Central grad Andrews impresses in Southeast Missouri State football team's spring camp

Cantrell Andrews wanted to get back home while trying his hand at Division I football.

Andrews' return to Cape Girardeau appears to be working out well for him and Southeast Missouri State.

The 2009 Central High School graduate concluded a strong first spring with the Redhawks during Saturday's spring intrasquad game at Houck Stadium.

Andrews, a junior cornerback who has been working with the first unit most of the spring, was credited with three tackles.

"He's had a very good spring," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said. "He's made great strides, and he's a great kid."

Andrews made his mark on offense, not defense, at Central. He rushed for more than 1,100 yards as a senior tailback in 2008 before heading to NAIA Missouri Valley College in Marshall, Mo.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Andrews, a cornerback at Missouri Valley, redshirted his first season in 2009 before playing in 2010.

Andrews then decided to come home.

"I basically wanted to be closer to my family and have an opportunity to play Division I ball," Andrews said.

Andrews enrolled at Southeast in the fall and practiced with the Redhawks but could not participate in games under NCAA transfer rules.

It didn't take Andrews long to make his mark with the Redhawks this spring, and he should be in line for solid playing time once the 2012 season rolls around.

"I like it here. I'm enjoying it a lot," Andrews said.

Andrews, a walk-on, is hopeful of earning a scholarship somewhere down the line.

"That's the plan," he said.

Although he doesn't figure to see the field nearly as often as Andrews, another new local addition to the Redhawks said he's also having plenty of fun.

Garret Schaefer, a 2011 Scott City High School graduate, is a walk-on wide receiver.

The diminutive Schaefer, generously listed as 5-7 and 155 pounds, rushed for more than 1,400 yards as a senior tailback for the Rams in 2010.

"I didn't have many offers [out of high school]. They [Southeast coaches] talked to me over the summer and I decided to come here," said Schaefer, who will be a redshirt freshman for the 2012 season. "It's a lot different than high school. It's really fun. All the guys are really nice."

Schaefer knows he faces long odds in receiving much playing time, especially right away, but he's hopeful.

"I would love to see the field some, but I just want to help the team any way I can," Schaefer said.

Said Samuel: "He's got speed and he's a good kid. He's probably the most popular kid on the team."

Andrews and Schaefer will join three other returning players on the 2012 Redhawks who graduated from high schools in the Southeast Missourian coverage area.

Heading the list is All-American senior linebacker Blake Peiffer from Jackson.

The others are walk-ons who saw limited action last year, senior linebacker Derek Walker (Central) and sophomore fullback Brandon Beck (Jackson).

Peiffer had a team-high 10 tackles Saturday. Walker had five tackles, including a team-leading 2 1/2 tackles for loss.

Beck carried once for 3 yards.