Gugler switches back to defense

Ben Gugler considers himself a team player, so he didn't protest when Southeast Missouri State football coaches asked him to play tight end last year.

"They asked me to do it and I wanted to help out," Gugler said.

But Gugler doesn't try to mask his enthusiasm over being moved back to his natural position of defensive end for his senior season.

"I'm really happy," said Gugler, who entered fall practice first on the depth chart at left end. "I love defense."

The 6-foot-4, 255-pound Gugler came to Southeast from Butler (Kan.) Community College in 2007 expecting to play defense.

With Southeast lacking depth at tight end, however, he assumed that position last season and caught nine passes for 71 yards in a backup role.

Gugler also showed he had not lost his defensive instincts, recording five special teams tackles a year ago.

"We just put him at tight end out of need, and I thought he did a good job," Southeast coach Tony Samuel said.

After the season, Southeast coaches decided to move Gugler back to defense.

It didn't take long for Gugler to display the junior college ability that made him an honorable-mention all-league defensive end in the tough Jayhawk Conference.

Gugler, a native of Salina, Kan., recorded three quarterback sacks in Southeast's spring game this year.

"I think he'll be fine [at defensive end]," Samuel said.

So does Gugler.

"I'd always played defense, even in high school, and I'm more natural on defense," Gugler said. "It took me a while to get used to it again, but it came back."

Asked what he likes most about playing defense as opposed to offense, Gugler said, "I love to hit. Defense makes it easy to do that.

"Defense is more a reaction to what the offense does. You have to use your hands, get leverage."

Gugler's rookie season at Southeast saw the Redhawks finish 3-8 and 1-6 in the Ohio Valley Conference, which put them ninth in what was then a 10-team league.

The Redhawks were picked to finish last among nine squads in this year's OVC preseason poll, but many Southeast players have stated that they expect 2008 to be different.

Gugler follows that lead, citing increased experience, maturity and commitment. Southeast returns 17 starters from last season.

"I don't really pay attention to all that [preseason poll] stuff. It goes off last year," Gugler said. "Our whole team has changed.

"We had about 60 guys this summer working out. Our team has really come together as a family. The attitude is a lot better. We have a whole bunch of seniors and a lot of them contributed last year."

Southeast, which began practice Tuesday, plays its first game Aug. 28 against Division II Southwest Baptist.