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Southern Illinois (0-0, 0-0 MVFC) at Murray State (0-0, 0-0 OVC)
Date & Time	August 30, 2018 | 6 p.m. CT
Location	Murray, Ky. | Roy Stewart Stadium (16,800 / Turf)
Video Stream	ESPN+ Neal Bradley & Josh McKeel
Live Stats	Provided by Murray State
Radio	Saluki Radio Network with Mike Reis (play-by-play), Gene Green (analysis) and Connor James (analysis)
Radio Stream	TuneIn (free)
SIU	Game Notes (PDF) | Stats | Media Guide (PDF)
MSU	Game Notes | Stats | Media Guide
MVFC	Weekly Notes | Stats
All-Time Series	SIU trails series, 9-10-2 (H: 7-2-2, A: 2-8) Last: SIU won, 50-17, Sept. 17, 2016 in Carbondale.
Social Media	@SIU_Football   |  @SIUSalukis   |  Saluki Football

Series versus Murray State 
Located less than two hours apart, SIU and Murray State have met only 21 times overall and just once in the last 15 years. That meeting took place in Carbondale on Sept. 17, 2016 and was won by SIU, 50-17. In that game, Josh Straughan passed for 289 yards and four touchdowns as the Salukis jumped out to a 38-10 halftime lead. SIU has lost its last four trips to Murray State and is 2-8 all-time on the road against the Racers. The road victories came in 1986 under Ray Dorr and in 1991 under Bob Smith. The last time SIU played at Murray State was on Sept. 14, 2002 under second-year head coach Jerry Kill (now the school’s AD). The Salukis lost, 42-24, after trailing 28-6 at halftime and losing starting running back Tom Koutsos to a broken wrist on the first play of the game. The Racers were penalized 19 times in the contest — the most by an SIU opponent in school history, surpassing the previous mark of 15.

Preseason All-MVC
First Team
WR Darrell James, 6-0, 209, Sr.
S Jeremy Chinn, 6-2, 211, Jr.
P Lane Reazin, 6-1, 222, Jr.
Second Team
DE Anthony Knighton, 6-4, 253, So.

QB Sam Straub on CFPA Watch List for Player of Year
QB Sam Straub (6-4, 247, Sr.) is one of 36 FCS players on the College Football Performance Awards preseason watch list for its National Performer of the Year Trophy. Straub has a 6-5 career record as a starter. He started the final three games in 2016 and the first eight games in 2017, before a season-ending wrist injury. For his career, Straub has completed 56.6 percent of his passes with 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also has two rushing TDs. Straub is the only quarterback in school history to complete 30+ passes in a game three times and is tied with Sherard Poteete for the most 300-yard passing games with five. His career best in passing was a school-record 450 yards against Western Illinois on Nov. 19, 2016.

WR Darrell James at 97 career catches
WR Darrell James (6-0, 197, Sr.) needs three catches to become the 14th player in school history with 100 career receptions. With 1,600 career receiving yards, he needs just 30 yards to move into fifth all-time at SIU, surpassing Billy Swain (1,629).
 
S Jeremy Chinn created seven turnovers in 2017
S Jeremy Chinn (6-2, 211, Jr.) had three interceptions and four forced fumbles in 2017. A second-team All-Conference pick, he has started 17-straight games at safety for SIU. Last year, he was the team’s third-leading tackler (66) and added six pass breakups. He is seventh in school history in career forced fumbles (4).

Pass-catching streaks
    Three players enter the Murray State game with lengthy streaks of consecutive games with at least one reception — Darrell James, 6-0, 209, Sr. (17 games), Raphael Leonard, 6-2, 193, Sr. (11 games), D.J. Davis, 5-8, 168, Jr. (9 games).

RB D.J. Davis a multi-dimensional talent
RB D.J. Davis (5-8, 168, Jr.) led all running backs in the MVFC with 35 receptions in 2017. As a rusher, receiver and kick returner, he led the team with 1,373 all-purpose yards, averaging 124.8 yards per game, which ranked 18th in the FCS. He started only two games last year behind RB Daquan Isom, but is the projected starter in 2018.

Active Salukis in the NFL
Minnesota Dolphins LB Chase Allen 
Age 24 … Signed as free agent in 2017 … Has played in 16 career games with 4 starts … 40 career tackles … Ranks 12th in career tackles at SIU (324).
Houston Texans TE MyCole Pruitt
Age 26 … Drafted by Minnesota Vikings in 5th round in 2015 … Has played 21 career games with 3 starts … 12 career receptions … Is SIU’s all-time receptions leader (221).
2018 Free-agent CB Craig James is in the Minnesota Vikings training camp.

No seniors in starting lineup on defense
SIU’s starting defense features six juniors, four sophomores, one redshirt freshman and no seniors. Of the 22 players on the two-deep, only two are seniors (LB Withney Simon and CB C.J. Jennings).

Anthony Knighton set freshman pass-rushing records in 2017
In 2017, DE Anthony Knighton (6-4, 253, So.) was a Freshman All-American by HERO Sports and Phil Steele Magazine and the runner-up for MVFC Freshman of the Year. He started all 11 games and set SIU freshman records with 11.0 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks. He led the team in sacks (6.5) and QB hurries (six).

Did you know? SIU …
— Is 100-81-11 all-time against OVC opponents.
— Returns all four starters and 10 lettermen from its 2017 defensive line.
— Has had five-straight seasons (2013-17) with at least 20 TD passes.
— Ranked 6th in the FCS in 2017 in punt return defense (3.43 ave.).
— Ranked 8th in the FCS in 2017 with 13 fumble recoveries.

Matt DeSomer’s versatility
Backup QB Matt DeSomer (6-0, 215, Sr.) has played quarterback, wide receiver, safety and special teams during his 30-game career at SIU. His career stats include 531 rushing yards, 267 passing yards, 11 receptions, five touchdowns and six tackles.

Punter Lane Reazin among the nation’s best
SIU P Lane Reazin (6-1, 222, Jr.) led the MVFC in punting average (43.6) last year and ranked seventh in the nation. Among his 55 punts in 2017, he pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 13 times and forced 10 fair catches. He had 14 punts of 50+ yards.

ZeVeyon Furcron switches from D-line to O-line
G ZeVeyon Furcron (6-0, 308, So.) started eight games at defensive tackle in 2017, but switched to offense in the spring and has earned the starting right guard slot. Furcron last started at offensive line at Joliet Catholic High School (IL). Head coach Nick Hill said he brings a “physicality” to the O-line.

Raphael Leonard “co-starred” in Last Chance U Season 2
As a key member of the East Mississippi Community College football team in 2016, WR Raphael Leonard (6-2, 193, Sr.) “co-starred” in Season 2 of the popular Netflix documentary Last Chance U. Leonard caught seven touchdowns during the season and earned All-Conference honors.

Saluki offensive line surrendered just 10 sacks in 2017
The Saluki offensive line surrendered just 10 sacks in 2017 for an average of 0.91 sacks per game. That mark led the MVFC and ranked 10th in the nation. SIU returns two starters from last year’s O-line — guards Jacob Marnin (6-1, 303, Jr.) and Josh Podzielinski (6-2, 300, Sr.). Marnin has moved to center in 2018.