Spring 2021 Preview: SIU

The Southern Illinois University Salukis are may be the hottest team in the MVFC outside of Grand Forks.  They have wins against MVFC powerhouses in NDSU and UNI.  If they can beat SDSU that would be a major accomplishment for their program.  Their offense, even with multiple quarterbacks, appears to be clicking and their defense is absolutely flying around the field.  Nick Hill is the head coach and he has turned around his alma mater who is seeking a spot in the playoffs.  

Offense

The offense is rushing the ball for 182.8 yards per game utilizing three different running backs and the passing game is good for 204.2 yards per game behind maybe the best top end duo of WRs in the MVFC.  SIU has turned the ball over this season as they do take a number of risks through the air.  They have 6 INTs and 4 fumbles so far.  However, their bread and butter is still running the ball and it shows with them holding the edge on time of possession with 31 minutes and 19 seconds per game.  They are also pretty good on third down converting on 57% of attempts and have scored on 17 of 18 trips in the red zone including 13 TDs. 

At quarterback there is some uncertainty who will be behind center when the Salukis take the field this week.  #8 Nic Baker (5-9, 194) is the leading passer on the season with 637 yards and 3 TD along with a 67.57% completion rate.  BUT, Baker was banged up in the first half against UNI and suffered a non-contact foot injury that.  #6 Stone Labanowitz (5-10, 195) has come in twice this season and performed well including leading the comeback last week against UNI.  He has been efficient, completing 11 of 15 for 1 TD.   Against UNI he showed decent mobility in the pocket.  Finally, the third quarterback SIU has used this year is the man who started for much of 2019, #3 Kare Lyles (6-0, 210).  Unfortunately he was banged up against UND. In his one game last fall and one game this spring, Lyles has gone 27 for 41 with 2 TD and 2 INT.  All three of these  guys battled before the 2019 season with Labanowitz ultimately winning the job before going down to injury and Lyles taking over.  This season, Lyles got hurt in the UND game and Baker took over.  So, no matter who lines up behind center will be experienced and very capable.

The running back group is loaded with a trio of sophomores and led by #15 Javon Williams Jr. (6-2, 245) who does a little bit of everything and is an absolute load for opposing defenders.  On the season he maybe hasn't "broken out" yet but he still has 277 yards, with a 4.1 ypc average and 5 TD.  He is doing a lot of his work out of the wildcat this year and has passed the ball 5 times including a 42 yard touchdown pass against UNI.  Williams has actually been eclipsed this year in rushing yards by #1 Romeir Elliott (5-6, 190) who reminds me a lot of YSU's Jaleel McGlaughlin.  Elliott has ran the ball 83 times for 382 yards and 3 TD.  He has just a long of 20 yards but you can see the big play potential is there.  The third back in the group is #5 Justin Strong (6-0, 215).  Strong has 21 carries for 109 yards.  Strong is also an excellent receiver and is third on the team with 11 receptions for 91 yards and 2 TD.  Elliott and Williams are no slouches either and both have 4 receptions with Elliott holding a 12 yard average.  The Jacks likely won't be able to stop this trio of backs but they do need to limit their impact on the game.

The wide receiver duo of #11 Avante Cox (5-10, 170) and #17 Landon Lenoir (6-1, 192) is the best in the conference and the Jackrabbit secondary better be prepared.  Nick Hill is on record saying that he wants Cox to touch the ball 10+ times per game. On the season he has 33 receptions for 422 yards and 2 TD.  The excellent UNI secondary held him in check for the most part until the 42 yard trick play from Williams to Cox that gave SIU their first TD of the game.  Cox also is a threat on the ground as he has 12 carries (mostly jet sweeps) for 105 yards.  Lenoir is the younger brother of WIU legend Lance Lenoir and is now a senior himself.  He has 21 receptions for 254 yards and 2 TD.  He is also an excellent run blocker. #83 Branson Combs (6-3, 210) is a bigger bodied receiver who has 4 receptions for 57 yards and #4 Jerron Rollins, a Cincinnati transfer, has 6 receptions for 26  yards and a TD which he scored against UNI in the second half.     

The tight end group is filled with guys who are more block first types but they also can catch the ball.   #43 Jacob Garrett (6-2, 245) and #18 Levi Mitchell (6-5, 229) both see plenty of action at tight end. Both have just two receptions on the year but Mitchell looked really good on a 22 yard reception against UNI.   

