Saturday, November 2
Terre Haute, IN
12:00 PM
Southern Illinois University
at
Indiana St.
Saluki Football notebook at Indiana State
10/29/2019 | 3:51:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois will look to extend its winning streak to three games when it plays at Indiana State on Saturday, as the Missouri Valley Football Conference race reaches the month of November. The Salukis (4-4, 2-2) received 33 votes in the FCS Top 25 media poll and two votes in the Coaches Poll. The last time Southern was nationaly ranked was 2014. Saturday's game will be televised on ESPN+.
Series versus Indiana State
In a series that's evenly split, 28-28, Indiana State holds the recent upper hand, having won five of the last seven. Streaks are common in the series. The Sycamores won nine straight from 1994 to 2002, before the Salukis won nine straight from 2003 to 2011. Last year in Carbondale, SIU lost, 24-21, despite a 459-394 advantage in total yards. Southern committed the game's only two turnovers, and three times the offense came up empty in the red zone.
Salukis aiming for three-straight wins
A win at Indiana State would give the Salukis their first three-game winning streak in a season since the start of the 2014 campaign and the first three-game winning streak in conference play since 2012. The last time SIU won consecutive road games was in 2013 when it beat South Dakota State and Northern Iowa back-to-back.
Javon Williams Jr. leads FCS freshmen with 13 touchdowns
RB Javon Williams Jr. (6-1, 239, rFr.) has scored 13 touchdowns on the season (11 rushing, 2 receiving) — the most by a freshman in the FCS and second most in Division I behind FBS running back Kenny Gainwell of Memphis. The 13 TDs is a freshman record at SIU and the most by a Saluki player since RB Jewel Hampton had 17 in 2011. In the game against Youngstown State, Williams Jr. became the first player in school history to rush for a TD, catch at TD and pass for a TD in the same game. Williams Jr. Frequently operating out of the Wildcat formation, Williams averages 5.9 yards per carry and his 575 rushing yards ranks third among freshmen in SIU history. Tom Koutsos holds the mark with 1,052 in 1999.
S Jeremy Chinn leads MVFC in INTs
Despite missing two games with a foot injury, preseason All-American S Jeremy Chinn (6-3, 212, Sr.) leads the MVFC with four interceptions, after picking off two passes at South Dakota last week. Chinn has moved into fifth place in career interceptions (13) at SIU with. He is also second in pass breakups (26) and second in forced fumbles (6). A starter since his freshman season and with 31 career starts, Chinn was named the "Top FCS Target" by the Senior Bowl heading into the season. A year ago Delaware's Nasir Adderley earned the Senior Bowl's distinction and ended up as a San Diego Chargers 2nd round pick.
WR Avante Cox earns another Player of the Week award
WR Avante Cox (5-10, 175, So.) was named both the MVFC Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week after leading the Salukis with 193 yards of offense at South Dakota (113 receiving, 80 rushing) and three TDs. The Wyoming transfer leads the team with 31 catches for 440 yards. Cox averages 14.2 yards per catch and 10.3 yards per carry. His 142 receiving yards at Arkansas State were the most by a Saluki against an FBS opponent since Brent Little had 152 yards at Western Michigan in 2005, and earned him the MVFC's Newcomer of the Week for Week 4.
RB D.J. Davis with nine 100-yard games in last 17 outings
RB D.J. Davis (5-8, 170, Sr.), who missed two games this season with a dislocated elbow, is coming off a season-high 125 yards at South Dakota. He has recorded nine 100-yard rushing games in his last 17 outings. Davis ranks eighth in career rushing at SIU (2,228) and third in school history (4,912) in career all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving, return yardage). He is on the 2019 watch list for the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS National Performer of the Year trophy.
