Rachel Crader is the editor of semoball.com. She graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism in May of 2009 before spending the summer covering the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

Highlights from Rachel's days in college include having a class down the hall from Chase Daniel and having NCAA wrestling champion Ben Askren hold the door open for her at Brady Commons, Mizzou's student center. She spent time covering Mizzou basketball, softball and baseball while working for the Columbia Missourian and is excited to return home to Southeast Missouri to cover local sports for semoball.com.

Rachel has covered three Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournaments for the Southeast Missourian and semoball.com, and she'll see you courtside again this year.

Caruthersville's Monroe headed to Southeast

Posted Wednesday, February 5, 2014, at 12:27 AM

[UPDATE: You can read my full story about Monroe here. Erin is scheduled to speak with Darrell after his signing on Wednesday.]

Caurthersville's star running back Darrell Monroe is expected sign his National Letter of Intent to play at Southeast Missouri State tomorrow.

"We're kind of familiar with one of their assistants Eric Burrow. He was at Toledo," Caruthersville coach Nathan Morgan said. "He was the first one to contact us back about a year and a half ago with options to Toledo. But then when coach Tuke and those guys took over and he filled the staff, it was just kind of natural for them to keep tabs on Darrell.

"I think it may have taken a week, maybe a week and a half -- coach Tuke and his staff started getting around down in this area recruiting and they came by. It was pretty much Darrell's decision at that point if he wanted to stay closer to home. We're kind of glad he's made that decision."

I'll have much more on this later. And since it's bound to come up in the comments in about two seconds, I'll go ahead and say there are not expected to be any eligibility issues for him.

Comments

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Hey Congrats Darrell thats awesome! As a SEMO Alum and due to the fact that I attend every home game, I can't wait to watch him play!

-- Posted by BuckMajor on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 10:49 AM
Awesome. Glad he's staying close to home. Can't wait to watch him on Saturdays.

-- Posted by Cheesehead. on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 11:28 AM
I tweeted that!!!!

-- Posted by Haterade on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 11:29 AM
#bigbrick

-- Posted by Haterade on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 11:30 AM
i may enjoy a drink on this.

-- Posted by Coach Horrell on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 11:40 AM
They need to get Robert Bogan!!!!

-- Posted by Haterade on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 1:43 PM
Darrell Monroe is a steal for SEMO if this is true. I've been playing in Southeast Missouri, coaching and watching football in the area for years, Monroe was the most dominating on both sides of the ball that I seen.

It's a few more kids in the area that I can see SEMO grabbing, we cried for a coach to recruit kids from Southeast Missouri kids, coach Tuke is doing it, when I played at SEMO it was only about 6 of us on the whole team, he got half of that with his first class. Now they have to get in the classroom, perform, and FANS must support.

-- Posted by coachporterjp3 on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 2:03 PM
Monroe was without a doubt the best offensive football player in the region this season.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 2:42 PM
Congrats to him!! I really thought he would go somewhere bigger. Did he have any other offers?

-- Posted by BIGELW on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 2:55 PM
Any word on any other verbal commits for SEMO?

-- Posted by aandzdad on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 3:53 PM
Story posting shortly, aandzdad. Erin and I have been collecting names/contacting coaches/writing all day.

-- Posted by Rachel Crader on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 5:40 PM
Any word if Robert Bogan is on that list... Would love seeing a Bogan/Monroe backfield

-- Posted by Haterade on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 6:13 PM
Robert Bogan is not a name we've heard so far today. Just posted the story here: http://www.semissourian.com/story/2048300.html

Hope to add a couple more local names tonight.

-- Posted by Rachel Crader on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 6:42 PM
Bogan is expected to sign with Lincoln tomorrow.

-- Posted by Chris Pobst on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 6:45 PM
Thanks Chris...

-- Posted by Haterade on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 6:47 PM
While I'm happy for Darrell and for SEMO, honestly I would have loved to see Monroe go to Mizzou. Not knowing whether they (SEMO) are bringing him in as a RB/FB or as a utility defensive player, i thought he had the potential to be another Bootheel kid who could make a name for himself on 'D' for the Tigers like Kony Ealy did this year. I could see him joining the likes of Ealy and William Moore in the NFL ranks 4-5 yrs from now.

-- Posted by hoopaholiczanon on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 7:33 PM
What makes Monroe a good pick up for Semo is that he can play multiple positions if needed. Kickoff return, running back, receiver, linebacker or defensive end. He's the type of player that can excel at any of those if asked of him. I'm pretty excited about it. Wondering if he will get instant playing time or sit out a year.

-- Posted by Cheesehead. on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 7:54 PM
Congrats to Darrell! What a coup for SEMO as I had heard that some larger D1 schools were interested in him. But I also wonder if Coach Tuke plans to use Darrell as a RB or a LB.

-- Posted by Preacher Man Fan on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 7:58 PM
I think I'm going to get season tickets next year.

-- Posted by Dustin Ward on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 8:02 PM
Dustin you find out what kinda price that will run ya and let me know.

-- Posted by wheresthebeef on Tue, Feb 4, 2014, at 10:32 PM
General admission tickets to football are only about $10 a piece and they have 6 home games so it should only be around $60 or so

-- Posted by tobedetermined on Wed, Feb 5, 2014, at 8:28 AM
Alright! Dexter may be down right now...but it's good to see a Bearcat get a scholarship.

-- Posted by BigCat on Wed, Feb 5, 2014, at 12:52 PM
I called the Dowdy Family to congratulate DJ on signing with SEMO and they informed me that he has not been contacted by them. His parents stated he has been in contact with 3 schools for football and received an offer this week from Robert Morris University in Chicago for baseball but, nothing has been decided as of yet.

-- Posted by CatDad on Wed, Feb 5, 2014, at 4:39 PM

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