CLEVELAND – With reporting day for the 2011 season just two days away, six Eastern Illinois football players were named to the preseason All-Ohio Valley Conference team as selected by Phil Steele College Football Preview. The FCS publication gives a break down of each FCS conference along with a preview of its preseason Top 40 teams.

Senior linebacker Cory Leman was named to the Phil Steele first team unit while four players were named to the preseason second team. Wide receiver Erik Lora and offensive linemen Alex Pierce and Dominic Pagliara were second team selections on offense joining Artavious Dowdell and Nick Martinez as second team selections on defense.

Leman is the top returning tackler in the OVC making 95 tackles last season. Leman is one of four captains on this year's EIU squad and ranked second on the team last year.

Lora was the Panthers top receiver last season hauling in 50 passes for 478 yards and two scores. Lora ranked 46th in the NCAA in receptions per game and fourth in the OVC. Pierce and Pagaliara were both starters on the offensive line last season. Pierce played in all 11 games and was the only offensive lineman to play all 11 games in same position starting at right guard. Pagliara made nine starts last season playing in ten contests. He made seven starts at left tackle and two at right tackle.

Dowdell ranked sixth on the Panthers squad with 52 tackles as he led the team with 4.5 sacks and was second with 12.5 tackles for loss. Martinez started in 11 games and was third on the team with 74 tackles and a team-high five pass break-ups.

In the OVC preseason team released by the conference coaches and sports information directors on July 25, two Panthers Dowdell and Eric Zink were named to the preseason All-OVC team.

The Panthers report for preseason camp on Wednesday with the season opener on Sept. 1 against Illinois State. That will be the 100th meeting in the in-state rivalry game.