Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Football coach Jerry Kill unveils 2006 recruiting class
02/01/2006 | 12:00:00 | Football
Feb. 1, 2006
Southern Illinois University football coach Jerry Kill unveiled the 2006 Saluki Football recruiting class Wednesday.
Kill said the staff made a concerted effort to enhance the team speed of the program, which has won the Gateway Conference and advanced to the I-AA Playoffs each of the last three seasons.
"One thing we did after we lost to Appalachian State (in the playoffs) was we felt we had to recruit and take it to a different level," Kill said.
"When we did that, we found out it's difficult. We lost out on about five player players that we thought we had, that signed with Division I programs. But at the same time we were able to get three or four players that turned down DI offers."
The 17-man class features seven junior college transfers and includes three players from Coffeyville Community College, which has been a wellspring of talent for SIU in recent years.
"We think, overall, we addressed some needs," Kill said. "The good news is that I have a few extra scholarships in my pocket that we can use if we need something this spring or a little bit later on."
Among the Coffeyville transfers is running back Kendrick Smith, a prized prospect, who was originally offered a scholarship by LSU after he graduated from Patterson (La.) High School in 2003.
Smith comes from a football family, as well. His brother, wide receiver Ike Hilliard, recently completed his ninth season in the NFL. Smith's uncle, Dalton Hilliard, played running back for New Orleans for eight years and was a Pro Bowl pick in 1989.
Of the seven junior college players in the class, four are already enrolled at SIU and will take part in spring drills: Smith, quarterback Justin Allen, linebacker James Cloud and defensive tackle Andre Tillman.
Allen, a quarterback out of Northeast Oklahoma A&M, is one JUCO Kill is excited about. Allen, who in seven games led his team to a 5-2 record and passed for 915 yards and eight TD's, was an all-state, all-conference player as a senior at Glenpool High School in 2003.
"Justin is a tremendous athlete," said Kill, "Not only can he play QB, but he can also play wide receiver as well."
"It gave me a chance, if we had any injury problems, we could use him at quarterback and also know he is a good enough athlete to play receiver in a minute."
Another QB which committed to SIU is Chris Dieker. Dieker, who will be a freshman, was a starter for two years at Hayden High School in Topeka, Kan., where he led his team to the 4A championshi in 2004 and was 25-1 as a starter in his career.
"I wanted to sign a freshman quarterback which we got in Chris Dieker," said Kill, "He looks like Nick Hill except he is right handed. They could be carbon copies of each other."
On he defensive side of the ball, SIU signed two safeties in Donkay DeGraffenreid and Marty Rodgers. DeGraffenreid, who is the cousin of Arkee Whitlock (SIU RB), ranked among the top 50 prospects in South Carolina by The State newpaper. He also helped his high school (Rock Hill) to the Class 4A State Title in 2004.
"Donkay is a guy who guy who can play physical and lock you down," said Kill. "He can also be physical enough to come off the edge and blitz you."
Rodgers, a product of Webb City, Mo., where Kill used to coach, was a three year starter who helped his team to a combined 31-5 while he was a member of the team.
"He is an excellent athlete and an excellent player," said Kill. "He is a tremendous defensive back. Those are the kind of players that you expect things out of early."
Also amongt the defensive players that coach Kill highlighted during his conference was Larry Luster, a defensive tackle who is transferring from Harper Community College.
Luster was second on the team in tackles in 2005 with 51 and also earned all-conference honors in both seasons. Originally a recruit of Indiana, Luster found himself in a junior college and ultimately at SIU.
"We missed out on him the first recruiting session I was here," Kill said. "He ended up going to the University of Indiana and signed with them. That was a big signing for us."
Signing Day Bios/Roster in PDF Format
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2006 SIU Football Recruiting Class
Justin Allen QB 6-2 205 So. 3rd Glenpool, Okla. Northeast Oklahoma A&M
Transfer from Northeast Oklahoma A&M Junior College...In seven games in 2005, led his team to a 5-2 record and passed for 915 yards, eight TDs and seven INTs...Named honorable mention Southwest Junior College Football Conference...Set school record for fastest 40 time by a quarterback (4.41)...All-state, all-conference and district player-of-the-year as a senior at Glenpool High School in 2003...As a two-year starter, led his team to a 19-1 combined record, including a 4A state championship in 2002...Passed for 1,697 yards and 21 TDs, while rushing for 1,004 yards and 10 TDs as a senior.
Chris Arthurs DT 6-1 275 Fr. 1st Wheaton, Ill. Wheaton Warrenville South
Led his team with 10 sacks and also recorded 64 tackles, four forced fumbles and two blocked kicks as a senior...Led his team to a 12-1 record in 2005...Named to the Illinois High School Coaches Association 8A All-State team...Named the Du Page Valley Conference defensive MVP...All-area and all-conference...Also played fullback and was the team's long snapper.
Rick Burgess LB 6-1 235 Fr. 1st Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. William T. Dwyer
Three-year starter who recorded 122 tackles, 48 tackles for loss and eight sacks as a senior...Played in the Outback Bowl -- Palm Beach County All-Star game and FACA North-South Florida All-Star game...Honorable mention all-state as a senior...First-team all-area and all-conference as a junior and senior.
James Cloud LB 6-2 205 So. 3rd Hackensack, N.J. Coffeyville Community College
Did not see action at Coffeyville Community College...Third-team all-state selection as a senior at Hackensack High in 2003...Also earned all-league and all-county honors.
