Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Football Training Camp Update
08/14/2002 | 12:00:00 | Football
Aug. 14, 2002
The Southern Illinois football team scrimmaged at the stadium Wednesday afternoon. After one full week of practice, Saluki head football coach Jerry Kill said his team is well ahead of where it was at the same time last year.
He said they've already installed most of the offense, defense and kicking game.
"We've thrown a lot at them, and we're not very clean at anything," he said. "But we have the next four or five days to clean up things."
Kill said the staff is busy evaluating personnel and getting players into the right positions.
Linebacker Depth
One of the big concerns heading into camp was depth at the linebacker position, but Kill said he is much more comfortable with the position after one week of practice.
"We feel like we have a lot of linebacker depth," he said. "We didn't feel like we had that going in."
Kill said redshirt freshman Jeff Jones (6-1, 260) and true freshmen Max Pierre (6-2, 220) and Royal Whitaker (6-0, 215) have been pleasant surprises.
Kill Praises Defenders
Kill said he was especially pleased with the play of two defenders thus far, DE Lionel Williams (6-3, 260, So.) and DB Alexis Moreland (6-1, 200, So). Williams was a top 100 player coming out of high school, but had to sit out a year to work on academics. Moreland was named to the All-Newcomer team as a freshman last season and is a Pre-Season All-Gateway pick.
Davidson Makes Switch
The conversion of Steron Davidson (5-7, 160) from wide receiver to cornerback is a success, Kill said. The senior defensive back switched to CB in the spring after playing receiver his first three years at SIU. He has 36 career catches.
True Freshman Contributors?
In addition to Pierre and Whitaker, Kill said several other true freshmen have turned some heads in camp and could see action this season. He listed CB Quorey Payne (5-9, 170), CB Jay Upthegrove (6-0, 185), WR Brent Little (6-1, 175), OL Will Justice (6-5, 275), TE Micah Turner (6-4, 240), DE Tony Garner (6-5, 215) and DE Adam Harrison (6-4, 230) as potential contributors.
Injury Update
Sophomore OT Andrew Wynn (6-4, 270) will miss the entire season after suffering a knee injury. He was projected to start at left tackle. Brian Akins (6-4, 310) and Matt Miller (6-4, 265, So.) are competing for the position. The only other significant injury is a hamstring pull suffered by WR Cipriano Montes (6-3, 205). Montes is penciled in as the starter at one receiver position.
Kill said about 15 players are banged up to some extent.
"Any time you have a physical, hard-working camp, you're going to have somebumps and bruises," he said. "You're going to have muscle problems during two-a-days, no matter how good a shape you're in."
