Photo by: Madison Case
Quarterback Sam Straub, receiver Raphael Leonard, shine in Football's second spring scrimmage
03/31/2018 | 1:38:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Opposing defenses beware — Southern Illinois quarterback Sam Straub is back and playing better than ever. Five months after a broken wrist ended his 2017 season, the fifth-year senior has returned to full strength and then some.
In Saturday's scrimmage at Saluki Stadium, the team's 10th practice of spring ball, Straub completed 15-of-26 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns. His powerful arm cut through the wind for six completions of 20 or more yards.
In last week's scrimmage, it was wide receiver Darrell James who made big plays downfield, but today, Straub's favorite target was Raphael Leonard, who had six catches for 142 yards and a touchdown. A 6-foot-2 senior wideout, Leonard made a pair of acrobatic catches on the team's second drive, out-leaping a defender for a 14-yard gain, then blowing past the coverage for a 30-yard score.
Straub's best throw of the day might have been the 30-yard completion he made to James, in which he rifled a ball 30 yards downfield into a tight window.
"With Ralph and Darrell, it's green-light every single time," Straub said. "If they're out there, then we're going. Those two guys are top of the country in skill level."
On another drive, Leonard hauled in a 40-yard reception with one hand. He was the team's third-leading receiver last year with 34 catches, but looks poised to have an even bigger season in 2018.
"I think Ralph can be as good as anybody in our conference," said head coach Nick Hill. "He's such a reserved kid, so quiet. He needs to become more assertive because his 530 yards (in 2017) can be even more. We trust Ralph and we want him to just cut it loose."
Southern could have a potent offense if the running game, which has shown flashes this spring, continues to improve. D.J. Davis had the longest run of the scrimmage with 29 of his 35 yards coming on his final carry. Power back Jonathan Mixon grinded out 34 yards on six attempts, while D.J. Hampton (6-for-31), Chris Perkins (4-for-24) and Nate Strong (4-for-17) were also productive.
"We still have to have a little more edge to us, get physical and celebrate four-and-half, five-yard runs, where we get our pads downhill and we just go and get five yards on first down," Hill said. "That's a big play, just like a big play to Ralph would be. We're starting to buy-in to that and understand that sometimes you have to grind and be tough in the run game."
The defense had reasons to feel good about its performance today, as well, allowing only two touchdowns in 82 plays from scrimmage. Four times, the offense had first-and-goal, but the defense allowed only one TD and three field goals with its back against the wall. Linebacker Bryce Notree had five tackles and a sack, and Wisconsin transfer cornerback Titus Booker had the scrimmage's only turnover, intercepting backup quarterback Matt DeSomer.
"You hope one side doesn't dominate completely for 110 plays, then we wouldn't be talking about having a great team," Hill said. "We feel we're getting close on both sides of the ball. We still have a long ways to go, but there's going to be some back and forth."
The Salukis have three practices scheduled next week plus will play the annual Spring Game at noon next Saturday.
"It will be a great evaluation to get in there and watch film and find things we need to clean up, then individually watch how people position themselves on the depth chart," Hill said. "I think we're still a work-in-progress. Today was practice 10. We get 40 of them before the start of the season. We're still working and trying to find the pieces, but I think we're off to a good start."
RUSHING
D.J. Davis, 3-35
Jonathan Mixon, 6-34
D.J. Hampton: 6-31
Chris Perkins: 4-24
Nate Strong: 4-17
Stone Labanowitz: 6-12
E'Mare Hogan: 3-8
Matt DeSomer: 5-3
Sam Straub: 1-2
Sam Thompson: 1-(-1)
PASSING
Sam Straub: 15-26, 262 yards, 3 TD
Matt DeSomer: 5-11, 55 yards, 1 INT
Stone Labanowitz: 3-6, 29 yards
RECEIVING
Raphael Leonard: 6-142, 1 TD
Darrell James: 2-60, 1 TD
Sam Thompson: 2-34
Landon Lenoir: 2-19
Jonathan Mixon: 2-10
E'Mare Hogan: 2-9
Matt Quarells: 2-9, 1 TD
Jake Varbles: 1-30
Nate Strong: 1-18
Cole Steward: 1-14
Sam Bonansinga: 1-5
D.J. Hampton: 1-(-4)
DEFENSE
Nick Raby: 5 T, 2 TFL (-7)
Bryce Notree: 5 T, 1 TFL (-5), 1 Sack (-5)
Coleton Jeralds: 5 T
Titus Booker: 5 T, 1 INT
Raquan Lindsey: 4 T, 2 QBH
Victor Abraham: 4 T
Bryson Strong: 4 T
Michael Elbert: 3 T, 1 PBU
Oliver McDowell: 3 T, 1 PBU
Devin Jones: 3 T, 1 TFL, 1 Sack
Tory Lewis: 3 T, 1 PBU
Withney Simon: 3 T
Makel Calhoun: 3 T
Jordan Berner: 2 T, 1 TFL (-2)
Sam Skinner: 2 T
Anthony Knighton: 2 T, 1 TFL (-1), 1 Sack (-1), 1 PBU
Jeremy Chinn: 2 T
Luke Giegling: 2 T
Jaylen Waters: 2 T
Malik Haynes: 2 T
Travis Pickert: 2 T, 2 TFL (-11), 1 Sack (-10)
ZeVeyon Furcron: 1 T
Qua Brown: 1 T
Terrance Henley: 1 T
In Saturday's scrimmage at Saluki Stadium, the team's 10th practice of spring ball, Straub completed 15-of-26 passes for 262 yards and three touchdowns. His powerful arm cut through the wind for six completions of 20 or more yards.
