Disciplined defense, DJ Williams provide winning formula at UT Martin
- Tom Weber
- Sep 14
- 4 min read
CARBONDALE, Ill. — After three games, Saluki Football has clearly identified its winning formula for the 2025 season — a disciplined defense, combined with a heavy dose of quarterback DJ Williams.
Let’s start with the defense, which ranks 8th in the FCS in points allowed (15.7) and 14th in yards allowed (285.3). A quick scan each week of Pro Football Focus player grades on SIU’s defense shows high marks across the board.
The defense is doing what it has been coached to do — play disciplined, detailed, assignment-sharp football. MAs (missed assignments) are few. The mantra — make the offense sustain drives, make the offense beat you.
At UT Martin, the Skyhawks’ first five drives came up empty — 24 plays, zero points. The drives ended with a three-and-out, a fumble, a failed 4th-and-1, a failed 4th-and-4 and an interception.
It wasn’t until its sixth drive that UT Martin scored its only touchdown of the night. The success of that drive required 11 plays and a pass-interference penalty on Sebastian Vargas in the end zone.
Southern’s defense isn’t impenetrable — no defense is — but just as it showed throughout training camp, this unit won’t beat itself with mistakes, and it has a collection of really good players, as we’ll describe in more detail below.
On offense, what more can be said about DJ Williams, who ranks 6th in the FCS in Points Responsible For with 10 passing/running touchdowns?
Against UT Martin, his combined passing and rushing totaled 345 yards and four touchdowns. His rushing performance alone was elite, averaging 9.1 yards per carry with three touchdowns.
That’s not to say Williams is the only player who matters on SIU’s offense. Far from it. The Big Three at wide receiver (Vinson Davis III, Jathen Jones, Fabian McCray) are all playing well. Outside of the Purdue game, Southern’s offensive line has not allowed a sack.
It all adds up to a winning formula for the Dawgs.
Here’s a closer look…