DE Anthony Knighton is 5th in sacks
DE Anthony Knighton (6-4, 260, Jr.) has started every game (30) of his Saluki career and is fifth all-time in sacks at SIU with 19.5, including 4.5 this season. He is four sacks shy of the school record held by James Phillips (1977-80). His 8.5 sacks in 2018 ranked seventh all-time at SIU and were the most by a Saluki since James Cloud had 8.5 in 2007. He also has 32.5 tackles for loss in his career, which is sixth all-time at SIU.
Salukis 5th in the nation in sacks
SIU's defense ranks 5th in the nation, averaging 3.5 sacks per game. Twelve different players have recorded sacks. Southern tied a school record with nine sacks versus Youngstown State.
Dawg Bites
• The Salukis rank No. 4 in the nation in kickoff return defense, allowing 15.27 yards per return.
• SIU is the only MVFC team to recover an onside kick, having done so in the game against Illinois State.
• After four conference games, SIU's defense leads the MVFC in 3rd down conversion percentage (27.1%). MVFC opponents are on 13-of-48 on 3rd down.
• Eight different players have caught at least one TD pass for the Salukis this year. Last year, only five different players caught touchdowns.
• RB Romeir Elliott (5-5, 188, Fr.) leads the team with a 6.8 yard average per carry. He had his first 100-yard game versus Illinois State (109 yards).
• In addition to Romeir Elliott, true freshmen WR Tanner Corum (5-11, 185, Fr.), CB PJ Jules (6-2, 233, Fr.) and CB Zay Frazier (6-3, 177, Fr.) have each played more than four games this season. True freshmen can play up to four games and still apply for a redshirt. Jules leads the team in special teams tackles with 7.
Qua Brown 5th in the nation in solo tackles
Although Jeremy Chinn grabs the headlines as one of the nation's top safeties and NFL prospects, S Qua Brown (5-11, 203, Jr.) is fifth in the nation in solo tackles per game (6.8) and 20th in total tackles (9.5). He had 16 tackles at SEMO and 14 at UMass. He also has five pass breakups to his credit.
The Leg from Down Under named MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week
A native of Melbourne, Australia, P Jack Colquhoun (6-2, 190, Jr.) is the first Australian to play for the Salukis since Wayne Cowley punted in 1973. Colquhoun has 11 kicks of 50+ yards this season, including an 80-yard boot at South Dakota State that was the third-longest in school history. Three of his 50+ yarders came against Youngstown State, as he was named the MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Colquhoun had never seen an American football game in person prior to his college debut at SEMO on Aug. 29. Colquhoun (pronounced KUH-hoon) was a decorated rugby player back home.
OLB Cody Crider bounces back
After undergoing the third knee surgery of his career in 2018, OLB Cody Crider (5-11, 218, Sr.) is back and having his best season at SIU with 57 tackles (2nd on the team), 8.5 TFLs and two sacks.
WR Landon Lenoir is active leader in receptions
WR Landon Lenoir (6-0, 190, Jr.) is the team's active leader in receiving with 80 catches for 873 yards. Lenoir has two relatives currently in the NFL. Brother Lance Lenoir (age 24), who holds the Western Illinois school record for career touchdown catches (28), is currently a member the Dallas Cowboys. Cousin Laquon Treadwell (age 24) is a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings.
QB Karé Lyles holds starting job
Junior college transfer Karé Lyles (6-1, 225, Jr.) is 2-3 as a starter since replacing injured starter QB Stone Labanowitz (5-10, 187, So.) during the first series of the UT Martin game on Sept. 14 (SIU went on to win). Labanowitz, who hurt his right shoulder, won a three-way competition during training camp, in which redshirt freshman Nic Baker (5-8, 191, rFr.) was the leader at the start of camp. Labanowitz has returned and is second on the depth chart.
