Five storylines for fall camp

08/03/2010 | 12:00:00 | Football

Aug. 3, 2010

By Jason Clay
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - It's that time of the year again. Time to lace up the cleats and strap on the pads.

The Southern Illinois football team, the preseason favorite in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, begins preparations for the 2010 season on Friday when they hold its first practice. It all leads up to the Sept. 2 season-opener and inaugural game in Saluki Stadium against Quincy.

Here are five storylines for the Salukis entering fall camp.

1. Who will fill in on the offensive line?
Three starters are gone from last seasons unit that only allowed 14 sacks in 13 games and led the Saluki offense that ranked No. 5 in the nation in rushing (221.1 yards per game) and No. 7 in scoring (34.0 point per game). Filling the shoes of the veterans, especially ones like Shawn Smith who started in 51-straight games, will be hard to do. Back are the heralded juniors who already have plenty of accolades to their names, left tackle David Pickard and center Bryan Boemer. Competition at the guard spots will be tight between newcomers George Danilkowicz (6-3, 300-pound junior from North Dakota State) and Jessy McMullin (6-6, 289-pound sophomore from Iowa Western Community College). Two more sophomores, Eric Bergman (6-2, 260) and Rashad Ceres (6-2, 285) will also be competing for one of the guard spots. At right tackle look for sophomore Richard Wilson (6-3, 305) or junior Scott Becker (6-6, 300) to win the starting job there.

2. Who will be the next All-American running back?
This is the second year in a row the Salukis will have to replace an All-American tailback. Deji Karim followed up Larry Warner in 2009. This year it might not be just one guy. Senior Lucien Walker, sophomore Steve Strother and junior Shariff Harris - a transfer from Pittsburgh - could all be used in a rotation. Also keep an eye on senior Richard White. White is coming off a knee injury sustained late in the 2009 season, but has rehabbed his way back into shape. SIU, with a storied tradition of elite running backs, has had a 1,000-yard rusher in 11 of the last 12 seasons. The one year in that span the Salukis didn't have a back reach that milestone was in 2004. That by no means was a down year running the ball. Brandon Jacobs (992 rushing yards) and Arkee Whitlock (959 rushing yards) helped Southern as a team set a new school record by rushing for 3,404 yards. Is this year going to resemble 2004 and see a pair of back shine in the backfield?

3. Can you replace five linebackers?
Look for senior Stephen Franklin and junior Connor James to have big seasons. Franklin was timed this summer running a 4.53 40-yard dash and has played in all 39 games since coming to SIU in 2007. James, who will be moving from inside to outside backer, had the most tackles of any non-starter in 2009. Despite the losses from last year's squad, SIU still has good depth here, just not the experience. In addition to James, the Salukis will have playmakers on the outside with Jayson DiManche, Robert Spann and Travis Littles. Joe Okon, Scott Cole and Rodney Reagans will help Franklin out on the inside.

4. Can the Salukis combat the perceived inexperience?
Southern Illinois has to replace more than 20 seniors from the 2009 season. Not all is lost, as SIU has a group of 17 seniors this year ready to lead the Salukis. Senior quarterback Chris Dieker is entering his third season as a starter and has a viable target in classmate Joe Allaria to throw to. Defensively, Korey Lindsey and Mike McElroy will lead the unit. The two are both on the preseason watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award and have two seasons of starting experience. SIU even has experience in the kicking game with senior place kicker Kyle Dougherty. Dougherty only needs to make two more field goals to set a new school record. He's proven to have a sturdy foot, but that leads us to our next question...

5. Who will take over for punter Scott Ravanesi?
SIU no longer has its all-time leading punter around to consistently pin opponents near their goal line and give it the advantage in the battle for field position. Freshman punter Austin Pucylowski (6-4, 230, New Berlin, Wis.) was brought in to replace Ravanesi. Pucylowski was ranked as the 15th-best punter in the nation by Kohl's Kicking and Punting service in 2009. Dougherty and senior tight end Kyle Harruff are also available options in the punting game.