Dunaway trades in a redshirt for a red jersey

Mark Dunaway expected to spend a rather leisurely freshman football season at Southeast Missouri State University, learning all he could while practicing with the team but not playing in games as he redshirted.

But a rash of injuries to Southeast's secondary foiled those plans after two games -- and now the defensive back from Central High School finds himself in the thick of the action with the Indians.

"I was redshirting one day, then the next thing I know I'm starting," a smiling Dunaway said prior to Tuesday's practice.

Not that's he complaining.

"I was surprised, but it was a pleasant surprise," Dunaway said. "I'd much rather be on the field than on the sidelines in my street clothes."

Dunaway is not technically a starter for the Indians as he fills the role of nickel back -- or fifth defensive back -- against teams in passing situations.

But Southeast decided to go with five defensive backs at the outset of Saturday's Ohio Valley Conference opener against Samford, so Dunaway earned his first college start. And, with the Indians' secondary suffering even more injuries during the game, he played much of the way, being credited with seven tackles during a wild 51-48 win in four overtimes.

"That was an incredible game to be a part of," said Dunaway, who saw his first action of the season on Sept. 18 at Central Michigan.

Dunaway, listed as 6-foot and 180 pounds, was a standout wide receiver and defensive back at Central High School, which played its home games at Southeast's Houck Stadium.

So while Dunaway might have been familiar with the surroundings upon joining the Indians, he said he certainly wasn't used to how fast everything was happening around him.

"That's the big difference from high school to college, the speed of the game," he said. "I went to watch my brother Scott's jamboree at Cape Central and it looked like it was the eighth grade all over again, everything was so different."

While Dunaway said it has been a big adjustment going from the Tigers last year to the Indians this season, he believes he actually fit in fairly well from the beginning of practice in early August.

"I picked up on it pretty fast and felt like I was doing pretty well, holding my own," Dunaway said. "I think I'm still holding my own and I've adjusted well, but I know I still have to get a lot better."

Southeast co-defensive coordinator Cody Vardeman, who is also the Indians' defensive backs coach, said Dunaway has handled himself well since being unexpectedly thrown into the fire.

"Right now he's our starting nickel back, and he's doing a great job. We're real pleased," Vardeman said. "He's a super hard worker and he's really intelligent. He spends extra time coming in and watching film.

"You hate to have to play a guy as a true freshman, but the good thing is, when we needed him, he's been able to step up."

Dunaway said he's thrilled to be able to play in his home town in front of family and friends, and also to follow in the footsteps of older brother Andy, a Southeast wide receiver from 1998 through 2001.

"Andy said he felt like a freshman all over again watching me play, he was so nervous," Dunaway said, laughing.

In addition, Dunaway is getting a chance to play with senior linebacker and defensive leader O.J. Turner, also a Central High School graduate.

"It's a pleasure to be on the same field with O.J. He was always three grades ahead of me and I never got to play with him," Dunaway said.

With the Indians' secondary still banged up, Dunaway figures to again see plenty of action Saturday when Southeast (1-3, 1-0) resumes OVC play at Eastern Illinois (1-2, 0-0). And he's confident the Indians' maligned defensive backfield will continue to improve.

"People say we've had a porous pass defense, but we'll plug it up," he said.