Backup QB Dante Vandeven transferring from Southeast Missouri State football team

Southeast Missourian

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Southeast Missouri State quarterback Dante Vandeven throws a pass during a scrimmage on Aug. 8 at Houck Stadium. The reigning OVC Freshman of the Year is transferring from the program, coach Tom Matukewicz announced Wednesday.

Fred Lynch

The reigning Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year is moving on from the Southeast Missouri State football program.

Coach Tom Matukewicz announced on Wednesday afternoon that sophomore quarterback Dante Vandeven, a former star at Jackson High School, is transferring from the program.

Vandeven started the season as the backup to junior QB Jesse Hosket. Vandeven was the No. 1 signal caller through preseason camp before Hosket was named the official starter on Aug. 22, just ahead of the team's Week 1 matchup at Memphis. He was 1-of-4 passing with an interception this season while carrying the ball three times for minus-3 yards.

"Dante's decision to transfer was disappointing, but we will support his decision and grant him a full release to wherever he chooses to go," Matukewicz said in a news release. "Dante is a great person, and we wish him nothing but the best."

Vandeven began his freshman campaign as the team's third-string quarterback and emerged as the starter during a Week 3 game in 2015 at nationally-ranked Indiana State. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound QB finished his freshman campaign with 1,568 yards and 11 TDs on 155-of-250 passing. He rushed for 292 yards and another six TDs in eight starts.

It's not yet known where Vandeven intends to transfer.

"I appreciate everything that Southeast Missouri State has done for me and my family," Vandeven said in a news release. "It was a true blessing being able to accomplish the things I did while being at SEMO. I thank the coaches for their great support in this new path I am about to take on. I wish the best to all players and staff and hope the Redhawks have a great future."

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I think this is a HUGE loss for SEMO! Couldn't understand why he wasn't behind center this year. Hope he has success elsewhere and gets to prove his talents on the turf!

Good Luck Dante!

-- Posted by Kool-Aid (OH YEAHHH) on Thu, Nov 10, 2016, at 11:37 AM
He got beat out for the QB position. What happened to buckling down and competing? If athletes at any level today dont start, they want to quit, or blame the coach etc. He's a good player that very well could be the starter in a year or two. Too many times players give up too soon or dont want to work through problems. The old " everybody gets a trophy" mindset. Good luck to him, I hope he didnt listen to bad advice.

-- Posted by semo ref on Thu, Nov 10, 2016, at 4:45 PM
I'm not starting so I'm departing mentality. Looks like the easy way out in this case for someone with his talent could have worked his way up.

-- Posted by SEMO72a on Fri, Nov 11, 2016, at 10:37 AM
Here is the problem....How many snaps has he played?? Why didn't they redshirt him? Why waste a year on so few snaps? To me if he got beat out then for the benefit of the program(and the player) I would redshirt him and only pull off the redshirt only if I absolutely needed to. To me there just doesn't seem like a actual plan for the future. Take Al Young. How many snaps has he played? Why didn't he redshirted?

-- Posted by NewTigerFan on Fri, Nov 11, 2016, at 11:54 AM
new tiger fan, coach tuke just doesn't get it, he moved the OVC second leading rusher to receiver, benches Dante, and expects us to come watch a team that cant be d2 teams.

-- Posted by chsfan185 on Fri, Nov 11, 2016, at 11:38 PM

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