CARBONDALE, Ill. — There’s no question the Saluki football team is much improved at the cornerback position, and may end up having one of the best units in FCS football this year, provided the group remains healthy. That’s the big question mark.

Torian Lewis, Madre Harper and C.J. Jennings are all gifted in man coverage and solid in run support. All three are coming off injuries, however. That’s why safety James Ceasar was moved back to corner, as added insurance at the position. Freshman Chance Bush is also in the mix for playing time. 

“Once we’re healthy, we feel like we have four guys who can play at a really high level,” SIU head coach Nick Hill said. “We might have a true freshman, who is doing a really good job on special teams, that will get an opportunity to suit up.”

Here’s the scouting report on the cornerbacks from position coach Carl Franks.

Torian Lewis (5-11, 181, Jr.) “I think going into his third year, he’s comfortable with the scheme now, so we’ve been focusing a lot on his technique and he’s improved so much. We’re just trying to work on the little things with him to make him a complete player. He’s looked really polished.”

Oklahoma State transfer Madre Harper (6-2, 189, Jr.) “He came in toward the end of spring ball because he had an injury, but he got some 7-on-7 reps and he looked really good. He’s a really smooth, long athlete who can run, he’s got the long arms, great ball skills. When he first came in, the offense went at him and they didn’t catch a ball on him that day. He’s a competitor and has a high football IQ and has picked up the scheme pretty quick.”

Wyoming transfer C.J. Jennings (5-10, 179, Sr.) “C.J. is coming off a knee injury, but number one — he can run. He’s fast and he’s physical. He will hit you. That’s what we missed when he got that injury last year. He’s a good player.”

James Ceasar (5-10, 186, Jr.) “He can play safety, he can play corner, he’s a tremendous athlete. He’s got some acceleration out of his breaks. We just have to get him caught up with the technique but he played corner as a true freshman, so I think that’s a position he can really help us with.”

Chance Bush (5-8, 175, Fr.) “He’s a very competitive kid who loves football. When I say loves football, this guy loves the game and is very passionate about it. He picked up the scheme pretty quick.”

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Today’s Saluki Football practice was moved to the afternoon due to morning thunderstorms. The team practiced in helmets, shoulder pads and shorts ahead of tomorrow’s 6 p.m. scrimmage. Head coach Nick Hill said some veteran players will be held out of the scrimmage to protect them from injury two weeks before the opener. 

“We’re at a good spot with a lot of the veteran players,” he said. “We’ll get a look at a lot of young guys that still need some more reps. It will be good for us to create a game-like atmosphere.”

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Two FBS transfers on the interior of the defensive line are working their way up the depth chart. Michigan State transfer DT Kyonta Stallworth (6-3, 280, Jr.) was slowed early in camp by an injury but is now taking reps with the second team defense. He played in eight games in two seasons with the Spartans, including six games in 2017. 

“Kyonta has a really high ceiling with his talent level,” Hill said. “There’s a reason why he was a four-star kid and getting snaps at Michigan State last year. He has starter ability.”

Bowling Green DT Tyree Jackson (6-4, 280, Fr.) redshirted last year for the Falcons. He is a Jones High School (Fla.) alum, along with Saluki teammates Je’Quan Burton, Calvin Francis Jr., C.J. Jennings and Withney Simon.

“Tyree just keeps on coming,” Hill said. “The best thing about Tyree is he’s here for four years. He has a bright future here. He’ll play for us this year, but it’s a deep room.”

Added defensive line coach Austin Flyger, “Kyonta and Tyree are good kids and good people. They’ve done a really nice job of mixing in with the guys. They’re hard-working guys. There’s a reason why they were where they were. They will continue to push everyone and the competition has added a lot to the room. Their presence is one of the reasons we could move Zeyveon Furcron to offensive line.”

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ST. LOUIS, Mo. — One of only two players to score more than 2,000 points in school history, Southern Illinois men’s basketball player Kent Williams will be enshrined in the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame during an induction ceremony in St. Louis on Friday, March, 8 2019.

The 22nd MVC Hall of Fame class features three basketball student-athletes in Williams, Kristi Cirone (Illinois State); Dolph Pulliam (Drake); a wrestling Olympian in Bill Smith (UNI); a legendary track & field coach in John McNichols (Indiana State); and a long-time contributor to Bradley University athletics in Joe Stowell.

The league will conduct its annual Hall of Fame ceremony as part the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball Championship next March 7-10. The March 8 festivities will begin with an 8:00 a.m. breakfast, followed by the induction ceremony at 8:30 a.m.

Tickets to the 2019 Hall of Fame event – scheduled to be held at Stifel Theatre (formerly known as the Peabody Opera House), which is adjacent to Enterprise Center (formerly known as Scottrade Center) – can be obtained by calling the league office at (314) 444-4300. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

“The Missouri Valley Conference has always been recognized for the great success of its athletics programs, with a rich history that dates back more than a century,” said Commissioner Doug Elgin. “Our MVC Hall of Fame has provided us with an opportunity to honor the student-athletes, coaches, administrators and contributors who have played important roles in the Conference and in intercollegiate athletics.

“The individuals we will be honoring in the Class of 2019 have brought significant honor to themselves, their institutions and to the Conference. We are truly humbled to have this opportunity to salute them for their achievements.”

A 2003 SIU grad, Williams scored 2,012 points at Southern from 1999 to 2003, making him the Salukis’ second-leading scorer all-time behind Charlie Vaughn. Williams is the only player in SIU history to lead the team in scoring four straight years, helping his team to the NCAA Tournament 2002 and 2003, including a run to the NCAA Sweet Sixteen in 2002.

The Mt. Vernon, Ill., native, who is also the career scoring leader at his high school, was inducted into the SIU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009. Williams was a first-team All-MVC (2002, 2003), and second-team Team All-MVC (2001) selection while earning MVC Newcomer of the Year and Freshman of the Year (2000).  A four year starter, the Salukis went 88-42 during his career which included an NIT appearance (2000) in addition to the two NCAA berths.

As a senior in 2003, he was runner-up to Creighton’s Kyle Korver for the Larry Bird Trophy, awarded to the top men’s basketball player.  Other honors for Williams include back-to-back selection to the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team (2002, 2003), an MVC All-Tournament selection (2002) and a four-time MVC Player-of-the-Week recipient.  He was the first-ever repeat winner of the league’s Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor (2002, 2003).

In addition to ranking second on the all-time SIU scoring chart, he is second in career 3-pointers made with 249, sixth in career 3-point percentage at .392, second in career free throws made with 479, eighth in career assists with 352, tops in career games started with 130 and the school’s record holder for most career minutes played.

Williams is currently the varsity men’s basketball coach at De Smet Jesuit High in St. Louis.  Prior to that, he had served as an assistant at SIUE, Tennessee, Missouri State and as a supervisor of basketball operations at Purdue.