The Jackrabbits hit the road for their final road test of the 2026 regular season. The Southern Illinois Salukis (5-5) are playing for their playoff lives with only two games to go, playing host to SDSU and hitting the road for UND. What doesn’t a cornered Saluki look like? We are about to find out. SIU had really high hopes entering the season with a talented group of returnees on offense and the hope that their defense would be better than the 2025 version. However, a week one upset loss to West Florida coupled with an injury to DJ Williams and the season went off the rails early. But the Jackrabbits will need to take this one seriously. SIU still has plenty of talented and destroyed Illinois State in 2025 in a game that was very similar.
Offense
The SIU offense is averaging 24 points per game which is lower than most expected for this offense. They are rushing for 146.5 per game and passing for 204.5 yards per game. They do a good job of controlling the ball at nearly 31 minutes per game. On 3rd down they convert 36% of the time and on 4th it is just 50% of the time. In the redzone they have scored on 31 of their 40 opportunities with 20 being touchdowns. They have 7 fumbles, tossed 13 interceptions, and have surrendered 21 sacks.
SIU is led by the uber talented #1 DJ Williams (6-3, 218). It feels like he has been making plays in the Valley for years, first at Murray State and then at SIU. As mentioned earlier, his injury in the season opener appears to have had an effect. Williams is completing 56.6% of his passes for 1,660 yards and 10 TDs to 4 interceptions. He does have 203 rushing yards still on the season. The Jacks will need to “cage” Williams with their pass rush and keep him in the pocket.
At running back, #8 Chandler Chapman (5-11, 210) has been a steady presence this season with 628 yards (4.7 ypc) and he also has 7 receptions for 60 yards. He splits carries with #26 Quade Chatmon (6-0, 205) who has really come on in recent weeks. On the season he has 277 yards (5.1 ypc) rushing and 10 receptions for 91 yards. #4 Edward Robinson (5-11, 195) is listed as the backup running back and he has just 134 yards on 42 carries (3.2 ypc) and he has 9 receptions for 74 yards and 1 TD.
Williams has a trio of super talented receivers that can stress any defense. Former NIU transfer #6 Kyle Thomas (6-3, 190) leads the group with 694 yards and 8 TDs on 45 receptions. He didn’t do much in his first year after transferring but has really shown up in year 2. #11 Markell Quick (5-11, 167) has 21 receptions for 352 yards and 2 TDs. Bowling Green and SIU transfer #5 Allen Middleton (5-11, 190) has 33 receptions for 296 yards and 1 TD. Yes, he originally started at SIU in 23 and 24 before spending one season in the MAC. #10 Tae Marrero Jr. (5-10, 187) has 8 receptions for 124 yards (15.5 ypc avg) as the top reserve wide receiver. The tight ends aren’t huge weapons in the passing game but #47 Miles Marshall (6-5, 260) leads the way with 12 receptions for 88 yards and 1 TD.
The offensive line for SIU is still pretty green and has battled some injuries this season. Derek Harden Jr. is the best player on the SIU offensive line and he is surrounded by some pieces that had little experience before this season.
LT: #67 Jacob Katauskas (6-4, 310, So)- Started 1 game at guard in 2025 and has started 4 games this season including the past 3 at left tackle and for two games at right guard.
LG: #63 Kellen Francis (6-5, 320, JR)- Illinois Transfer. First year seeing significant action. Has started all 10 games this season.
C: #71 Ostyn Friday (6-2, 285, JR) or #53 Ethan Goodin (6-5, 300, SO)
- Goodin started for the first 7 weeks of the season while Friday started the past three. It is both of their first year starting.
RG: #68 Derek Harden Jr (6-3, 330, SR)- Started all 11 games at guard in 2025 and has started at 8 of 10 games at RG.
RT: #73 Coleon Smith (6-6, 310, SR)- Playing his 7th year of college football. Has battled injuries throughout his career. Has started all 10 games this season.
Defense
SIU plays an attacking 4-3 defense that has a strong linebacker corp and a super talented pass rusher. SIU allows 25.7 points per game via 148 rushing yards allowed per game and 208 yards per game passing. On 3rd down they allow conversions on 37% of opportunities. On 4th down opponents have converted on 14 of 17 opportunities (82%). In the redzone, opponents have scored 26 of 32 times; 21 of which have been touchdowns.