Donkay DeGraffenreid S 5-9 195 Fr. 1st Rock Hill, S.C. Rock Hill
Cousin of Saluki RB Arkee Whitlock -- the two attended the same high school as well...Named first-team all-state by the Associated Press in 2004 and 2005...Ranked among the top 50 prospects in South Carolina by The State newspaper...A four-year starter (55-straight games) who made 545 career tackles...Played in the Shrine Bowl all-star game that pitted the top players in South Carolina vs. the best in North Carolina...Named Defensive Player of the Year by the Charlotte Observer...Helped lead Rock Hill to a Class 4A state title in 2004.
Chris Dieker QB 6-5 205 Fr. 1st Topeka, Kan. Hayden
His senior season, passed for 1,204 yards and 15 TDs, and rushed for 589 yards and 11 TDs...Earned first-team all-state honors by the Kansas Football Coaches Association...Two-year starter, who passed for 11 TDs and rushed for 14 TDs as a junior, earning honorable mention all-state accolades...Led his team to the 4A state championship in 2004 and was 25-1 overall in his career as a starter...Also lettered in basketball and track.
Lamarquis Foney RB 6-1 220 Fr. 1st Mobile, Ala. Davidson
Rushed for 1,218 yards, 11 TDs and a 7.5 avg his senior year...Named all-region by the Mobile Register as a senior...The #14-ranked recruit in Southwest Alabama's Super 30...Team finished 13-1 and was a state semi-finalist in Division 6A in 2005.
Jemere Gainer LB/RB 6-1 225 Fr. 1st Livonia, Mich. Clarenceville
Three-year starter who earned all-metro, all-conference and all-region honors all three years...Listed as one of the top prospects in the state by Spartanmag.com...As a sophomore, was second in the state of Michigan in total tackles, as compiled by the Detroit News...Also lettered in basketball and track.
Kevin Green OL 6-4 300 So. 3rd Oklahoma City, Okla. Northeast Oklahoma A&M
Transfer from Northeast Oklahoma A&M Junior College...A starter for the Golden Norsemen in 2005...A two-year starter at Edmond Santa Fe High School, where he earned all-state, all-region and all-city honors for the 6A school as a senior in 2003.
Kyle Harruff TE/K/P 6-4 235 Fr. 1st Terre Haute, Ind. South
Three-year starter who caught 80 passes and seven TDs during his career...Named the Wabash Valley Offensive Player-of-the-Year in 2005...All-state, all-region, all-county both as a junior and senior...Named Indiana Top 50 player...Also handled kicking duties for his team and was 11-of-12 on field goals in his career with a long of 45 yards
Ryan Kernes TE/LS 6-3 230 Fr. 1st Bloomington, Ill. Bloomington
Younger brother of Saluki offensive tackle Andrew Kernes...Three-year starter for one of the state's top 6A teams...Played in only six games as a senior because of injury, but recorded nine catches for 116 yards and two TDs...First-team all-conference and all-city...Played in the East-West Shrine All-Star game...Team was a combined 34-5 during his three seasons and was state runner-up in 2003 and 2004...Wendy's High School Heisman nominee...Principal's Straight A's all four years...Also lettered in basketball and track.
Larry Luster DT 6-0 295 Jr. 3rd Springfield, Ill. Harper Community College
Transfer from Harper Community College...An NJCAA all-region pick in both 2004 and 2005...Also earned all-conference honors both seasons...Helped his team win the NJCAA Division III National Championship in 2004...At Sacred Heart Griffin High School, he was a Class 5A first-team all-state selection in 2003.
Devon Reese DE 6-2 230 So. 3rd Daphne, Ala. Highland Community College
Transfer from Highland Community College...Second on the team in tackles in 2005 with 51...Also returned a interception 78 yards for a touchdown and had one sack and one blocked kick...Named honorable mention All-Jayhawk Conference...Also played basketball at Highland...All-state, all-city and all-region his senior year at Daphne High School.
Marty Rodgers S 6-0 175 Fr. 1st Webb City, Mo. Webb City
Three-year starter who rushed for more than 2,000 yards and recorded 45 TDs combined as a junior and senior...Had 15 career interceptions and 260 tackles...Named all-state, All-Ozark, all-area and all-conference his junior and senior years...His team was a combined 31-5 during his career...Saluki head coach Jerry Kill coached at Webb City from 1988-89 and was 25-1...One of Coach Kill's former players at Pittsburg State, John Roderique, is now the head coach at Webb City.
Anthony Seay WR 6-0 185 Fr. 1st Midlothian, Ill. Bremen
Caught 48 passes for 874 yards and nine TDs as a senior...Named to the Illinois High School Coaches Association All-State team...An outstanding kick returner...Helped lead his team to a conference title....Also named all-area and all-conference.
Kendrick Smith RB 5-11 210 Jr. 3rd Patterson, La. Coffeyville Community College
Transferred to SIU after playing two seasons at Coffeyville Community College...Rushed for 1,002 yards, 11 TDs and a 7.5 avg in 2005, and 900 yards, 13 TDs and 6.2 avg. in 2004...Named honorable mention All-Jayhawk Conference both seasons...Brother of Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Ike Hilliard, who recently completed his ninth season in the NFL, the first eight with the New York Giants...Nephew of Dalton Hilliard, who played running back in the NFL for eight years with New Orleans and made the Pro Bowl in 1989...Rated the 5th-best junior college running back prospect by CollegeFootballNews.com...A three-star prospect by Rivals.com...Was offered a scholarship out of high school by LSU...Led Patterson High School to the 3A state championship as a junior, a season in which he rushed for 1,963 yards and 33 TDs.
Andre Tillman DT 6-1 285 Jr. 3rd Thibodaux, La. Coffeyville Community College
Transferred to SIU after starting for two-years at Coffeyville Community College...Recorded five sacks and 70 tackles during his two-year career at CCC and was named honorable mention All-Jayhawk Conference in 2004...A two-year starter at Thibodaux High School, who had eight sacks in his career.
