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Written By
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Gino Leone
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Written By
Gino Leone
Contributor
Southern Illinois entered 2025 looking to return to the FCS Playoffs after an injury-plagued 2024 campaign.
On offense, the Salukis returned six starters. QB DJ Williams had a strong start to 2024, but an injury to his throwing hand ended his season. Against UIW in a ranked matchup, he threw for 301 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 79 yards and another score.
Vinson Davis III returned at wide receiver, TE Aidan Quinn had dealt with injuries the previous season, and Jackson State transfer wide out Fabian McCray was projected to have a good year.
The defense brought back five starters from a unit that allowed around 31 points per game.
SIU opened the season strong, dominating UT Martin and SEMO before beating Indiana State 55-27 in its MVFC opener. The Salukis then dropped two straight to fall to 4-3, suffering blowout losses to NDSU and UND.
Southern Illinois responded with back-to-back conference wins, but a loss at YSU and a quintuple-overtime defeat vs South Dakota eliminated SIU’s playoff chances. Despite a crushing 53-51 loss, the Salukis closed the season with an emphatic 37-7 win over the eventual national runner-up, Illinois State.
SIU returns one of the most productive quarterbacks in the FCS and an offensive line that ranked among the top units nationally, giving the Salukis one of the highest offensive floors in the MVFC. The main question is how quickly a rebuilt receiving corps can develop chemistry.
LT Blaine Halley (6-7, 300) anchors a unit that ranked among the top offensive lines in the FCS last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Halley started eight games for the Salukis, taking over for left tackle Coleon Smith (6-6, 310) who suffered a season-ending MCL tear against SEMO. With Smith granted an extra year of eligibility, he is projected to slide to right tackle, replacing Honorable Mention All-MVFC selection Cameron Dye (6-4, 310).
Former three-star recruit Jacob Katauskas (6-4, 310) earned one start last fall and is expected to compete for a spot in the rotation, potentially at right guard. Derek Harden Jr. (6-3, 330) offers notable experience, but he has only played three full seasons (2022, 2023, 2025) due to knee injuries.
During the spring game, Ethan Goodin (6-5, 300) and G Kellen Francis (Illinois) were part of the starting lineup, with Goodin replacing Second Team All-MVFC honoree Noah Fenske (6-6, 310) at center.
SIU will look to rely heavily upon its front line once again – a unit that paved the way for a lethal running back tandem in 2025.
SIU boasted one of the top rushing offenses in the FCS last season, ranking tenth in rushing yards per game (207.3). The one-two tandem of Edward Robinson and Chandler Chapman played a significant role in the success the Salukis had on the ground.
Robinson led SIU’s running backs with 655 rushing yards while adding 112 receiving yards and two total touchdowns. A former Duquesne transfer, Robinson showcased his explosiveness with an average of 7.2 yards per rush on 91 carries.
Chapman complemented Robinson’s explosive running style, recording 78 carries for 465 yards and six touchdowns. Behind Robinson and Chapman, the Salukis have a deep rotation.
Lem Wash and Jimmy Athans both return after combining for 148 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Dedrick Welch has breakout potential following an impressive spring.
Running back projects as one of the stronger positions on the team, with little question surrounding the duo of Robinson and Chapman. At quarterback, star DJ Williams preps for another big season.
Williams had a breakout campaign in 2025, receiving Third Team FCS Football Central All-American and Honorable Mention All-MVFC accolades. At 6-3, 218, Williams displayed his dual-threat abilities last fall, passing for 2,846 yards and 22 touchdowns while also rushing for 847 yards and 18 touchdowns.
He ranked fifth in the FCS in total offense (308 yards per game) and finished eighth in Walter Payton Award voting.
Williams put together an impressive season in spite of a torn PCL which he suffered in the fourth week of the season (at SEMO). Due to health concerns, Jake Curry (5-11, 185) took all first-team reps in the spring, allowing Williams to rest and recover while at the same time focusing on improving his passing game.
The questions surrounding the Saluki offense heading into 2026 lies at wide receiver and tight end, as SIU will have to replace its top three receivers along with tight ends Aidan Quinn and Ryan Schwendeman.
For a unit that scored close to 37 points per game and finished within the top 30 in passing offense, replacing three mainstays in the receiver rotation will not be easy.
