Former Eastern Illinois football player Trent Steckel was fatally injured in a motorcycle accident at 1:10 a.m. Friday morning, July 2.
Steckel, 24, was a four-year member of the Panther football team from 2004-07 helping EIU win back-to-back Ohio Valley Conference championships in 2005 and 2006. During his senior season he served as an H-Back rushing for two touchdowns in wins over Jacksonville State and Tennessee State while catching 14 passes for 106 yards as EIU made a third straight FCS playoff appearance in 2007.
"We were saddened to hear about the loss of Trent Steckel early this morning," EIU head coach Bob Spoo stated. "Trent was an outstanding young man who will be dearly missed by his family, friends and the EIU football community."
Steckel had just completed a cadet program within the last week and was moving on to the apprentice level as a member of the Woodstock Fire Department. He head been with the department since August 2009.
Visitation will be this Saturday, July 10 from 9 a.m. until Noon at the Davenport Family Funeral Home located at 419 E. Terra Cota Avenue in Crystal Lake. A procession will start at Noon with the Memorial Service set for 1 p.m. at McHenry County College.