Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Football picked fourth in 2006 Gateway Conference Preseason Poll
07/25/2006 | 12:00:00 | Football
July 25, 2006
By Jeff Honza
www.SIUSalukis.com
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Southern Illinois University was tabbed fourth in this year's Gateway Conference Preseason Poll, released earlier today during the league's annual media day at the Renaissance Hotel.
SIU, which has won or shared three-straight conference titles and has made three consecutive NCAA Playoff appearances, accumulated 160 points in the overall voting by league coaches, media and sports information directors.
Northern Iowa, after sharing the crown with SIU and Youngstown State and then reaching the I-AA title game in 2005, is this year's preseason favorite. The Panthers took 22 of 32 first-place votes and enter the season looking for back-to-back Gateway titles for the first time since 1996.
Also picked ahead of the Dawgs were Youngstown State and Illinois State. Rounding out the poll were Western Kentucky, Western Illinois, Missouri State and Indiana State.
Senior running back Arkee Whitlock highlights a group of six Salukis who garnered preseason all-conference honors. Whitlock, one of the top running backs in I-AA football, was both a First-Team All-American and all-Gateway performer in 2005.
Seniors J.T. Wise (FB), Will Justice (OL), Lorenzo Wims (DL) and Braden Jones (TE, honorable mention), along with junior Craig Turner (RS), joined Whitlock on the Preseason Team.
Team (first-place votes)... Points
1. UNI (22) ... 239
2. Youngstown State (7)... 208
3. Illinois State (2)... 190
4. Southern Illinois ... 160
5. Western Kentucky (1)... 141
6. Western Illinois ... 103
7. Missouri State ... 79
8. Indiana State... 32
2006 Gateway Preseason Team
QB- Eric Sanders, UNI, 6-1 190 Jr.
RB- Marcus Mason, Youngstown State, 5-9 210 Sr.
RB- Arkee Whitlock, Southern Illinois, 5-10 195 Sr.
FB- J.T. Wise, Southern Illinois, 6-1 230 Sr.
WR- Sam Logan, Indiana State, 6-1 205 Sr.
WR- Laurént Robinson, Illinois State, 6-2 195 Sr.
TE- Boomer Moore, Western Illinois, 6-2 245 Sr.
OL- Ryan Jewell, Youngstown State, 6-4 290 Sr.
OL- Will Justice, Southern Illinois, 6-4 290 Sr.
OL- Chad Rinehart, UNI, 6-5 310 Jr.
OL- Chad Walker, Western Illinois, 6-5 325 Sr.
OL- Justin Williamson, Missouri State, 6-6 280 Sr.
PK- Chris James, Western Kentucky, 6-0 190 Jr.
DL- Madison Miller, Indiana State, 6-4 240 Sr.
DL- Mychal Savage, Youngstown State, 6-2 307 So.
DL- Prenny Stokes, Indiana State, 6-4 270 Jr.
DL- Lorenzo Wims, Southern Illinois, 6-2 260 Sr.
LB- Jerome Bennett, Western Illinois, 6-1 235 Jr.
LB- Derrick Byrd, Missouri State, 6-1 226 Sr.
LB- Cameron Siskowic, Illinois State, 6-2 225 Sr.
LB- James Terry, Youngstown State, 6-2 220 Jr.
DB- Dré Dokes, UNI, 5-9 162 Sr.
DB- Codera Jackson, Youngstown State, 5-10 182 Sr.
DB- Marion Rumph, Western Kentucky, 6-1 195 Jr.
DB- Jason Perry, Youngstown State, 5-8 165 Sr.
P- Joe Bishop, Youngstown State, 5-10 194 Sr.
RS- Craig Turner, Southern Illinois, 5-10 195 Jr.
Honorable Mention: RB Lerron Moore (Western Kentucky); WR Marco Thomas (Western Illinois); OL Mike Thorpe (Indiana State); TE Braden Jones (Southern Illinois); PK Brian Wingert (UNI); DT Keith Reed (Missouri State); DL Justin Martindale (Illinois State); LB Kye Stewart (Illinois State); P Adam Kos (UNI); DB/RS Dennis Mitchell (Western Kentucky)
