Saluki Football reported for training camp on Tuesday

Coach Hill talked about standards during the first team meeting of training camp on Tuesday.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Saluki Football players reported for training camp on Tuesday. The team held its first, official meeting of camp and the annual welcome dinner for players, coaches, staff and their families.

“We stand on the backs of a lot of men that came through here,” Hill told the team. “You might not have the history here, but that's our job to make sure when we take the field, there has to be a pride for your school.”

Practices start on Wednesday morning at 8:45 a.m. at Saluki Stadium with the temperature and heat index expected to rise above 100 degrees during the day.

SIU returns six starters on offense and six on defense from last year's team. More importantly, Southern will have a healthy DJ Williams at quarterback. The senior QB emerged as a dominant player early in 2024 before breaking a bone in his throwing hand in Week 3 and missing the remainder of the season. Southern lost three quarterbacks to season-ending injuries a year ago.

Other returning starters on offense include center Noah Fenske, tackle Cameron Dye, tight end Ryan Schwendeman, wide receiver Vinson Davis III and running back Lashaun Lester Jr.

On defense, the Salukis welcome back preseason All-American linebacker Colin Bohanek, who was also sidelined with injury most of last season. Other starters returning on defense include linebacker Chris Presto, linebacker Shug Walker, defensive ends Louis Wilbert and Caden Reeves, and defensive tackle Peyton Reeves.

Southern also returns kicker/punter Paul Geelen, who was named to the Shrine Bowl preseason Watch List on Monday.

“We get to decide what our culture is, and it should be on display every single day,” Hill said. “It's just good men that appreciate competing at a high level. That's where the joy is found is in the journey. Not for the 12 Saturdays that we get guaranteed. It's a journey. This is day one of the journey.”