Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Newcomers Bolster Football's Defensive Line
08/24/2003 | 12:00:00 | Football
Aug. 24, 2003
CARBONDALE -
BY SETH WHITEHEAD
SIU MEDIA SERVICES
CARBONDALE - Raise your hand if you knew who Muhammad Abdulqaadir was a year ago today.
Anybody?
If the answer is no, you need not be ashamed. You're in the majority.
If the answer is yes, congrats. But, did you have any idea how good he'd be?
Seriously.
Even if you were really on top of things, chances are your knowledge of Abdulqaadir was limited to the fact that he was a JUCO transfer who was projected as a capable backup to Tom Koutsos.
Sure, the SIU coaching staff knew he had a lot of potential. But not even head coach Jerry Kill could have envisioned what the tailback would do once Koutos went down with a season-ending injury early in the season.
But 1,300-plus yards and 20 touchdowns in just six full games can get you known real quick though.
And nowadays, the All-American and Walter Payton Award candidate has earned enough acclaim that he is known to Salukis fans by simply one name - Mo.
And with the season just a few days a way, the question you can't help but ask is: Will there be another 'Mo' in 2003?
Who is going to come out of nowhere?
There are plenty of candidates to come out of the woodwork and help SIU to a winning season.
But if your looking for this year's diamond in the rough to be a headline-grabbing skills position player that can attain one name status, you're probably going to be disappointed.
In fact, it may be a group of guys.
Defensive linemen Andrew Franklin, Linton Brown and James Fields have little in common with Abdulqaadir, other than they are all JUCO transfers.
But the trio may prove to be just as important to SIU's success as the All-American running back.
Brown (6-foot-1, 310 pounds), Franklin (6-foot-1, 235 pounds) and Fields (6-foot-1, 260 pounds) provide SIU three attributes that they were in desperate need of last season - depth, size and strength on the defensive side of the ball.
And they have proven in fall camp that they are ready to contribute immediately.
"Those guys have worked real hard and learned the system," said defensive line coach Anthony Randle. "I think they'll help out. I think they'll help out and contribute this fall.
"They'll beef us up and make us more deep. You know, that's one thing we need is a lot more depth. Last year we got banged up a little bit. But now I think we have the confidence to go a solid two-deep.
"We feel very good and very confident with those transfer kids."
Franklin and Fields will join Billy Beard (6-foot-3, 275 pounds) and Chris Sutherlin (6-foot-2, 265 pounds) in the regular rotation of defensive ends.
"The two (new) defensive ends will help to be stronger on the edge in the running game as well as in the passing game," Randle said.
Linton is projected to be the biggest of the big in the trenches. And that's saying a lot. Lionel Williams (6-foot-3, 270 pounds), Mark Phillip (6-foot, 295 pounds), Jeff Jones (6-foot-1, 275 pounds) and Justin Lowes (6-foot-3, 290 pounds) will join him in the rotation.
"He's worked really hard in the spring and fall camp," Randle said. "Hopefully he will continue to get better and help us out."
These newcomers may be less glamorous than Abdulqaadir, but if you look at the Gateway Conference Standings in November, and SIU is in contention for a title - rest assured its got a lot to do from this trio's contributions. They have filled a need.
"They have great strength and good size," Randle said. "Coach Kill has said before that we've got to get some bigger guys up front to play in this conference. And we've done that."