| Southern Illinois (4-4, 2-2) at Indiana State (3-5, 1-3) | |
| Date & Time | November 2, 2019 | 12 PM CT |
| Location | Terre Haute, Ind. | Memorial Stadium (12,764) |
| TV/Video Stream | ESPN+ |
| Live Stats | Provided by Indiana State |
| Radio | Saluki Radio Network Mike Reis, Gene Green, Connor James |
| Radio Stream | TuneIn (free) |
| Southern Illinois | Game Notes (PDF) | Stats | Media Guide |
| Indiana State | Game Notes | Stats | Media Guide |
| MVFC | Weekly Notes | Stats |
| All-Time Series | Tied, 28-28 (H: 15-13, A: 13-15) |
| Social Media | @SIU_Football  | @SIUSalukis  | Saluki Football  |
| Video Channel | Vimeo |
Series versus Indiana State
In a series that's evenly split, 28-28, Indiana State holds the recent upper hand, having won five of the last seven. Streaks are common in the series. The Sycamores won nine straight from 1994 to 2002, before the Salukis won nine straight from 2003 to 2011. Last year in Carbondale, SIU lost, 24-21, despite a 459-394 advantage in total yards. Southern committed the game's only two turnovers, and three times the offense came up empty in the red zone.
Salukis aiming for three-straight wins
A win at Indiana State would give the Salukis their first three-game winning streak in a season since the start of the 2014 campaign and the first three-game winning streak in conference play since 2012. The last time SIU won consecutive road games was in 2013 when it beat South Dakota State and Northern Iowa back-to-back.
Javon Williams Jr. leads FCS freshmen with 13 touchdowns
RB Javon Williams Jr. (6-1, 239, rFr.) has scored 13 touchdowns on the season (11 rushing, 2 receiving) — the most by a freshman in the FCS and second most in Division I behind FBS running back Kenny Gainwell of Memphis. The 13 TDs is a freshman record at SIU and the most by a Saluki player since RB Jewel Hampton had 17 in 2011. In the game against Youngstown State, Williams Jr. became the first player in school history to rush for a TD, catch at TD and pass for a TD in the same game. Williams Jr. Frequently operating out of the Wildcat formation, Williams averages 5.9 yards per carry and his 575 rushing yards ranks third among freshmen in SIU history. Tom Koutsos holds the mark with 1,052 in 1999.
S Jeremy Chinn leads MVFC in INTs
Despite missing two games with a foot injury, preseason All-American S Jeremy Chinn (6-3, 212, Sr.) leads the MVFC with four interceptions, after picking off two passes at South Dakota last week. Chinn has moved into fifth place in career interceptions (13) at SIU with. He is also second in pass breakups (26) and second in forced fumbles (6). A starter since his freshman season and with 31 career starts, Chinn was named the "Top FCS Target" by the Senior Bowl heading into the season. A year ago Delaware's Nasir Adderley earned the Senior Bowl's distinction and ended up as a San Diego Chargers 2nd round pick.
WR Avante Cox earns another Player of the Week award
WR Avante Cox (5-10, 175, So.) was named both the MVFC Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week after leading the Salukis with 193 yards of offense at South Dakota (113 receiving, 80 rushing) and three TDs. The Wyoming transfer leads the team with 31 catches for 440 yards. Cox averages 14.2 yards per catch and 10.3 yards per carry. His 142 receiving yards at Arkansas State were the most by a Saluki against an FBS opponent since Brent Little had 152 yards at Western Michigan in 2005, and earned him the MVFC's Newcomer of the Week for Week 4.
RB D.J. Davis with nine 100-yard games in last 17 outings
RB D.J. Davis (5-8, 170, Sr.), who missed two games this season with a dislocated elbow, is coming off a season-high 125 yards at South Dakota. He has recorded nine 100-yard rushing games in his last 17 outings. Davis ranks eighth in career rushing at SIU (2,228) and third in school history (4,912) in career all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving, return yardage). He is on the 2019 watch list for the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) FCS National Performer of the Year trophy.
