Talented wide receiving corps still developing for Southeast Missouri State football team

Southeast Missouri State's Tremane McCullough makes a catch against the scout team during practice Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016 at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex.

Trent Singer

It’s an instinctive philosophy, but Southeast Missouri State football coach Tom Matukewicz thought it was worth repeating.

“The key to offense is executing,” Matukewicz told his team as it came together at the end of Tuesday’s practice at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex.

While the talent is there, consistent execution is one of the only things holding back the Redhawks’ offense, which found rhythm after a sluggish first quarter during the team’s 35-17 loss Saturday against Football Bowl Subdivision opponent Memphis.

In particular, the wide receivers, both young and old, showed up in the absence of one of the program’s greatest of all time in Paul McRoberts, and offensive coordinator Jon Wiemers believes they’re only scratching the surface.

Southeast Missouri State wide receiver Tyler McLemore makes a catch during practice Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016 at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex.

Trent Singer

“I think the sky’s the limit with them right now,” Wiemers said about the team’s wide receiving corps. “They just have to prove every week that they’re going to continue to make some strides. I’m really optimistic about them right now.”

Southeast (0-1), which will take on regional rival Southern Illinois (0-1) at 6 p.m. Saturday in Carbondale, Illinois, had six different players combine for 143 yards receiving in its Week 1 loss at Memphis. Senior Tremane McCullough, a slot receiver who led the team with more than 1,000 yards rushing last year, led the group with nine receptions for 69 yards.

It was a slow start for the Redhawks, who moved the ball only 33 yards in their first seven drives combined.

“We were just trying to do too much by ourselves,” McCullough said. “We had to work more as a team, so after we came back from halftime, we slowed everything down and moved the ball and slowed our pace.”

Thanks to stellar defensive play and a balanced offense, Southeast went on to outscore Memphis 17-13 through the final three quarters. The Redhawks were steadied most by senior running back Will Young’s 61-yard touchdown run, which proved to be the longest play by either team and allowed the passing game to establish itself.

Redshirt freshman WR Kristian Wilkerson finished with 48 yards receiving on five catches, including a 21-yard reception that stood as Southeast’s longest pass play.

Southeast Missouri State quarterback Jesse Hosket throws the ball during practice Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016 at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex.

Trent Singer

“You’re not going to get a downfield game unless you can run it first,” Wiemers said. “... That’s really what we’ve been preaching is just the execution standpoint in our pass game.”

Wiemers said he was impressed with the 6-foot-3 Wilkerson, who, along with McCullough, showed an ability to be a trustworthy option at receiver.

“He went in and did a really good job against a really good team,” Wiemers said about Wilkerson. “Obviously we kind of took our lumps early, but I felt like we kept fighting and finally got adjusted a little bit to some unknowns. And Memphis is a really good team, too.

“I think if you just erase the first quarter of that game, we’re feeling pretty good.”

Junior quarterback Jesse Hosket’s first TD pass as a Redhawk came on a third-and-7 with 3 minutes, 25 seconds left in the game, when junior WR Adrian Davis showed some athleticism in tight coverage to come down with an 8-yard grab.

It was Davis’ only catch of the game, while two other wideouts — senior transfer CJ Curry and junior Tyler McLemore — also finished with one reception each.

Senior Darrius Darden-Box, who had 19 receptions last season, also figures to be an integral part of the passing game.

Southeast Missouri State wide receiver Adrian Davis runs down the sideline after making a catch during practice Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016 at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex.

Trent Singer

“They’ve all kind of got their skill sets,” Wiemers said. “With a kid like Tremane, he’s kind of multi-faceted, and he’s been a running back. And we can do a lot of different things with him in the slot.

“We’ve got some big receivers, some strong kids, with CJ and Kristian. And then Adrian has that big-playmaking ability, just needs to polish up on some areas of the game. Tyler McLemore’s really come along, and he’s another guy who has some big-play potential for us. ... I think they’re a good corps. I think they just need to keep developing.”

With a new quarterback in place and a handful of new faces at wide receiver on the offense, Matukewicz understands that cohesion remains a work in progress.

“It’s timing. It’s comfort zone,” he said. “You know where he’s going to be. It’s just you can’t overemphasize the importance of that. You dial a play, you’ve got to throw it before he’s there. Still right now, we’re kind of getting there. ... We’ve just got to get a lot of reps. You’ve got a lot of new guys out there for the first time, so we’re a little slow there.”

Hosket was sacked twice, and Matukewicz believes an improved pass protection also contributed to the Redhawks’ mid-game turnaround against the Tigers.

“I think our O-line played well,” Matukewicz said. “I think they gave up a couple sacks in the first half, but they didn’t really see a lot of that before. We got it fixed right away and gave our quarterback plenty of time in the second half.”

Rather than waiting for success to materialize, the key for Southeast is executing early and often. It’ll be a challenge against a Saluki squad that posted 24 first-half points Saturday before falling to Florida Atlantic, 38-30.

“We’ve got to figure out how to start stronger, but I appreciate them not losing their heads and just quitting out there,” Matukewicz said. “They translated all the corrections on the sideline and took it out to the field and had a little success.”