Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Football Signs Chicago-Area Defensive End Keon Cummings
02/13/2004 | 12:00:00 | Football
Feb. 13, 2004
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Lincoln Park High School (Ill.) defensive end Keon Cummings has signed a letter of intent to play football at Southern Illinois University, Saluki head coach Jerry Kill announced Friday.
Kill called the 6-foot-6, 270 pound lineman, "the sleeper of our recruiting class."
Cummings missed part of the 2003 season with injury, but showed flashes of brilliance when he played, such as a four-sack, 14-tackle performance against South Shore, that earned him Chicago-area "Player-of-the-Week."
"We were very fortunate to get him," Kill said. "He was scheduled to visit with Cincinnati this weekend, but we convinced him to sign with us."
Kill credited an alum, former Saluki defensive tackle Justin Moore (1996-97) with bringing Cummings to the staff's attention. An assistant coach at Lincoln Park, Moore called Saluki offensive coordinator Matt Limegrover and persuaded him to look at Cummings.
"What we found was a good kid and a terrific athlete," Kill said. "He has a huge wingspan and a thick build, and we're very excited about his potential in our program."
