Saluki football opens spring practice

When the lights of Saluki Stadium shine down on a dew soaked football field, it can only mean one thing. Football has returned to Carbondale.

Saluki football opened its spring season last Monday with early morning team practices and drills.

Head coach Dale Lennon said he would use spring practices to establish an identity and trim down the roster.

“Our theme that I’m yelling every time we break is make a statement,” Lennon said. “I want each player to basically show what they’re capable of doing. Spring ball is also a time where we make some tough decisions and we don’t invite some guys back.”

Coach Lennon will also have a new coaching staff to evaluate as well. Lennon will have five new assistants this season on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. One of the new coaches, Nick Hill, will be in charge of the quarterbacks this season. Hill was the head coach at Carbondale Community High School last season, and played quarterback for the Salukis from 2004 to 2007.

Lennon said he likes what he has seen from his new staff so far.

“Each coach has their own strength that they bring to the staff,” he said. “The interaction with the players has been very positive. I think our players have received the new coaches well. It’s kind of a getting to know each other thing in spring ball too.”

There is also a change in who runs offense and defense. Lennon will take the reigns of the defense, while offensive line coach Bill O’Boyle will take charge of the offense.

O’Boyle said he has already installed almost 75 percent of his offense, which will reflect the type of offense that former SIU and current Minnesota University coach Jerry Kill runs.

“We spent two and a half days in Minnesota. It was nice just to see what they’re doing,” O’Boyle said. “Coach Hill is very familiar with their throwing game, and he’s our throwing game coordinator, he’s doing a great job with that.

The team will try out a new player at quarterback in 2014.

The teams could look to returning redshirt freshman Ryan West to call the plays in place of Kory Faulkner who graduated after the 2013 season. West played in seven games for the Salukis last season with 63 completions for 675 yards and six touchdowns after Faulkner broke his finger.

West has competition for the starting job this season. The Salukis bring back sophomore Matt Vincent who did not attempt a pass last season. SIU will also try out junior transfer Mark Iannotti. Iannotti played for Eastern Michigan University last year, only throwing one pass for the Eagles.

Lennon said Iannotti’s style fits the type of offense SIU will run this season.

“His skills are right on to what we want to do,” Lennon said. “One of the schools that recruited him heavily out of high school was North Dakota State. They’ve got a good run game, play power football, play action, that type of stuff. That’s kind of what we want to do with our offense.”

Whoever is named the starting quarterback for the season opener against Eastern Illinois University will have a veteran receiver to throw to.

Junior tight end MyCole Pruitt racked up 601 receiving yards with five touchdowns last season on his way to being named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team.

Pruitt’s season was cut two games short last season when he broke his leg against Missouri State University. Pruitt said it feels good to be back at practice.

“The weather is cooperating right now, and its good to get back into it after I missed the last few games of last season,” he said. “It’s good for me to be out here running around with my guys and catch a few footballs.”

One spot on the offense where there is a plethora of talent is in the backfield. The Salukis will return junior running backs Malcolm Agnew, Tay Willis and Ken Malcome. The three backs rushed for a combined 1,486 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Willis will also take reps at wide receiver this season.

Agnew, who rushed for 888 yards, said he has one goal for this season.

“This season, I want to win a championship,” he said. “It’s our goal as a team, and that’s what we want to do.”

The Saluki offense will get its first chance to play in live action April 17 in the annual maroon and white spring game at Saluki Stadium.