Saluki Football putting the finishing touches on spring season
- Tom Weber
- Apr 15
- 4 min read
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois head coach Nick Hill briefly huddled his team together after two, intense hours of practice on Wednesday morning to ask the players a question.
“Who can we count on to strain all the way through the end of practice?” he asked. “Let's make sure we finish practice with a sense of urgency.”
Practice No. 14 of the spring season was the team’s final tuneup before Friday night’s annual Spring Game at Saluki Stadium, and the players know precisely what’s expected of them.
“Mastering your assignment and everyone doing their job at a high level is the key to what the coaches want to see in the spring game,” said defensive end Jake Parrella.
“The goal is just having a clean day and moving the ball with efficiency,” added quarterback Jake Curry.
Southern has already held two live scrimmages at local high schools in Du Quoin and Marion, and this will be the final official practice until the team begins training camp in late July.
Without an opponent to prep for, the atmosphere during spring ball is a bit more relaxed for some players. For example, All-American quarterback DJ Williams hasn’t played during 11-on-11, so that the team’s younger quarterbacks like Curry, JC Mirasola and ET Harris can get more reps.
One of the biggest challenges is blending in all the new players who signed with the team in January, such as a new batch of wide receivers in Allen Middleton, Markell Quick and Traivon Dyson. Curry said the QBs are developing chemistry with the receiving corps.
“I feel comfortable with all of the receivers and tight ends right now for sure, and I feel like all the other quarterbacks do as well,” said Curry, who has taken all of the first-team reps throughout the spring. “We’re looking forward to Friday night. I want to go out there and have fun with all the guys.”
Likewise on defense, the Salukis are incorporating a handful of newcomers, including tackles ShuMond Johnson and Lance Bassett, and defensive backs Rue Jackson and Joshua Newkirk.
“We have a decent amount of transfers at every position, and I think everyone's getting a little bit more comfortable day by day,” Parrella said. “I think everyone's just locked in on their job, playing off each other and not trying to do anything crazy.”
The athletic department is trying to build interest in the spring game by offering fans a pig roast before the 6 p.m. start, along with $1 beer.
“I heard that they got a little deal going on with alcohol,” Curry smiled. “So that should get some people in the stands.”
SIU students who attend will have an opportunity to participate in throwing, catching and kicking contests with the players.
“The more fans, the better, and I hope every home game this year we get it packed in here,” Parrella said. “I remember a couple years ago when we played SEMO at home and it was sold out. The environment was awesome.”
Practice 14 Notebook
⬇️SUBSCRIBER-ONLY CONTENT⬇️
