RICHMOND, Ky. – Four additional transfers joined the Eastern Kentucky University football program with the start of the spring semester.
 
The four newcomers are quarterback Conor Blount a transfer from Oregon State, defensive back Allante Leapheart from Santa Rosa Junior College, offensive lineman Trey Livingood III from Marshall and offensive lineman Eric Magwood from Old Dominion.
 
These four are joined on campus this spring by Matt Wilcox Jr.  The wide receiver from Independence Community College signed with EKU in December.
 
As a redshirt sophomore this past season at Oregon State, Blount played in nine games, completed 62 percent of his passes (95-of-153) with just two interceptions, tossed seven touchdown passes and totaled 1,117 passing yards.  He went 12-for-19 for 169 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions at No. 5 Ohio State in the season opener.  The 6-foot-1, 203-pound Waukesha, Wisconsin native made his first collegiate start against Southern Utah, finishing 15-for-22 with one touchdown and 226 yards passing.
 
Blount played in four games as a true freshman in 2016.  He redshirted at Oregon State in 2017.
 
Leapheart earned all-conference recognition as a sophomore at Santa Rosa Junior College last season.  The 5-foot-10, 180-pound Detroit native played in all 10 of the team's games, totaling 37 tackles and four interceptions.  Leapheart returned an interception 25 yards for a touchdown against Sequoias.  He had two picks at Feather River.
 
Berea native Livingood returns home to Madison County.  The 6-foot-3, 315-pound lineman redshirted last season at Marshall and has four years of eligibility remaining.  He was rated as a two-star prospect by Rivals.com and 247sports.com at Madison Southern High School.  He was named second team all-state as a senior in 2017 and led the Eagles to an 11-3 record and a spot in the state championship game.
 
Magwood appeared in all 12 games as a redshirt junior in 2018 at Old Dominion.  The 6-foot-4, 304-pound Virginia Beach, Virginia native started six times at right tackle.  He helped ODU rush for a school record 339 yards against Virginia Military Institute.
 
Eastern Kentucky ended the 2018 season with four straight wins and was in the conversation for a playoff spot.  The Colonels finished 7-4 overall and third in the Ohio Valley Conference with a 5-2 mark.  Eastern will begin the 2019 season having won 10 of its last 16 games.
 
Of the 61 players on the season-ending depth chart, 50 will be back in 2019 including 13 starters.  Eastern lost just 15 players from the 2018 squad who had ever played in a game.