DE Anthony Knighton is 5th in sacks
DE Anthony Knighton (6-4, 260, Jr.) has started every game (30) of his Saluki career and is fifth all-time in sacks at SIU with 19.5, including 4.5 this season. He is four sacks shy of the school record held by James Phillips (1977-80). His 8.5 sacks in 2018 ranked seventh all-time at SIU and were the most by a Saluki since James Cloud had 8.5 in 2007. He also has 32.5 tackles for loss in his career, which is sixth all-time at SIU.
Salukis 5th in the nation in sacks
SIU's defense ranks 5th in the nation, averaging 3.5 sacks per game. Twelve different players have recorded sacks. Southern tied a school record with nine sacks versus Youngstown State.
Dawg Bites
• The Salukis rank No. 4 in the nation in kickoff return defense, allowing 15.27 yards per return.
• SIU is the only MVFC team to recover an onside kick, having done so in the game against Illinois State.
• After four conference games, SIU's defense leads the MVFC in 3rd down conversion percentage (27.1%). MVFC opponents are on 13-of-48 on 3rd down.
• Eight different players have caught at least one TD pass for the Salukis this year. Last year, only five different players caught touchdowns.
• RB Romeir Elliott (5-5, 188, Fr.) leads the team with a 6.8 yard average per carry. He had his first 100-yard game versus Illinois State (109 yards).
• In addition to Romeir Elliott, true freshmen WR Tanner Corum (5-11, 185, Fr.), CB PJ Jules (6-2, 233, Fr.) and CB Zay Frazier (6-3, 177, Fr.) have each played more than four games this season. True freshmen can play up to four games and still apply for a redshirt. Jules leads the team in special teams tackles with 7.
Qua Brown 5th in the nation in solo tackles
Although Jeremy Chinn grabs the headlines as one of the nation's top safeties and NFL prospects, S Qua Brown (5-11, 203, Jr.) is fifth in the nation in solo tackles per game (6.8) and 20th in total tackles (9.5). He had 16 tackles at SEMO and 14 at UMass. He also has five pass breakups to his credit.
The Leg from Down Under named MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week
A native of Melbourne, Australia, P Jack Colquhoun (6-2, 190, Jr.) is the first Australian to play for the Salukis since Wayne Cowley punted in 1973. Colquhoun has 11 kicks of 50+ yards this season, including an 80-yard boot at South Dakota State that was the third-longest in school history. Three of his 50+ yarders came against Youngstown State, as he was named the MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Colquhoun had never seen an American football game in person prior to his college debut at SEMO on Aug. 29. Colquhoun (pronounced KUH-hoon) was a decorated rugby player back home.
OLB Cody Crider bounces back
After undergoing the third knee surgery of his career in 2018, OLB Cody Crider (5-11, 218, Sr.) is back and having his best season at SIU with 57 tackles (2nd on the team), 8.5 TFLs and two sacks.
WR Landon Lenoir is active leader in receptions
WR Landon Lenoir (6-0, 190, Jr.) is the team's active leader in receiving with 80 catches for 873 yards. Lenoir has two relatives currently in the NFL. Brother Lance Lenoir (age 24), who holds the Western Illinois school record for career touchdown catches (28), is currently a member the Dallas Cowboys. Cousin Laquon Treadwell (age 24) is a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings.
QB Karé Lyles holds starting job
Junior college transfer Karé Lyles (6-1, 225, Jr.) is 2-3 as a starter since replacing injured starter QB Stone Labanowitz (5-10, 187, So.) during the first series of the UT Martin game on Sept. 14 (SIU went on to win). Labanowitz, who hurt his right shoulder, won a three-way competition during training camp, in which redshirt freshman Nic Baker (5-8, 191, rFr.) was the leader at the start of camp. Labanowitz has returned and is second on the depth chart.
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/ FootballInside Saluki Athletics - October 14th
Wednesday, October 15
10.14.25 | Coach Nick Hill Weekly Press Conference
Tuesday, October 14
10.12.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame #1 North Dakota State - DJ Williams
Sunday, October 12
10.12.25 | Saluki Radio Postgame #1 North Dakota State - Nick Hill
Sunday, October 12