CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois was picked to finish fourth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference standings in a preseason poll of the league’s coaches and media. With 42 first-place votes, South Dakota State was the near unanimous pick to win the league, while North Dakota State and South Dakota were picked 2-3.
The Salukis return six starters on offense and four on defense from last year’s team that finished 8-5 and won a playoff game over Nicholls State. Southern has made three playoff appearances in the last four seasons.
SIU will have a new starter at quarterback in 2024 with the graduation of Nic Baker, the school’s all-time leading passer. Returnee Hunter Simmons will compete with Murray State transfer DJ Williams for the starting spot.
The offensive line returns four starters, and adds a pair of key transfers. With 38 career starts to his credit, veteran guard Chase Evans moves to center this season. Guard Jake Green (27 starts), tackle Abdou Toure (19 starts) and guard Derek Harden Jr. (19 starts) bring a wealth of experience to the line. Left tackle Noah Fenske (Colorado) and guard Marcelo Mendiola (Cincinnati) – should give SIU one of the most formidable offensive lines in the FCS.
The skill positions will feature a mix of returnees and newcomers. Running back Lashaun Lester is the top returnee at tailback with 507 career rushing yards, including a 5.6 yard average per carry in 2023. Jaelin Benefield and transfers Willtrell Hartson (Ohio State) and Eddie Robinson (Duquesne) provide depth.
SIU returns its top wide receiver from last season, Vinson Davis III (54 catches), along with tight end Aidan Quinn (27 catches). The Salukis added four transfer wide receivers – Keontez Lewis (Wisconsin), Bradley Clark (Tennessee Tech), Nah’shawn Hezekiah (Howard) and Tae Marrero Jr. (Charleston).
Defensively, the Salukis lose their three starting defensive linemen, but return Dewey Greene, Peyton Reeves and Devin Love from the rotation.
The linebacker corps returns starter Colin Bohanek (62 tackles, 6.5 TFL), along with veterans Shane Roth and Ben Bogle, plus the addition of transfer Shug Walker (Murray State).
Safety Ubayd Steed (83 tackles) headlines the secondary. The Salukis have plenty of returning depth, including cornerbacks Jamir Conn and David Miller, and safeties Iverson Brown, Desman Hearns and Cejai Parson. Key transfers at cornerback include Jeremiah McClendon (Florida International) and Jeremiah Baxter (Frostburg State)
POLL
1. SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (42) .. 482
2. NORTH DAKOTA STATE (1) .. 437
3. SOUTH DAKOTA .. 371
4. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS .. 293
5. NORTH DAKOTA .. 276
6. ILLINOIS STATE .. 264
7. YOUNGSTOWN STATE .. 255
8. NORTHERN IOWA .. 227
9. MISSOURI STATE (1) .. 164
10. INDIANA STATE .. 68
11. MURRAY STATE .. 67
FIRST TEAM
QB Mark Gronowski, SDSU
RB Mason King, ILS
RB Tyshon King, YSU
FB Hunter Brozio, NDSU
WR Carter Bell, USD
WR Bo Belquist, UND
WR Dan Sobkowicz, ILS
TE JJ Galbreath, USD
OL Gus Miller, SDSU
OL Jared Penning, UNI
OL Jaison Williams, YSU
OL Grey Zabel, NDSU
OL Hunter Zambrano, ILS
DL Jarod DePriest, SDSU
DL Nick Gaes, USD
DL Dylan Hendricks, NDSU
DL Eli Mostaert, NDSU
LB Amir Abdullah, ILS
LB Adam Bock, SDSU
LB Logan Kopp, NDSU
LB Garret Ollendieck, INS
DB Dalys Beanum, SDSU
DB Maddix Blackwell, INS
DB Tucker Large, SDSU
DB Dennis Shorter, USD
DB Cole Wisniewski, NDSU
LS Hunter Brozio, NDSU
PK Will Leyland, USD
P Grant Burkett, MOST
RS Carter Bell, USD
AP Amar Johnson, SDSU
SECOND TEAM
QB Cam Miller, NDSU
RB Amar Johnson, SDSU
RB Travis Theis, USD
FB Jaden Norby, UND
WR Vinson Davis III, SIU
WR Max Tomczak, YSU
WR Griffin Wilde, SDSU
TE Joe Stoffel, NDSU
OL Evan Beerntsen, SDSU
OL Joe Cotton, USD
OL Chase Evans, SIU
OL Joey Lombard, USD
OL Mason Miller, NDSU
DL Jake Anderson, ILS
DL Cannon Butler, UNI
DL Blake Holden, USD
DL Darion Smith, MOST
LB Colin Bohanek, SIU
LB Tucker Langenberg, UNI
LB Tye Niekamp, ILS
LB Wyatt Pedigo, UND
DB PJ Hall, MOST
DB Keondre Jackson, ILS
DB Todric McGee, MOST
DB Cale Reeder, SDSU
DB Ubayd Steed, SIU
LS Kaydon Olivia, SDSU
PK Griffin Crosa, NDSU
P Hunter Dustman, SDSU
RS Tucker Large, SDSU
AP Vinson Davis III, SIU
HONORABLE MENTION
QB Aidan Bouman, USD
RB Tye Edwards, UNI
RB Jacardia Wright, MOST
RB Gaven Ziebarth, UND
FB Scotty Presson Jr., ILS
WR Desmond Hutson, UNI
WR Eddie Kasper, ILS
WR Sergio Morancy, UNI
WR Jmariyae Robinson, MOST
TE Layne Pryor, UNI
TE Aidan Quinn, SIU
OL Seth Anderson, UND
OL Ashton Flynn, MUR
OL Jake Green, SIU
OL Cash Hudson, MOST
OL Hutson Lillibridge, MOST
DL Gianini Belizaire, INS
DL Carter Hewitt, UNI
DL Jake Siegel, ILS
LB Ben Belken, UNI
LB Geoffrey Brown, INS
LB Tahj Chambers, MOST
LB Jalan Gaines, ILS
LB Lavoise Deontae McCoy, ILS
DB Shahid Barros, USD
DB Jonathan Cabral-Martin, UNI
DB Mark Cannon Jr., ILS
DB Sam Jung, NDSU
DB Avery Powell, MOST
DB Kanyon Walker, MUR
LS Caden Bolz, MOST
LS Sam Merryman, YSU
PK Hunter Dustman, SDSU
PK Andrew Lastovka, YSU
P Noah Pettinger, UNI
AP Bo Belquist, UND
AP RaJa Nelson, NDSU.