In last week's scrimmage, it was wide receiver Darrell James who made big plays downfield, but today, Straub's favorite target was Raphael Leonard, who had six catches for 142 yards and a touchdown. A 6-foot-2 senior wideout, Leonard made a pair of acrobatic catches on the team's second drive, out-leaping a defender for a 14-yard gain, then blowing past the coverage for a 30-yard score.
Straub's best throw of the day might have been the 30-yard completion he made to James, in which he rifled a ball 30 yards downfield into a tight window.
"With Ralph and Darrell, it's green-light every single time," Straub said. "If they're out there, then we're going. Those two guys are top of the country in skill level."
On another drive, Leonard hauled in a 40-yard reception with one hand. He was the team's third-leading receiver last year with 34 catches, but looks poised to have an even bigger season in 2018.
"I think Ralph can be as good as anybody in our conference," said head coach Nick Hill. "He's such a reserved kid, so quiet. He needs to become more assertive because his 530 yards (in 2017) can be even more. We trust Ralph and we want him to just cut it loose."
Southern could have a potent offense if the running game, which has shown flashes this spring, continues to improve. D.J. Davis had the longest run of the scrimmage with 29 of his 35 yards coming on his final carry. Power back Jonathan Mixon grinded out 34 yards on six attempts, while D.J. Hampton (6-for-31), Chris Perkins (4-for-24) and Nate Strong (4-for-17) were also productive.
"We still have to have a little more edge to us, get physical and celebrate four-and-half, five-yard runs, where we get our pads downhill and we just go and get five yards on first down," Hill said. "That's a big play, just like a big play to Ralph would be. We're starting to buy-in to that and understand that sometimes you have to grind and be tough in the run game."
The defense had reasons to feel good about its performance today, as well, allowing only two touchdowns in 82 plays from scrimmage. Four times, the offense had first-and-goal, but the defense allowed only one TD and three field goals with its back against the wall. Linebacker Bryce Notree had five tackles and a sack, and Wisconsin transfer cornerback Titus Booker had the scrimmage's only turnover, intercepting backup quarterback Matt DeSomer.
"You hope one side doesn't dominate completely for 110 plays, then we wouldn't be talking about having a great team," Hill said. "We feel we're getting close on both sides of the ball. We still have a long ways to go, but there's going to be some back and forth."
The Salukis have three practices scheduled next week plus will play the annual Spring Game at noon next Saturday.
"It will be a great evaluation to get in there and watch film and find things we need to clean up, then individually watch how people position themselves on the depth chart," Hill said. "I think we're still a work-in-progress. Today was practice 10. We get 40 of them before the start of the season. We're still working and trying to find the pieces, but I think we're off to a good start."
RUSHING
D.J. Davis, 3-35
Jonathan Mixon, 6-34
D.J. Hampton: 6-31
Chris Perkins: 4-24
Nate Strong: 4-17
Stone Labanowitz: 6-12
E'Mare Hogan: 3-8
Matt DeSomer: 5-3
Sam Straub: 1-2
Sam Thompson: 1-(-1)
PASSING
Sam Straub: 15-26, 262 yards, 3 TD
Matt DeSomer: 5-11, 55 yards, 1 INT
Stone Labanowitz: 3-6, 29 yards
RECEIVING
Raphael Leonard: 6-142, 1 TD
Darrell James: 2-60, 1 TD
Sam Thompson: 2-34
Landon Lenoir: 2-19
Jonathan Mixon: 2-10
E'Mare Hogan: 2-9
Matt Quarells: 2-9, 1 TD
Jake Varbles: 1-30
Nate Strong: 1-18
Cole Steward: 1-14
Sam Bonansinga: 1-5
D.J. Hampton: 1-(-4)
DEFENSE
Nick Raby: 5 T, 2 TFL (-7)
Bryce Notree: 5 T, 1 TFL (-5), 1 Sack (-5)
Coleton Jeralds: 5 T
Titus Booker: 5 T, 1 INT
Raquan Lindsey: 4 T, 2 QBH
Victor Abraham: 4 T
Bryson Strong: 4 T
Michael Elbert: 3 T, 1 PBU
Oliver McDowell: 3 T, 1 PBU
Devin Jones: 3 T, 1 TFL, 1 Sack
Tory Lewis: 3 T, 1 PBU
Withney Simon: 3 T
Makel Calhoun: 3 T
Jordan Berner: 2 T, 1 TFL (-2)
Sam Skinner: 2 T
Anthony Knighton: 2 T, 1 TFL (-1), 1 Sack (-1), 1 PBU
Jeremy Chinn: 2 T
Luke Giegling: 2 T
Jaylen Waters: 2 T
Malik Haynes: 2 T
Travis Pickert: 2 T, 2 TFL (-11), 1 Sack (-10)
ZeVeyon Furcron: 1 T
Qua Brown: 1 T
Terrance Henley: 1 T
Players Mentioned
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QB
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S
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G
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ILB
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RB
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DT
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CB
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/ FootballWR
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WR
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CB
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DT
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DE
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QB
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WR
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WR
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CB
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DE
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RB
/ Football
OLB
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RB
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DE
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WR
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OLB
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DE
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LS
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QB
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OLB
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RB
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WR
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TE
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