Up front, the aforementioned pass rusher is Albany transfer #9 Ibrahim Sanogo (6-2, 244). He has recorded 38 total tackles, 15.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks, and 5 QBHs along with two forced fumbles. Watching him against the Jackrabbits stud offensive tackles will be a really fun matchup to watch. In 16 games at Albany, he recorded 4 sacks so this is a pretty big jump in production this season. Across from him is #20 Jake Parrella (6-2, 255), brother of former Jackrabbit Alex Parrella. He has 13 total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. #3 Lukus McDanilels (6-6, 250) has 12 tackles, 3 TFL, 5 QBHs and 1.5 sacks as a top reserve.
On the interior SIU doesn’t have their usual wide bodies. Kansas and North Alabama transfer #98 Lance Bassett (6-2, 290) is the biggest guy in the rotation. He has 23 total tackles and 2 sacks. Next to him is #94 Amir Dwight (6-1, 272) and he has 30 total tackles, 6 TFL, and 2.5 sacks. #49 Max Bremer (6-3, 260) and #93 Jaden Hudgins-Key each have 7 tackles with Bremer having 1 sack.
The Bear linebacker is #45 Ben Fiegel (6-3, 230) and he has made a ton of plays on his way to 72 total tackles, 4.5 TFL, 2 INT, 2 PBU, and 2 forced fumbles. He’s in his first year as a starter and has made a big impact for this defense. #46 Andrew Behm (6-2, 230) is the will linebacker and he has 70 tackles, 5 TFL, 1 sack, 1 INT, 3 PBU, 1 QBH, and a forced fumble. #6 Chris Presto (6-2, 230) has made 35 stops, 4 TFL, 1 sacks, and 3 PBUs. Behm and Presto are in their second year as starters #15 Charles Whepley (6-2, 230) is a top reserve and he has 49 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 1 sack, and 1 INT.
At cornerback, #8 Cameron Cason (6-0, 170) is just a sophomore but he has stayed plenty busy this year at corner. He has 29 total tackles, 1.5 TFL, and 1 PBU. Opposite him is #17 Sebastian Vargas (6-1, 190) who has 13 tackles, 1 TFL, 4 INT, and 3 PBUs. Vargas made 4 starts last year for SIU after transferring in from Florida. #0 Gavin Shepard (5-11, 175) started the first four games of the season but has moved to a reserve role. He has 16 tackles, 2 INT, and 2 PBUs on the year. #2 Naz Hill (6-3, 185) has 15 tackles in a reserve role.
Special Teams
The SIU special teams has been solid to great this season. Nothing flashy in the kicking game but good consistent play. True freshman #97 Weston Scholfield took over the place kicking and field goal duties after Seth Adams struggled in the first three games. Scholfield is 10 for 10 with a long of 36 yards since the change was made. On kickoffs he has a 62 yard average on 32 attempts with half being touchbacks. On those kick returns, opponents have just a 14.5 yard average with a long return of 31 yards. #92 Elijah Gorman handles the punting duties and he has a 44 yard average. He has just 1 touchback, has forced 11 to be fair caught, landed 17 inside the 20 and booted 11- 50+ yards. Opponents have only a 6.67 yard average on 6 opportunities with a long of 15 yards.
In the kick return game, SIU is explosive. #5 Allen Middleton has a 20 yard average on 9 attempts with a long of 49 yards. #10 Tae Marrero Jr. has a 26 yard average on 5 returns. Marrero Jr. has a 11 punt returns for a a whopping 285 yards and 1 TD. He has returns of 68 and 51 yards in recent weeks. This will be a good test for a stingy Jackrabbit punt team.
Predictions
I think this is a good SIU squad and the fact that they MUST win concerns me. SDSU must start fast, bury these guys, and force them to quit. This SIU team is veteran laden and it is senior day, however this Jackrabbit squad has been pretty good at slamming the door on cornered opponents the past few years. Slam the door and end their season.
Jackrabbits 41- Salukis 13
Go Jacks!
Matt
