CARBONDALE, Ill. — The Saluki Football season opener at West Florida is less than three weeks away, and there’s one player who’s been looking forward to this contest more than most — safety Matthew McClelland.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — When Saluki Football teammates DJ Williams, Lukus McDaniels and Gavin Shepard get done fishing, sometimes the facts are in dispute, but there’s one thing they can agree on — a good time was had by all.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — They call Blaine Halley “The Squatch,” and it might be the most appropriate nickname on the Saluki Football team.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Cornerback Naz Hill was a three-star recruit coming out of Kankakee High School in 2022, but after two years at Wyoming, plus the 2025 season at Southern Illinois, he had played in just a handful of college games, and ended the season on the scout team for the Salukis.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — A word of warning to defenses — Saluki running back Chandler Chapman has added a new wrinkle to his game.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — One of the marks of a great football team is when guys are willing to embrace whatever role they’re called upon to play.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — After spending his first two seasons at Southern Illinois as an understudy to Ryan Schwendeman and Aidan Quinn, junior tight end Karsen Konkel could be on the verge of a breakout season for the Salukis.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — To Southern Illinois strength and conditioning coach Meade Smith, it doesn’t matter whether you’re a highly touted pro prospect or a walk-on. He’s equally invested in your success, and you’ll get the same high-level treatment from him and his staff.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — If you hand Chris Gillespie a deck of cards, he can perform an impromptu magic trick that will blow your mind. He’s been an amateur magician since the age of nine.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Kellen Francis, the newest addition to the offensive line for Southern Illinois, grew up watching Saluki Football games. So even though the Illinois transfer had FBS offers after entering the portal in January, he wanted to follow his father’s footsteps and play for the team he rooted for as a kid.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois long snapper Ryan Algrim sees similarities between his current job on the football team and his future occupation as a firefighter.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Drew Wilson, the newest grad assistant on the Saluki Football staff, said he’s wanted to be a football coach since he was old enough to watch the sport on TV.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — It’s not quite the story of the Prodigal Son, but wide receiver Allen Middleton’s return to Southern Illinois, after one season at Bowling Green, has some obvious parallels.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois defensive end Camron Miller’s football career has been filled with stops and starts, but he believes he’s finally in a place to become a major factor for the Salukis.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois offensive tackle Coleon Smith was granted an extra year of eligibility by the NCAA and will return for the 2026 season, providing a veteran boost to SIU’s offensive line.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Sophomore Gavin Shepard, one of the up-and-coming cornerbacks at the FCS level, announced on Tuesday that he’ll forgo the transfer portal to stay at Southern Illinois for the 2026 season.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Another key piece of the Southern Illinois defense announced he’s returning for the 2026 season, as senior safety Vinny Pierre Jr. posted on X that he’s sticking with the Salukis.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois linebacker Chris Presto, one of the top defenders in the FCS, could have entered the transfer portal in search of the highest offer.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Saluki Football fans rejoiced on Monday morning with the news that All-American quarterback DJ Williams has decided to return to Southern Illinois for his final season of college football.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Ed Robinson, one of the most explosive running backs in the FCS, said he will return to Southern Illinois for the 2026 season.