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Thursday, August 31, 2017
The Southeast Missouri State football team returns just four starters on offense in 2017, but trending upward is the only option for a scoring offense that ranked at the bottom in the Ohio Valley Conference last season, averaging 20.8 points per game.
Southeast also ranked last in the league in total yards per game (348.7), finishing seventh in both rushing yards per game (135.1) and passing yards per game (213.6).
The Redhawks were third in the OVC in time of possession, averaging 31 minutes, 31 seconds per game, but that failed to translate to the win column. Finishing with a 3-8 record, Southeast lost four of its games by a combined 12 points. In the past two years alone, the Redhawks were either trailing or ahead by a score in the fourth quarter 13 times before falling in those contests.
Quarterbacks
Southeast Missouri State quarterback Jesse Hosket looks to pass against Eastern Illinois during the fourth quarter Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016 at Houck Stadium.
Fred Lynch
Senior quarterback Jesse Hosket figures to be the offense's most important returning starter from a year ago.
As a junior college transfer from East Central Community College, the 6-foot-3 Hosket won the starting job just before the 2016 season opener and held that role for the rest of the year. He completed 178 of 356 passes (50 percent) for 2,332 yards, finishing with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions, and went on to earn OVC all-newcomer honors.
Offensive coordinator Jon Wiemers has been pleased with the development he's seen from Hosket, who will become the first Redhawk QB to start consecutive seasons since Matt Scheible (2008-11).
"I think he's done a great job. There's obviously a difference here in a year," Wiemers said. "He's worked really hard to get where he's at, and there's a noticeable difference when he's had two years of experience in our offense."
Hosket generated 212 passing yards per game last season, which ranked 43rd in the Football Championship Subdivision and third in the OVC. He threw for over 200 yards in eight of his starts.
"It starts with your trigger man, and it doesn't happen overnight. A lot of it we've built around him," Wiemers said about Hosket, who is one of only three returning starting QBs in the OVC. "The first year, it's a little bit experimental because you're still kind of trying to find your identity. In Year 2, we kind of know what his strengths and weaknesses are and can build around that."
Southeast Missouri State quarterback Anthony Cooper carries the ball Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2017 during the first Redhawks football practice at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex.
Fred Lynch
Junior Anthony Cooper (6-1, 202 pounds) is Hosket's backup and has yet to see playing time in his college career. The two signal callers offer contrasting styles, according to Wiemers.
"He's one of those kids who's almost better when the play doesn't go right, and that's part of playing quarterback," Wiemers said about Cooper. "You have to be able to create, too, and a lot with him has just been getting him to play the quarterback position and being able to do the fundamental things. ... He's really improved a lot on the mental side of the game within the last year as well.
"Obviously he's got a little bit ways to go, but I wouldn't in any way be concerned if he had to play."
Other QBs on the roster are redshirt freshman Nick Sprague, freshman Cash Jones, junior Eain Roberts and freshman Brandon Renaud.
Running backs
Southeast Missouri State running back Marquis Terry carries the ball away from Rider Garrett during a scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017 at Houck Stadium.
Fred Lynch
The addition of JUCO transfer Marquis Terry should steady a rushing attack that graduated second-team All-OVC performer Will Young, who racked up 838 yards and six touchdowns on the ground last year.
Terry is a 5-6, 179-pound transfer from Highland Community College in Highland, Kansas, where he scored 17 times (16 rushing) last season and led the National Junior College Athletic Association with 1,319 rushing yards. He was named a first-team NJCAA All-American and was selected as the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
"He's a guy that's going to bring it every day," running backs coach Ghaali Muhammad-Lankford said about Terry. "For a coach, it's always great whenever you have a guy you don't have to motivate to get better. He's a 'Coach me, coach' type of guy. He has tremendous balance and vision. He does a great job of taking care of the football, which is one of the most important things for us.
"He's definitely kind of come in and earned that trust with myself and the coaching staff."
The junior Terry leads the way, but the coaching staff has been pleased with the depth in this year's backfield.
Junior Cameron Sanders is the team's top returning rusher from last season and is listed at No. 2 on the depth chart. He'll spell Terry, using his bigger frame (6-1, 212 pounds) in a multi-faceted rushing attack.
"It's kind of that 1-2 punch I'm excited about," Muhammad-Lankford said. "That's always good whenever you have that type of dynamic at a position like that because you feel comfortable putting in whoever that guy is behind him and not missing a beat."
Southeast Missouri State running back Traionn Jones carries the ball during a scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017 at Houck Stadium.
Fred Lynch
Muhammad-Lankford has been pleased with the offseason progress he's seen from Sanders, who carried the ball 47 times for 183 yards (3.7 yards per carry) and one TD last season.
"He got in a couple times last season, so he was able to kind of get his feet wet and get comfortable and learn the ins and outs of the position," Muhammad-Lankford said. "He's done a very good job of getting better and taking the coaching to learn the position and learn the schemes. I'm very excited about him."
Junior Eddie Morris will provide further depth as a walk-on from Garden City Community College in Garden City, Kansas, while Traionn Jones, a redshirt freshman, will also see some action.
"There's a lot of depth there," Muhammad-Lankford said. "What's good about it is those guys come and make each other better. They compete. ... They're constantly getting better. They're very coachable, and I've been very pleased overall with how they've played all fall camp."
Offensive line
LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com
Alex Snyder
Alex Snyder
The Redhawks return both starting tackles but will need to find replacements at both guard positions and at center.
Drew Forbes, a 6-4, 305-pound junior who hails from Bonne Terre, Missouri, will reprise his role as the Redhawks' starting left tackle, while redshirt senior Alex Snyder (6-3, 303 pounds) returns at right tackle.
