CARBONDALE, Ill. — With 15 spring practices in the books, the makeup of the 2026 Saluki Football team is beginning to take shape, and Saluki fans have good reason to be excited.

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.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Kellen Francis, the newest addition to the offensive line for Southern Illinois, grew up watching Saluki Football games. So even though the Illinois transfer had FBS offers after entering the portal in January, he wanted to follow his father’s footsteps and play for the team he rooted for as a kid.

MARION, Ill. — Friday night’s Saluki Football scrimmage at Marion High School was a chance for less-heralded players to showcase their talents, and numerous players took advantage of the opportunity.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois long snapper Ryan Algrim sees similarities between his current job on the football team and his future occupation as a firefighter.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Drew Wilson, the newest grad assistant on the Saluki Football staff, said he’s wanted to be a football coach since he was old enough to watch the sport on TV.

DU QUOIN, Ill. — College teams are permitted three, live practices during spring ball, and the Salukis took advantage of their first live opportunity on Friday night, running approximately 60 scripted plays at Du Quoin High School.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — When DJ Williams got a phone call from NFL quarterback trainer Quincy Avery last season, he could hardly believe it.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — It’s not quite the story of the Prodigal Son, but wide receiver Allen Middleton’s return to Southern Illinois, after one season at Bowling Green, has some obvious parallels.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — SIU offensive line coach Dan Clark scripted the running game in Saturday’s practice, and scripting is a responsibility that all of the assistant coaches will have a chance to do this spring under head coach Nick Hill.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Every Wednesday afternoon leading up to Spring Ball, Saluki Football held a team-wide meeting, not to talk about Xs and Os, but for players to lead a discussion about what makes a great team.

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois returns 87 percent of its rushing output from last season, plus it’s added a few more weapons to the arsenal for what should be a dynamic ground game next fall.