Salukis back in Top 25; Saluki Football notebook
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois re-entered the FCS Top 25 rankings on Monday, coming in at No. 24 in the Stats Perform poll and No. 25 in the Coaches poll, ahead of this week's game at Illinois.
The Salukis (2-1) beat SEMO on Saturday, 34-20, behind a five-touchdown performance by quarterback DJ Williams, who returned from a knee injury. The fifth-year QB ran seven times in the game for 67 yards and four touchdowns.
During his weekly press conference on Monday, SIU head coach Nick Hill said “there wasn’t anything (in the playbook) we didn’t feel we could run” with Williams at quarterback.
“With any elite running quarterback in the country, once you get into the season, none of them are 100 percent,” Hill said. “You’re not going to run (Williams) 25 times a game. You pick your spots.”
After the game, wide receiver Kyle Thomas, who had a career-high five catches for 144 yards, said he wasn’t surprised to see Williams play.
“DJ is a special person, on and off the field,” Thomas said. “He always produces, so I'm not really surprised. I knew that he’d have a huge game.”
Hill also provided an update on safety Vinny Pierre Jr., who left the game late in the fourth quarter after a big collision. Pierre Jr. had a neck stinger and practiced on Sunday.
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