Just started receiving this newsletter this year ... good info...
- Forwarded message ---------
From:
neckclub account <
leatherneckclub@wiu.edu>
Date: Mon, May 12, 2025
Subject: Fwd:
WIU Football Quarterly Newsletter
Leatherneck Nation,
What a productive and optimistic off season it has been for the ‘Necks! We’ve made
big strides as a football program but there is still much work to be done. Thank you for all the supportive texts, calls and emails! Your enthusiasm for what we’re doing and your financial contributions are noticed and
very much appreciated.
Player Experience Enhancement Fund
With the generosity shown by our supporters and alums we were able to hit our goal of raising over $100k for the fund by the spring game. These funds will go
right to work with upgrades around the football facilities, but most importantly establishing our Alston monies for Football. More info on what exactly Alston Money is can be found
here. Our athletic department as a whole will be announcing further NIL opportunities through a collective later this summer. For now, the Alston money will give us the option to try to retain our best players who are
excellent students, players and members of the WIU community.
Transfer Portal
In the ever-changing landscape of DI football, the second transfer portal window came and went at the end of April.
We were able to retain many of our top players; however, we did lose some student athletes to the FBS level. As we have done during my tenure here, we will recruit transfer players very hard while focusing on good students, prior school on field production and size. We value players coming up from lower levels of football who have produced at a
high level as well as players dropping down from the FBS looking for opportunities to get more snaps. This approach, combined with thorough junior college and high school recruiting, are the foundations of how we are building a championship roster.
#1 High School Recruiting Class in the OVC/Big South
We took a very strategic approach to securing the
247sports.com top-rated class in our league for the high school class of 2025. We signed nine players on the early signing date that we vetted and developed strong relationships with. We signed six more players on the second signing date that had FBS opportunities dry up on them during their recruiting process and were poised to jump in the boat with us and prove their value! These players we signed boasted a 3.4 high school GPA. Our staff, led by recruiting coordinator Josh Caraway, did a phenomenal job.
Spring Football
We had a very productive spring season, culminating with the Bruce Craddock memorial Spring Game and Football Alumni weekend and golf tournament. Led by Brian Spotts,
we raised over $9,000 during this festivity-filled weekend. Great to see so many former ‘Necks here for the handshake, the game and some golf! We need even more of you next spring to continue to grow this weekend bigger and better every year!
New Defensive Line Coach
We have hired Penn State Assistant DL Coach
Torrence Brown to lead a young and dynamic group of student-athletes. Coach Brown is a technician that came highly recommended by my friend James Franklin. Welcome to Coach Brown.
What’s Next?
Our players finished finals last week and will be home until our mandatory summer access training begins on June 15. Big year for the ‘Necks. You can continue to be a part of what we’re doing by donating at the link below! 100% of your donation goes to football!
Coach Joe DavisDONATE2025 SEASON TICKETS
Scott Lawson - Board Admin
