Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Saluki Football cancels Saturday scrimmage at Carterville High School
03/24/2017 | 11:08:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Saluki Football announced that Saturday's scrimmage at Carterville High School has been canceled due to the weather forecast that is calling for thunderstorms throughout the day. The team will hold a scrimmage on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Saluki Stadium, which is open to the public.
Head coach Nick Hill held a press conference earlier in the week with local media.
What do you like that you've seen so far in practice?
I like that each guy seems to be improving. Some guys really got themselves in better shape. As a head coach, you want to see a give-and-take, both sides of the ball having their days and playing well. What I like to see is the redshirt freshmen become more mature and understand your schemes a little better. The guys that were on the scout team finally get their chance to go out and play.Â
How did Austin Olsen's return come about?
We've been in contact with Austin the entire time, helping him graduate. He just felt like he missed it. You see NFL players go through that when they retire. What am I going to do when I wake up and go to class and I'm not a student-athlete anymore? I miss lifting with the team. It's hard to go to the rec and workout by yourself. I think he realized you only have so long to do this. Life can be put on hold, even though he has things to do after football. We're happy to have him back and keep earning his way back. He's a little behind from not being in shape and conditioning, but he'll do a good job and we'll work him back in.
How has DeVondre Seymour advanced at tackle?Â
He's a guy who has taken some steps forward in his first five practices. As far as last season, last year was the first time he played in a few years. He didn't play a year after his junior college, and then he was here but he didn't really play, he was on PAT. He'll stay at the left tackle. He can play either one, we've had a lot of guys who have bounced around. Offensive line you're just trying to put pieces together and see which five work the best. Who can adapt to different positions? Austin Olsen can also play guard, and he played right tackle too when he was younger. That's what's good about spring ball, we can mess with lineups just because you see some people out there playing with each other.
How has Raphael Leonard progressed at wide receiver?Â
Really well. He had a really impressive last week. The first week he was feeling it out — a new offense, new terminology, we don't huddle up — things you would expect. The kid has an awesome attitude. That's what I love about him. Sometimes you're not sure what you're going to get with a transfer, but he's just a kid who's fit our culture. We thought that when we recruited him and met his parents. He doesn't say much, he's a quiet kid. He's never once had a lack of effort out there. We grade every play. The people in the building love him. He's been a great addition to our team and he's been making plays out there, too. He'll push to be out there right away.
What made you decide to use Matt DeSomer on the defensive side this year?Â
I feel like last year, when you look at it, to have a guy who can make plays like that, who's just a good football player, that you need to get on the field. He'll still get to (play quarterback). You need to get those type of guys on the field wherever, he's got a defensive background, in high school he was a pretty good defensive back. I just decided to get him out there and give him the spring to learn it.Â
How did he react when you told him?Â
He's the same way. He just wants to be there for the team. He's all about playing football, doesn't matter what position. Playing for him is fun. Being out there, helping your team. He's loving it actually. He's made some plays over there, caused a couple of turnovers. He'll keep getting better, he's that type of guy. Every time I walk down the hallway, he's sitting in there by himself trying to catch himself up as far as learning the calls. That is one thing that can hold you back. You have to make so many calls and get people lined up. It's knowing the defense. He'll get caught up to that, too. It's nice for him because he sees it from the other side, from the quarterback perspective.Â
How's Pat Poore addition been?Â
Just like he was when we were players, he's fun-loving. He's a football coach, that's who he is, that's all he's ever done. Doesn't matter where or when or whatever, he loves to coach ball. He's sitting in those staff meetings, preparing, and scripting practice. Those two hours you're out on the field you can watch him and say 'He enjoys coaching football'. He's been a great addition. It's been fun to have him back around, especially as someone that you just enjoy being around.Â
What do you hope to see at the scrimmage?
It'll just be a basic scrimmage, we'll just have some different situations. It will be the first time we go completely live. Our quarterbacks won't be live. The thing about practice is the plays are scripted, coaches know the plays that are about to come, the defense knows personnel you're going to be in. (Scrimmages) are good because you're off the script, it's more like a game, react to the situations. Is it 2nd-and-long, is it 3rd-and-short, is it on the goal line, is it in the red zone? In the scrimmage, you can try to create some of those situations.
What are some of the subtle differences with Sam Straub and the way he's leading?
Confidence, maturity, all those things that you can naturally see in a guy who knows that it's his team, and it is. He has to compete with himself every day. He doesn't have to look over his shoulder. He knows if he doesn't perform, somebody will be there to take his spot. That's with everybody. When I say it's his team, he's the starting quarterback. The best ones have high expectations of how they should perform each day in practice. He's had a a good first five practices and needs to continue to do that.Â
How are you progressing on the defensive line?
We have a ton of young guys. We're going to be young on the defensive line, that's not a secret. We have a bunch of them coming in as true freshman and we have one junior college kid here in the summertime. Zeveyon Furcron is a kid that redshirted last year that has impressed every single day. We knew he was going to be a good player, he could have probably played last year as a true freshman. We chose to redshirt one of them — Malik Haynes played and Zeveyon didn't. All of those other young guys, Anthony Knighton, Jordan Berner, Blake Parzych continue to get better. I'm excited about that group.
How do you get D.J. Davis more touches with Daquan Isom back in the mix?
It's just a unique thing about our offense is we'll find ways to get you the ball if you're a playmaker. The thing that separates D.J. is his overall attitude. We'll move him around a little bit and find ways to get him the ball. He just has to continue to work. Daquan coming back doesn't have an effect on the way we plan to use D.J.
Jonathan Mixon seems faster. Was he hurt last year?
If you remember, last year in the spring time he didn't play. He missed winter workouts and was injured. It's been nice to have him in shape all spring. He's been with our strength coach and you can definitely tell he's got himself in better shape. He's got some confidence he can play at a  high level.
Is this the deepest offensive line you've had since you've been a part of the staff?
It's definitely the deepest line we've had since I've been a part of the staff. There's some competitions going on. We'll change up that lineup to create some competition. We need to continue to build depth with good players. We have eight guys that played in games last year and Aaron Harris isn't out there, either. He's injured and started for us last year and is a really good player. That's something in the offseason we put a huge emphasis on — we have to run the football better. We have to get more movement and prove we can do that with our offensive line. They've taken on that challenge, Coach Olsen's done a great job, they've gotten stronger, so we have to keep improving.
