Notebook — a look at the safety position heading into 2026
- Tom Weber
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Safety is a demanding position in SIU defensive coordinator Lee Pronschinske’s 4-3 scheme, and the Salukis added important depth to that spot this week with the addition of junior college transfer Tenerrean “Rue” Jackson.
Jackson played two seasons at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mississippi, where he recorded 35 tackles and flashed the kind of traits Pronschinske is looking for.
“What it takes to play safety in this scheme — it’s not just standing in the post all game and making a couple knockdown tackles,” Pronschinske explained. “You have to be able to run the alley, be physical, be sound in the run fit. With Rue, there’s a lot of stuff that shows up on tape of him coming down and making tackles at the line of scrimmage. Then you see him high-point and locate the football when the ball's in the air. So I think he fits a lot of those attributes we’re looking for.”
Jackson, a 6-0, 185-pound Cleveland, Miss.-native, also had offers from Nicholls State, Lamar and Campbell. He’s originally from Memphis, and playing close to home was important.
“His mom came with him on the visit and got to see campus, and I think that was a big piece,” Pronschinske said. “The ability for him to play close to home for a playoff-caliber FCS program was probably a big part of what helped us get him.”
In terms of personality, Pronschinske said Jackson is an excellent fit for the program.
“He's an extremely mature guy,” Pronschinske said. “Throughout the process of getting to know him and talking to his coaches, the maturity aspect of what he can bring to the room really stands out.”
Here’s a closer look at the SIU’s safety room heading into the 2026 season, along with some recruiting and scheduling news...