Offensive line coach Ben Blake said Forbes made great strides as a sophomore and has continued his high level of play during the offseason.
"You've got a guy that, about the middle way through the season, started to figure out that if he's physical at the point of attack and just goes and attacks it, good things are going to happen," Blake said about Forbes. "You saw his level of play just increase, especially from a physical standpoint. Being more violent at the second level, you move people a little further and are able to sustain the block a little longer."
Blake believes Snyder has achieved a similar breakthrough in fall camp.
"You're seeing him do things that he's never been able to do before," Blake said. "Just going and being violent at the second level, good things are going to happen.
"I'm really proud of him going into his senior year with where we're at right now because he's night and day a different player. His was a confidence issue, I really do think so. Even as a fifth-year guy, he's been able to get stronger than last year, and he can see the benefits of that."
LAURA SIMON ~ lsimon@semissourian.com
Drew Forbes
Drew Forbes
Center Jake McCandless and guards Garret Baker and Michael Cooke are gone to graduation from a unit that allowed the fourth-most sacks (23) in the league last season.
Junior Giovanni Negron (6-2, 313 pounds) played in two games last year and will get the start at right guard. Junior Kyle Thies, a 6-3, 305-pound JUCO transfer from Eastern Arizona College, and junior Lucas Orchard, a 5-11, 290-pound transfer from ECCC, will start at left guard and center, respectively.
Blake expects to see sophomore center Drew Swihart (6-4, 319 pounds) also in the mix for playing time.
"They've both earned it," Blake said about Orchard and Swihart. "... One guy's kind of better at one thing than the other, but they both have their strengths and weaknesses and compete really hard."
Junior right guard Junior Pierre (6-4, 330 pounds) transferred from Blinn College and is also expected to see playing time behind Negron. Pierre and Thies were teammates at Royal Palm Beach High School (Florida) before both players went their separate ways in college.
Redshirt senior Gabe Phillips (6-4, 276 pounds) will serve as Forbes' backup, while sophomore Ryan Truvillion (6-5, 293 pounds) will spell Snyder. Jimmy Keutzer, a 6-4, 290-pound junior, is listed as the No. 2 left guard behind Thies.
Blake said the unit as a whole is bigger and taller, which was an area of focus. He likes the line's versatility, with players able to move to different positions without worry, and he understands the importance of returning bookend tackles.
"Those guys got stronger over the winter and in spring and have gained a lot of confidence," Blake said, "and they're seeing the fruits of their labor transferred to the field. And we're able to have success. ... We're just further along in the learning process than we were, but I feel like we're ahead of schedule, especially having those new players."
Wide receivers/tight ends
Southeast Missouri State wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson carries the ball as Mike Ford defends during a scrimmage Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017 at Houck Stadium.
Fred Lynch
With the return of Kristian Wilkerson, the Redhawks bring back their top receiving threat from a year ago.
Wilkerson hauled in 35 catches in 2016 for a team-high 743 yards and four TDs. He returns for his sophomore campaign and is evolving into more of a team leader, according to wide receivers coach Matt Martin.
"People look up to good players, and he's a good football player," Martin said about the 6-foot, 203-pound Wilkerson. "It doesn't matter if he's only a sophomore on the field. People are going to look up to him because he's a good football player, and they want to know what good football players do.
"He's also done a better job with his releases at the line. Our defense plays a lot of pressure, and he's done a good job of getting released at the line. He's always been good at reception point, so that's been a piece that we're excited about. He's going to get the football a lot this year."
Southeast lost three of its top four receiving options from last season, including Tremane McCullough, who had a team-leading 53 catches for 440 yards and one TD. McCullough, who graduated, was also a threat on the ground, amassing 360 yards and two scores on 81 carries.
Stepping in to start at the other wideout spot will be Trevon Billington, a 5-11, 181-pound sophomore who has been the surprise of the unit, according to Martin.
Evan Scales of the white team is brought down during the Southeast Missouri Spring game Thursday, April 13, 2017 at Houck Field in Cape Girardeau.
Andrew J. Whitaker
"He's a hard worker," Martin said about Billington. "The thing about Tre is he's so smart. He can play any position we have, whether it's inside or outside, and do it well. He plays fast."
Redshirt senior Tyler McLemore (6-1, 216 pounds), who had 16 receptions for 210 yards last year, will serve as Billington's backup, while redshirt freshman Zack Smith (5-9, 187 pounds) and junior Evan Scales (6-1, 213 pounds) figure to be involved in the receiving game as well.
At tight end, Marquette Murdock is no longer with the team after hauling in eight catches for 146 yards and one TD last season, but the Redhawks will lean on a pair of redshirt seniors in Broedy Wheeler and (6-1, 234 pounds) and Logan Larson (6-2, 245 pounds). Both players will see the field in two-tight end sets.
"I really like the unit. I think it's definitely one of the best units we've had since Coach Tuke's been here," tight ends coach Joe Uhls said. "We've had a couple big-time senior leaders step up and kind of take control of the room, which is always nice. Teams play their best ball when their seniors are going out. ... We've got some really athletic guys that we can count on doing a lot of different things for our team, so that's really exciting."
Sophomores Eric Williams (6-2, 245 pounds) and Bud Hilburn (6-0, 246 pounds) will serve as the backup tight ends.
"We're a run-heavy team, and that's who we are," Uhls said. "That sometimes complements our pass game because people feel like they have to stop our run game, so they over-play that sometimes. That's a great opportunity for tight ends to take advantage of that. We definitely want to allow our personnel to be very flexible."
