The Jackrabbits return home for Senior Day and to face the Salukis of Southern Illinois. SIU is not enjoying the season they hoped for and are just 3-7. A major piece of that record is the loss of their PHENOMENAL QB, DJ Williams, due to injury. Their season has seemingly hinged on that event and they were on a 6 game losing streak before snapping that last week when they beat Youngstown State after staging a furious 28 point comeback. That shows this team is still fighting for head coach Nick Hill, who has a 1-7 record vs. the Jackrabbits.
Offense
The SIU offense has struggled to find much footing since the loss of Williams. However, Saturday was their highest scoring output (37) of the season. On the year they score 19.7 ppg, have rushed for 145.7 ypg (4.3 ypc), and pass for 233.3 per game. They convert at a respectable rate of 41% on 3rd down and have gone for it on 4th down 22 times this season (22.73% conversion rate). They only control the ball for 27:32 per game. In the redzone they have struggled scoring 69.4% of the time and they have scored TDs 52.8% of the time. They have allowed 30 sacks this season and tossed 11 interceptions and lost 3 fumbles. Outside of Williams they have also lost TE #83 Ryan Schwendeman and WR #3 Jaelin Benefeld to early season injuries.
The Salukis are down to their 4th string quarterback after the injuries to #2 DJ Williams and #18 Hunter Simmons due to in season injuries and their number three quarterback was injured over the summer. That has left #7 Jake Curry (5-11, 185) as THE guy. He has some Stone Labanowitz to him and is a gunslinger and able to make plays with his feet. He is completing 56% of his passes for 877 yards and 3 TDs to 6 INTs while also rushing for 238 gross yards and 3 TDs. Last week against YSU he had accounted for 400 total yards of offense and 4 TDs (including his 3 passing TDs). This effort earned him MVFC offensive player of the week accolades.
The leading rusher is still DJ Williams and he has not played since week three. However, #28 Shaun Lester Jr. (5-11, 210) is the starting running back and he has 210 yards (3.4 ypc), and 1 TD. He also has 11 receptions for 28 yards. #33 Jerrian Parker (5-10, 205) is a true freshman who has rushed for 196 yards (3.1 ypc) and 1 TD. He has 8 receptions for 72 yards as well. #32 Jimmy Athans (5-8, 190) has 27 carries for 156 yards (5.8 ypc) and 1 TD.
SIU reloaded their wide receiver room this offseason to help all-MVFC performer #0 Vinson Davis III (5-8, 175). Davis is a an absolute stud and he has 33 receptions for 342 yards and 2 TDs. Obviously, his stats have been hurt by the quarterback performance. He also has 5 carries for 44 yards. The leading receiver is #1 Keontez Lewis (6-2, 190) who has 650 yards (17.11 ypc) and 3 TDs. The Wisconsin transfer is dynamic with the ball in his hands and he has 8 carries for 115 yards and 1 TD. He did not play against YSU but is listed on the depth chart. #11 Nah’shawn Hezekiah (6-2, 210) transferred in from Howard. He has added 22 receptions for 340 yards for the Salukis. #15 Allen Middleton (5-11, 190) is a homegrown talent and he has 24 receptions for 311 yards and 1 TD. #9 Bradley Clark (6-0, 208) transferred in from Tennesee Tech and he has 11 receptions for 125 yards and 1 TD.
Even with all of these passing reasons, SIU also utilizes the tight end position. #48 Colton Hoag (6-3, 240) has 18 receptions for 194 yards and 2 TDs. #41 Aidan Quinn (6-1, 245) has missed a majority of the season due to injury but has played the past two weeks. Last season he totaled 27 receptions for 348 yards and 3 TDs.
The offensive line is big and experienced. From left to right they go:
- #53 Noah Fenske (6-6, 310, Sr)
- #68 Derek Harden Jr. (6-3, 330, Jr)
- #62 Chase Evans (6-4, 300, Sr)
- #79 Jake Green (6-5, 310, Sr)
- #60 Cameron Dye (6-4, 300, Jr)
Fenske has transferred from Iowa to Colorado and to Southern Illinois. His older brother Josh was a walk-on linebacker for the Jacks a handful of years ago. Evans is a four year starter and probably SIU’s best offensive lineman. This is Green’s third year of starting and Dye transferred in from Georgia State at the start of the season.
Defense
The Saluki dogs play a multiple defense and can shift seamlessly between a 3-3-5 and a 4-2-5. At times, this is a defense that the Jackrabbits have struggled to unlock but I’m not sure that will be the case this season. They are allowing a whopping 32.6 ppg and 168.3 ypg on the ground and 252.9 through the air. Opponents convert on 45.77% of 3rd downs and have converted on 83% of their trips into the redzone with 71% of their trips being touchdowns. They have recorded 22 sacks, forced 8 interceptions and recovered 3 fumbles.