Vinson Davis III, Jay Jones, and Fabian McCray all depart after producing at a high level last season for SIU.
Jones (6-4) emerged as a deep threat capable of creating separation and hauling in contested catches, one of the reasons he led the team in receiving touchdowns (6). Davis received recognition as an Honorable Mention All-MVFC nominee and contributed both as the No. 1 wide receiver and a kickoff specialist.
McCray made the All-MVFC newcomer team, registering 543 receiving yards and three touchdowns. To replace those targets, SIU added a strong group of transfers.
Chattanooga transfer Markell Quick (5-10, 165) brings versatility as both a receiver and return specialist. Last season, Quick hauled in 37 passes for 686 yards and four touchdowns, also fielding 16 kickoffs for 406 yards and one touchdown.
Allen Middleton (Bowling Green) returns to Carbondale for another go-around with the Salukis. In 2024, Middleton caught 33 passes for 418 receiving yards and two scores.
Traivon Dyson (6-3, 180) comes in from UNLV after two seasons with the Rebels and a Division II stint with Mary. At Mary in 2023, Dyson led the team in receiving yards (649) and touchdowns (8) on 47 receptions.
Kyle Thomas (6-3, 190) had a standout offseason for SIU, reportedly adding 28 pounds in an attempt to improve his contested catching ability.
Chemistry between DJ Williams and his new-look receiving corps will likely determine the offense’s ceiling.
SIU returns five of its top eleven tacklers from a 2025 unit that showed flashes but struggled at times to consistently control the line of scrimmage. While the linebacking corps brings back a strong core of production, the defensive front remains the biggest question entering 2026.
With the departure of lead tacklers Colin Bohanek and Shug Walker, the Salukis will lean on depth to maintain stability at linebacker.
Andrew Behm totaled 61 tackles, three TFLs, and one forced fumble last season, ranking fourth on the team in tackles despite playing in just eight games. Chris Presto returns after back-to-back 50+ tackle campaigns.
In a 4-3 defensive scheme, depth at linebacker is important and the Salukis appear to have a lot of it. Ben Fiegel/David Obadein/Charles Whelpley are expected to contribute next fall, with Fiegel in particular being projected to break through.
Obadein recorded 13 tackles and one INT last season and Whelpley totaled three tackles in a special teams role.
The defensive line presents a different storyline than the linebacking corps after a 2025 season in which SIU struggled to generate consistent penetration.
The defensive front struggled in 2025, allowing around 194 rushing yards per game while generating just 18 sacks (91st in the FCS).
DE Jake Parrella (6-2, 255) returns as a key contributor for SIU after tallying 23 tackles and three forced fumbles – which led the team. Nate Tronzo (6-4, 255) had a good spring, while Lukus McDaniels (6-6, 250) brings back solid production.
UAlbany transfer Ibrahim Sanogo (6-2, 244) carries a resume that suggests he will be an instant impact player for the Salukis.
Sanogo played in four games last season due to a shoulder injury, but still posted 23 tackles, three TFLs, two sacks, and a fumble recovery. In 2024, he totaled 24 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, two sacks, and two pass deflections.
Caleb Saner (Southwest Baptist) is another potential contributor at edge rusher. In the middle of the front line, buzz surrounds Troy transfer ShuMond Johnson (6-5, 310) and his size at 300+ pounds. After making a good impression in the weight room and having a standout spring, Johnson could be next in line to start at defensive tackle.
Chase Kerns (Georgia Military College) and Lance Bassett (North Alabama) are a pair of defensive tackles that will compete for a spot in the rotation. Returnees Gavin Tinch (6-5, 305) and Amir Dwight (6-1, 272) could also shake up the lineup.
At cornerback, Gavin Shepard has big shoes to fill with the departure of Jeremiah McClendon, who signed with the New Orleans Saints. After playing field corner last season, Shepard is expected to switch to boundary corner in 2026.
Naz Hill (6-3, 185), Denym Mitchell (6-0, 185), and Cameron Cason (6-0, 170) will compete for the other starting corner role.
Defensive coordinator Lee Pronschinske believes SIU has a deep safety room, with five players capable of starting. Vinny Pierre Jr. and Matthew McClelland are currently the frontrunners to start.
