Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Football adds six transfers to roster
01/25/2011 | 12:00:00 | Football
Jan. 25, 2011
By Jason Clay
SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois head football coach Dale Lennon announced Tuesday that he has added six transfers to his roster - four that come from the Football Bowl Subdivision and a pair from Coffeyville Community College.
All six student-athletes are enrolled in spring semester classes at SIU.
Three of the four FBS transfers come from BCS conferences and the fourth, quarterback A.J. Hill from Northern Illinois, is a local product of nearby Du Quoin and younger brother of former Saluki quarterback Nick Hill. Nick Hill (2005-07) is SIU's third-leading passer of all-time.
The three transfers from BCS conferences are offensive lineman Tucker Blanton from the Florida Gators, tight end De'Ron Flood from Purdue and wide receiver Kevan Walker from Oregon State.
The junior college transfers from Coffeyville are linebacker Bryan Presume and running back Mulku Kalokoh (pronounced Moo-Koo ku-lo-ku).
Hill was recognized by The Southern as its Prep Football Player of the Year in 2008, after passing for 2,119 yards while also receiving honorable mention All-State accolades from the Chicago Tribune. He redshirted at Northern Illinois in 2009 and did not attempt a pass in 2010.
Walker redshirted in 2008 and played in 12 games in 2009 with the Beavers. That year he had one catch for 16 yards against Washington State. He did not record any statistics in 2010.
The 6-foot, 200-pound native of Pasadena, Calif. is the son of New Mexico State head coach DeWayne Walker. He was First Team All-Pacific Coast League as a junior and senior, and Pasadena Star News First Team selection as a senior at Arcadia High School.
Blanton and Flood both redshirted at Florida and Purdue, respectively, in 2010 and will have four years of eligibility with the Salukis.
Blanton adds size to the Saluki front, as he is 6-6 and 340 pounds. He is originally from Jacksonville, Fla., where he attended Providence High School.
Flood, a native of O'Fallon, Ill. and Fairview Heights graduate, went to Purdue after catching 38 passes for 408 yards and one touchdown as a high school senior in 2009.
SIU has a history of successful transfers from Coffeyville, with running back Muhammad Abdulqaadir highlighting the list. Abdulqaadir was a consensus All-American for SIU in 2002 after rushing for 1,331 yards and 20 touchdowns.
Kalokoh and Presume are SIU's first transfers from Coffeyville since linebacker Fred Wright, who graduated from Southern in 2009.
Kalokoh, originally from Woodbridge, Va. and graduate of Potomac High School, ran for 1,197 yards and 18 touchdowns in two seasons with the Coffeyville Ravens. He was an All-KJCCC honorable mention selection in 2010.
The 5-10, 195-pound back has good versatility, as he spent time as both a kickoff and punt returner. He also caught 89 passes in two seasons for 798 yards and four TDs.
Presume was the Ravens' third-leading tackler in 2010 with 83 stops. His 15 tackles for a loss tied for the most on the team and he also had five sacks, two pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble.