The statistical strength of this SIU defense is in their linebacker corp. Part of that linebacker success is due to the play of their defensive line. #90 Peyton Reeves (6-2, 315) is a monster in the middle that really eats up blocks. He has 22 stops, .5 sack, and 2 quarterback hurries. When they play the 3 man front their ends are #22 Louis Wilbert (6-2, 240) and he has 29 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack and 2 QBH and #58 Jamond Mathis (6-3, 245) who has 27 tackles, 6 TFL, 3 sacks, and 4 QBH. This is a very active duo! When they go to a four man front, #99 Caden Reeves (6-3, 285) and #65 Devin Love (6-3, 310) are the guys they bring in. Caden has 16 tackles, 1 sack, and 2 more QBH. Love has racked up a whopping 30 tackles, 2 sacks, and a forced fumble this season. #20 Jake Parella (6-2, 252) is a reserve and has 12 tackles and a .5 sack.
SIU has a trio of new starting linebackers but they have been playing well and they sure play fast! In the middle is #35 Ben Bogle (6-2, 225) and he has 74 total tackles, a ridiculous 14 TFL, and 5.5 sacks, 2 INT, 1 PBU, and 3 QBH. Clearly, the A-gap pressure with Bogle is something this defense likes to do. He is flanked by #6 Chris Presto (6-2, 218) who total 15 tackles against YSU and has 62 total tackles, 7 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 PBU, and 2 QBH. The final starting linebacker is #33 Shug Walker (6-2, 225) and he has 66 tackles, 1 sack, and 5 PBU. #42 Shane Roth (5-10, 210) is the only reserve linebacker with significant playing time and he has 25 tackles and 1 INT.
The secondary also has a ton of new faces but the two returning starters are at safety is #7 Ubayd Steed (5-11, 195) who transferred in prior to the 2023 season and was named to the MVFC All-Newcomer team. He has a team leading 77 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 sack, 3 PBU, 1 QBH, and 2 forced fumbles. #1 Iverson Brown (6-2, 207) transferred in from Illinois State prior to the 2023 season and was okay. He has hit his stride this season with 69 total tackles, 1 INT, and 5 PBUs. The new face is #2 Desman Hearns (6-0, 195) has 42 total tackles, 2 INT, and 2 PBU. Hearns wasn’t a starter in 2023 but did play significant snaps and was named an FCS Freshman All-American by Phil Steele. This season he has 42 tackles, 2 INT, and 2 PBU. #24 Vinny Pierre Jr (6-1, 200) is a key reserve that has 16 tackles, 1 INT, and 1 QBH.
The starting corners are #4 Jamir Conn (6-0, 180) and #8 Jeremiah McClendon (6-0, 185). Conn has 51 tackles, 3 TFL, 5 PBU, 1 QBH, and 1 forced fumbles. McClendon transferred in from FIU after starting his career at Charleston Southern. This season he has 20 total tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT, 1 PBU, and 1 forced fumble and has started the last two weeks after starting the season down the depth chart. Another player who has spent part of the season in the starting lineup is #13 Sebastian Vargas (6-1, 190) and he has 19 tackles and 3 PBUs. #17 Jeremiah Baxter (6-2, 198) started one game this season and has 14 tackles and 1 PBU.
Special Teams
The SIU special teams have struggled in 2024. The one bright spot is punter #97 Paul Geelen who has 50 punts for a 43 yard average. He has a long of 65, forced 20 to be faircaught, landed 13 inside the 20, and booted 9- 50+ yards. He has just 5 touchbacks as well. Opponents have returned 12 of his punts for a 6.5 yard average and a long of 32. Geelan also handles the field goals and kick off duties. He is just 7 for 12 on field goals with a long of 50 yards. However he is just 1 for 4 from kicks of 40+ yards. On kickoffs he has 40 attempts with 20 resulting in touchbacks. Opponents have returned 16 kicks for 19.81 yards with a long of 34.
In the kick return game, #0 Vinson Davis III has 14 returns for 265 yards (18.93 avg) and a long of 40 yards. #82 Dayton Mitchell (5-11, 185) handled the punt return duties last week vs. YSU but Vinson Davis is also listed as the starting punt returner on their depth chart this week.
Prediction
I think we see some points from the Jackrabbits this week. SIU has surrendered a ton of points this season and I think the Jackrabbits join that club, especially on senior day.
Jackrabbits 52- Salukis 13
Go Jacks!
Matt
