion Ross) are no longer with the Colonels.

Ross (Memphis) and fellow defensive back Jaden Woods (Akron) both transferred from EKU to FBS programs during the offseason. They combined for five interceptions last season.

While Wells said he harbors no ill-will toward those who chose to transfer out of the EKU program, he also noted the likely new faces in the EKU secondary this season.

The kicking game should be a strength for the Colonels again in 2022 though: Redshirt sophomore kicker Patrick Nations was the ASUN Special Teams Player of the Year in 2021 after making 12 of 16 field goal attempts and all 34 of his extra points.

Scouting report

Head coach: Walt Wells (third season).

Last season: 7-4 overall, first season in ASUN Conference.

Outlook: While last season was centered around change, stability is the standout trait ahead of the 2022 season for Eastern Kentucky.

Wells’ third season as head coach features consistency in conference affiliation (second season in the ASUN) and in operations after most of the restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic have been lifted.

This means the upcoming season should be the best indication yet of what Wells can do at EKU.

EKU opens with a pair of road games at FBS programs this season (Eastern Michigan and Bowling Green) before playing a stretch of four out of five games at home at Roy Kidd Stadium in Richmond.

Quarterback Parker McKinney stayed healthy all of last season and aimed to improve his footwork this offseason (starting with his right foot back instead of his left foot), which in turn should boost his passing accuracy (61% last season). McKinney also handles blitz pickup and pass protection duties for the EKU offense.

On defense, linebacker Matthew Jackson has collected a boatload of offseason accolades ahead of his final season.

Question marks: Replacing top-end roles in skill positions on offense and in the secondary on defense will be crucial.

Some candidates to step up are third-year running back Kyeandre Magloire (232 rushing yards last season), sophomore wide receiver Jayden Higgins (394 receiving yards and three touchdowns last season) and senior defensive back Joseph Sayles (three interceptions last season).

An influx of new secondary personnel could make the Colonels susceptible to the passing game again this season.

Game of the year: Last year’s ASUN representative in the FCS playoffs was Kennesaw State, which reached the second round.

EKU didn’t play Kennesaw State last season, but the Colonels and Owls will face each other Nov. 19 in Richmond in the final game of the regular season for both schools.

From a sheer entertainment perspective though, the Eastern Kentucky-Central Arkansas matchup always delivers.

Last season, the Colonels came back from 35-13 down to win by three points at UCA. In the COVID-impacted 2020 season, EKU played UCA twice: The Colonels won by three at home and lost by 12 on the road.

This season, Eastern Kentucky hosts Central Arkansas on Nov. 5.

2022 EKU football schedule

Home games in all capital letters.

Sept. 2: At Eastern Michigan, 7 p.m., ESPN3

Sept. 10: At Bowling Green, 4 p.m., ESPN3

Sept. 17: CHARLESTON SOUTHERN, 6 p.m., ESPN Plus

Sept. 24: At Austin Peay, 4 p.m., ESPN Plus

Oct. 1: SOUTHERN UTAH, 6 p.m., ESPN Plus

Oct. 15: SAM HOUSTON STATE, 6 p.m., ESPN Plus

Oct. 22: NORTH ALABAMA, 3 p.m., ESPN Plus

Oct. 29: At Southeast Missouri State, 2 p.m., ESPN Plus

Nov. 5: CENTRAL ARKANSAS, 5 p.m., ESPN Plus

Nov. 12: At Jacksonville State., 2 p.m., ESPN Plus

Nov. 19: KENNESAW STATE, 3 p.m., ESPN Plus