HERO Sports welcomes you to "Three-a-Days", where we will preview every single one of the 126 FCS programs from June 17 to August 6. Then, we'll preview all 13 conferences from August 12-15. Today, we present … Southeast Missouri State.
We'll leave no stone left unturned when it comes to giving the FCS diehards all they could ask for this offseason. Learn about every program in the country, with HERO Sports.
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SEMO (9-4 IN 2018)
The OVC (SEMO was 2nd in 2018)
COACH: Tom Matukewicz – At School: 6th year (24-34 record) Overall: Same
LAST FCS POSTSEASON: 2018 (lost in 2nd round to Weber State)
2018 OFFENSE: 37.1 ppg. (12th in FCS)
2018 DEFENSE: 31.0 ppg. (81st in FCS)
KEY GAME: Nov. 9 – vs. Eastern Kentucky: Last year, SEMO lost this game on the road. This year, it's at home. This matchup should be critical in determining who is a playoff team in 2019. Both teams should be deep into winning seasons by the time this one rolls around, but it's possible this game settles who makes the postseason.
SUM IT UP: Something special is brewing in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and the FCS might want to pay attention. The Redhawks have four winning seasons since becoming an FCS/I-AA program in 1991 and have never had back-to-back winning seasons — at least since 1986-90 when the program was in a lower division. All of those trends seem to want to come to an end this fall, as SEMO has the guns to have a second consecutive winning season at the FCS level.
When it comes to offense, where the Redhawks made themselves known last year, there are some holes to fill. The most important position — quarterback — is rock solid with incumbent starter Daniel Santacaterina returning with nearly 3,000 yards of passing from last year to show for it. His favorite pass target is back in Kristian Wilkerson, but both SEMO stars need some new names to emerge along the front lines. That will be one of the most interesting things to watch at SEMO this year — who will step up on the line to replace guys like Drew Forbes, who was an NFL Draft pick this spring? And how about at RB with Marquis Terry, who was good for nearly 1,400 yards of offense as a senior last year? One can say that last year's success came predominantly from the offense, but this year the 'O' may need the 'D' to take the steering wheel.
And therein lies some great news. First of all, SEMO returns the No. 1 defensive player in the FCS land in Zach Hall, who won the Buck Buchanan Award as a junior (like the FCS version of the Heisman for defensive players). The top four tacklers all return to the lineup, and 10 players with starting experience also return. Last year, the offense would outscore opponents who nipped at their heels — this year the defense may be able to put out that fire and take that pressure off the offense, which may need some time to find its identity this fall. And don't forget, nobody was better in turnover margin than SEMO in 2018. The Redhawks led the FCS at 1.85 turnovers forced for every one coughed up. That's a testament to the defense and offense.
OUR TAKE: We'll go ahead and be blunt — SEMO and Maine were our two biggest surprises in 2018, and probably the best stories in the FCS. SEMO ended Jacksonville State's undefeated streak in the Ohio Valley Conference and nearly won the league, and then won its first playoff game after knocking off the CAA's Stony Brook in round one. Not too shabby for a program that once seemed stuck perpetually in 3-win land. Coach "Tuke" (as we and SEMO fans like to call him) has brought something special to SEMO after being an assistant at Toledo and Northern Illinois in the past decade prior to coming to Cape Girardeau. Players once shunned wearing team gear to class on campus because of how low the program had gotten, but things are different now.
We think it will be a three-team scrum at the top of the OVC this year, and possibly four if Murray State gets rolling. Eastern Kentucky was one of only three FCS teams to solve SEMO last year and the Colonels look strong again. JSU will be out for revenge after having its streak ended by SEMO last year. In other words, this fall will be a battle, but having EKU and Murray State at home will be a big plus for SEMO. If it can get the offense firing with some new big names at OL and RB, this team could be as strong as last year — and we'll go ahead and leave this here: SEMO is heading for its first back-to-back winning seasons since it came up to the FCS/I-AA level. The talent is here to do it. Can it be a playoff participant again? That's the big question.
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COUNTDOWN: The Best Player in FCS Who Wears Each Number, 1-99
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TOP RETURNEE: Sr./LB Zach Hall (Returning FCS Defensive Player of the Year – 2018 Buck Buchanan Award winner – 168 tackles, 12 TFLs, 4 INTs, 4 FF)
THE FOUNDATION: Sr./QB Daniel Santacaterina (2,844 yds passing, 28 TDs); Jr./DB Bydarrius Knighten (HERO Sports Sophomore All-American in 2018 – 88 tackles, 10 passes defensed); Jr./DB D.J. Freeman (HERO Sports Sophomore All-American in 2018 – 56 tackles, 18 passes defensed); Sr./DL Clarence Thornton (36 tackles, 8 TFLs); Sr./LB Justin Swift (114 tackles, 15 TFLs, 4 INTs); Sr./WR Kristian Wilkerson (61 catches, 894 yds, 14 TDs); Jr./LB Omardrick Douglas (88 tackles, 10.5 TFLs, 2 INTs).; Jr./DB Marcus Lucas (45 tackles, 2 INTs); Jr./P Jake Reynolds (41.3 yards per punt); Sr./OL Elijah Swehla (returning starter).
THE NEWCOMER: Fr./WR Rashaan Palmer (No. 252 FCS signee in the HERO Sports Top 300 for 2019, reported Southern Miss and NIU offers, among others)
THE QUOTE: "The great equalizer is the turnover margin and we're the best on the planet at that … This is probably the biggest year in SEMO football history, we don't have back-to-back winning football seasons. We're trying to focus on taking a winning season to being a winning program, obviously that's our goal." — Head Coach Tom Matukewicz told HERO Sports' Brian McLaughlin at OVC Media Days on July 22
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WERE WE RIGHT?: Last Year's SEMO Preview
FCS 2020 NFL PROSPECTS: The List
BEST FCS TRADITIONS: The List
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PREVIEWS: The Rest Of The OVC
Austin Peay | Eastern Illinois | Eastern Kentucky
Jacksonville State | Murray State | SEMO
Tennessee State | Tennessee Tech | UT Martin
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