Jay Pearson adds burst and versatility to Eastern Illinois’ backfield
Jay Pearson entered the 2025 Eastern Illinois season coming off a 2024 breakout as a rotational back and special-teams contributor, finishing with 215 rushing yards, 96 receiving yards, and a touchdown while showing big-play juice with a 59-yard run and a 55-yard catch.[7][13] His appeal is versatility: he can run, catch, and help on returns, which makes him a useful fit for schemes that value multidimensional backs more than pure volume.[1][7] He also brings a developmental storyline after switching from quarterback to running back and working through injury setbacks, suggesting toughness and adaptability rather than a finished product.[9][11]
