Former Jackson K turns 'great off-season' into top job with SEMO

Through its Ohio Valley Conference football championship season a year ago, there wasn’t much that the Southeast Missouri State football team didn’t do well. However, when it came to kickoff coverage, stunningly, the Redhawks ranked dead last of the seven league teams in both net average (36.3), return yards allowed (600), and touchbacks (three).

To remedy those issues, veteran SEMO coach Tom Matukewicz has handed that opportunity – for a second time – to redshirt freshman kicker Logan Bruns.

“Logan has done a great job,” Matukewicz said of this off-season.

The 2022 Jackson High School graduate officially redshirted last fall, though he was very active late in the season.

In three games, Bruns kicked off 20 times and averaged nearly 53 yards per kick.

The Redhawks only had three touchbacks all season, and Bruns was responsible for one of those.

“Physically,” Matukewicz said, “he looks bigger and stronger. He really had a great off-season.”

Bruns has built himself up to 200 pounds on his 6-foot-1 frame, and his leg strength should play a pivotal role in helping to determine the field position game for the Redhawks this fall.

“(Director of Sports Performance Ryan Napoli) and his staff have done a good job with him,” Matukewicz continued. “I played him a little early (in his first year). I did that because I knew that he was going to have to play this year and be our guy.”

Bruns beat out sophomore Oregon State transfer Joe Bowman, who will serve as the backup in that critical position for now.

“Logan is still a hair inconsistent,” Matukewicz said. “But I believe in him, and I can’t wait to watch him compete on Saturday.”

Redshirt sophomore DC Pippen will handle the placekicking chores, as No. 11 (FCS) SEMO travels to No. 16 (FBS) Kansas State to open the 2023 regular season on Saturday at 6 p.m. (ESPN+).

Redshirt junior and Eastern Michigan transfer Adam Heston will handle the punt duties.