Casper, Tuineau go undrafted, but hope to get shot at NFL

Former Southeast Missouri State football players Joseph Tuineau and Adam Casper were not taken in the NFL draft conducted over the weekend.

No surprise there, since each was considered a longshot to be selected.

But Tuineau and Casper, who completed their eligibility with the Redhawks in 2007, are still hoping to have a chance to play at football's highest level.

As of late Sunday night, no word had been received as to whether Tuineau or Casper had received free-agent offers, which still could happen over the next several days.

Tuineau appears to have the best chance of signing with an NFL team.

A 6-foot-8, 280-pound tight end, Tuineau worked out well for NFL scouts — he reportedly ran the 40-yard dash in under 4.7 seconds — and was even flown to Jacksonville, Fla., to meet with members of the Jaguars organization.

Casper might not have the measurables NFL squads covet, but he was one of the nation's most productive Division I-AA linebackers the past two years.

The odds of Tuineau or Casper ever playing in an NFL game are plenty steep, as they are for most players in their situations.

But several Southeast products in recent years — including linebacker Edgar Jones, who made the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent last season after leaving Southeast in 2006 — showed that it can be done as long as you get the opportunity to showcase your abilities.

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It was a good weekend for the Ohio Valley Conference in the NFL draft.

As expected, Tennessee State cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie was selected in Saturday's first round by the Arizona Cardinals with the 16th overall pick.

Another OVC player went early Sunday as the draft concluded. Eastern Kentucky cornerback Antwaun Molden was taken by the Houston Texans in the third round with the 79th overall pick.

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Statistics don't always tell the whole story, but I've got to admit it's hard to get excited about the first signee of the spring signing period for the Southeast men's basketball team.

Although coach Scott Edgar said he won't announce any signings until he has completed his spring recruiting, according to the rivals.com basketball recruiting Web site, power forward Israel Kirk from Motlow State (Tenn.) Community College signed with Southeast last week.

Kirk, a 6-foot-7, 235-pounder, averaged 4.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game this past season. He spent his first two seasons at Division I Lipscomb University.

Kirk redshirted during the 2005-06 campaign, then saw limited playing time in 2006-07. He saw action in 13 games for a total of 66 minutes and scored eight points.

Kirk will have two seasons of eligibility at Southeast.

From what I've been told, Kirk is athletic and well-built, looking the part of somebody who could be a good player, but his production hasn't matched his physical appearance.

Who knows if it ever will, and if it doesn't, it looks like at best Kirk could be a role player with an emphasis on rebounding and defense.

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Area track and field fans will have one final chance to watch the great Miles Smith compete in person.

Southeast's senior All-American and Olympic hopeful will join his teammates during the OVC outdoor championships Friday and Saturday at the Abe Stuber Complex in Cape Girardeau.

The meet begins at 1 p.m. Friday and resumes at 11 a.m. Saturday.

Smith's specialty, the 400-meters, will have its finals at 1:35 p.m. Saturday.

The OVC outdoor championships will also mark the final home appearance for longtime Southeast coach Joey Haines, who is retiring after 26 seasons.

Haines is among the most decorated coaches in OVC history for any sport, having led Southeast's women to 15 conference titles and the men to five league crowns.

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I got a chance to cover two of the area's top high school baseball teams on consecutive days last week.

They certainly didn't disappoint me with their performances.

Scott City routed Charleston 18-0 on Tuesday, and the next day Oran blasted Saxony Lutheran 16-0. Both games ended after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.

Both squads could go a long way in the postseason, particularly Oran. The Eagles appear especially loaded for Class 1, with an unusually deep pitching staff.

Scott City and Oran — in no particular order — just might be the area's premier teams this season.

It's a shame the Rams and Eagles probably won't play each other. Their scheduled game was rained out and it's not likely to be made up.

By the way, that's a good blog Oran senior Kody Campbell is writing on semissourian.com. And whoever got on Kody for a misspelling should go get a life.

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We'll run the entire schedule before the season starts, but the Plaza Tire Capahas have released their tentative 2008 summer slate.

The season opener will be May 30 at home against Valmeyer, Ill., while the Caps will host the annual National Baseball Congress Mid-South Regional July 4 to 6.

Once again, all of the Capahas' home games, along with all of their games at the NBC World Series should they be fortunate enough to qualify, will be broadcast by ESPN-1220.

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It really wasn't a surprise, but with his playing time limited after Nomar Garciaparra's return from the disabled list, Sikeston's Blake DeWitt was sent down to Class AAA Las Vegas by the Los Angeles Dodgers last week.

Since DeWitt is such a coveted young prospect, the Dodgers would rather have him receiving regular at-bats and playing time in the minors than languishing on the bench in the majors.

But DeWitt was called back up by the Dodgers over the weekend after Garciaparra again went on the DL, and DeWitt was placed right back into the starting lineup at third base.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.