Salukis will be conservative with quarterback DJ Williams’ reps during Spring Ball
- Tom Weber
- 1 day ago
- 4 min read
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois opened spring ball practices on Thursday, and All-American quarterback DJ Williams took plenty of live reps, but did not participate in 11-on-11 during the two-hour session.
Williams played most of the 2025 season with a torn ligament in his knee. The injury did not require surgery and is healing well, but head coach Nick Hill said the plan is to be conservative with Williams’ activity this spring.
“DJ could have the most growth he's ever had in the spring and not take any team reps,” Hill said. “Going into his seventh year, maybe that's even what he needs right now.”
Much the way NFL teams are careful with their star, veteran quarterbacks during the off-season, Hill wants to give Williams a chance to see the game from a different perspective.
“You talk to an Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady, and they say that when they’ve watched OTAs, it let them see things from a different lens,” Hill explained. “It turned them into more of a coach, letting them script practices and coach up the young guys.”
Southern has four other quarterbacks (Jake Curry, ET Harris, JC Mirasola and Owen Rann) on the spring roster, but only Curry has attempted a pass at the college level. Curry has extensive experience, having made five starts as a true freshman in 2024, but Harris played briefly in two games last season, while Mirasola and Rann were redshirt freshmen.
“At every position, we have to prepare our team for when people get hurt, so the season doesn't get put on hold if somebody goes down,” Hill said. “A great part of spring is creating different lineups, holding people out on purpose.”
Williams said he envisions his role as being an extra coach on the field for the quarterback room this spring.
“I want to make sure I'm bringing my little brothers up to speed — Jake Curry, JC, ET, Owen — making sure that once I leave that they have every tool in the book to be successful,” Williams said. “I'm able to show them what I'm seeing and make sure that they're seeing the game the right way.”
The Salukis have a group of upperclassmen on the roster who have extensive playing histories, including a handful of guys who’ve played more than 30 games — wide receiver Jackson Parker (46), linebacker Andrew Behm (38), guard Derek Harden Jr. (33) and linebacker Chris Presto (32).
“Is it a benefit to watch Derek Harden Jr., who has put some wear and tear on his knees, go out there and take 35 reps on a Thursday spring practice?” Hill asked. “Probably not. He needs to still be working on things, but we also have to get people ready to go play.”
The coaching staff has spent the past month preparing the script for spring ball.
“Everybody will have a plan,” Hill said. “Whether it's an older guy that's coming back and determining what practices they're going to be ramped up, or a younger guy who needs to pick up more reps, one of the biggest parts of our job is figuring out rep counts.”
Southern will hold three scrimmages this spring, but the team is more than five months away from needing to prep for a real opponent.
“You're not game-planning for a game in the spring,” Hill said. “There is no scout team. Guys are really getting an opportunity. It's fun to see those young guys with a different look in their eye where they get to go compete.”
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