The offensive line for SIU looks different than most MVFC offensive lines as they are a bit squattier but they sure are powerful.  Against UNI from left to right they went #76 Beau Branyan (6-2, 295), #59 ZeVeyon Furcron (6-2, 327), #65 Calvin Francis, Jr. (6-1, 328), #60 Matt Chmielewski (6-4, 300), and #74 Lucas Davis (6-4, 288).  This group works well together and has started all five games as a unit this season.  They really are led by their interior.  Furcron, Francis Jr, and Chmielewski have plenty of experience and really look to grind down opposing defensive lines.  Furcron was a second team all MVFC selection following the 2019 season.  This group has given up 7 sacks on the season. 

Defense

The SIU defense is pretty solid and very active. They do bounce between a 4-3 and a 3-4 defense depending on the situation and have very good players at all three levels.  So far they are allowing 22.60 points per game, 194.6 yards per game on the ground and just 135.6 through the air.  UNI did have some success throwing over the deep middle last week (254 passing yards) so the Jacks may look to expose that.  However, SIU has been good on third down allowing just a 37% conversion rate and they are stout in the redzone allowing a TD on 11 of 19 trips. 

The defense is led by All-MVFC defensive end #11 Anthony Knighton (6-4, 251).  Knighton, now a senior, has 18 tackles and 1 sack on the year but was consistently creating havoc in the UNI backfield.  In his career he has 22.5 sacks, 38 tackles for loss and 134 total tackles.  He's a really good player.  Joining him at the other defensive end position is #92 Jordan Berner (6-5, 255) who has just 3 tackles on the year but who has used that long frame to break up two passes.  The interior defensive linemen are #56 Keenan Agnew (6-0, 275) and #95 Tylan Driver (6-2, 295).  They each have 13 stops on the year and 2.5 combined tackles for loss. #58 Chucky Sullivan (6-3, 237) has spent time in the starting lineup during his career and also has 11 tackles on the season. After watching the tape and reviewing these stats, it is clear that the job of this defensive line is to eat up blocks and let the linebackers run free.               

If Knighton is the star of the defense then the linebacker group is the strength of the defense. #31 Bryson Strong (5-10, 230) and #54 Bryce Notree (6-3, 225) are two very good linebackers who do a little bit of everything but are best moving forward and attacking.  On the season Strong leads the team with 30 tackles and has 2 sacks and a forced fumble.  Notree is second in tackles with 27.  They are joined by #8 Makel Calhoun (6-2, 220) at the SAM position and he really stood out to me on tape.  He is 4th on the team in tackles with 20 and has 3 TFL, and 1 sack along with 2 more QBHs. #34 Luke Giegling is a player with starting experience who has 5 stops on the year.

The secondary returns three starters from 2019.  #7 Jon Thompson (6-0, 180) and #2 James Ceasar (5-10, 185) are the starting corners and #24 Qua Brown (5-11, 206) returns at safety.  Ceasar has 16 tackles this year with 8 pass breakups.  Thompson has 15 tackles and 3 PBUs.  They are both sticky coverage guys and are crafty vets.  Qua Brown flirted with the transfer portal but ultimately ended up back at SIU.  He has 11 stops, a PBU and 2 forced fumbles on the year.  #0 Clayton Bush (6-0, 210) is new to the lineup but is fourth on the team with 23 tackles, a sack, an INT, a forced fumble, and a PBU.  Definitely a good start to his young career.  #4 PJ Jules (6-3, 191) is a big corner who has come in when SIU throws an extra DB on the field and he has 9 tackles and 2 PBU.  At safety, SIU is getting back Colorado transfer #1 Aaron Maddox (6-0, 213) who hasn't played since the SEMO game in the fall due to injury.  In that game he had 4 solo tackles and an INT.  

Special Teams

SIUs special teams are good.  Both the kicker and punter are experienced and the returns are all dangerous.  #97 Jack Colquhoun has 16 punts this season for a 40.75 yard average.  He's landed 7 inside the 20 only had 2 touchbacks. #99 Nico Gualdoni is 5 for 6 on field gaols iwth a long of 39.  He is also the kick off specialist and has a 52.3 yard average which is SIU trying to pin opponents inside the 25.  

The return game features some big name for SIU.  Javon Williams Jr. handles punt return duties with 6 returns for an 8.33 yard average and Justin strong handles the kick return duties where he has 8 returns for 21.75 yard average.  Against UNI he brought multiple kicks out of the end zone that put his team in tough position against a good Panther defense.  We'll see if he still has the green light to do that or if he will be more conservative against the Jacks.  Either way, the Jackrabbit coverage team will have to maintain their lane discipline and hurry down the field, even if it looks like it will be a touchback.  

          

Prediction

Jackrabbits win 30-27.

How to Watch

ESPN+    

Go Jacks!

Matt