Indians look for recruiting success

Southeast Missouri State University football coach Tim Billings said he and his staff hope to land about 15 players during the signing period that begins Wednesday.

That total will be quite a bit below what Billings signed during his first three seasons at Southeast, largely because the Indians lost only a handful of seniors from their 2002 team that went 8-4 for the program's best record since 1969.

"In the past we've signed about 25 to 30, but this is the first year we don't have a lot of scholarships," Billings said. "All of a sudden everybody's calling us after the kind of season we had, but at the same time, we have to be really selective."

Billings said the Indians' breakthrough season -- it was their first winning record since 1994 and featured their first-ever regular-season national ranking in Division I-AA -- has opened plenty of doors for Southeast's coaching staff in the recruiting process.

"We've gotten a good reception from the kids we're recruiting. Our new weight room has also been a big plus. That's one thing the kids have really talked about," Billings said. "What we did last year has opened more doors for us. People know who we are now and it's easier talking to people, but we still have to recruit against the same type of schools and it's not easy to beat those schools out for players."

While Billings is prohibited by NCAA regulations from commenting on specific recruits until they sign, he said, "We feel comfortable with the way things are going. I feel like each year we've gotten better as far as our recruiting classes."

Billings said the Indians will probably sign two or three junior-college players and will also likely add a couple of Division I-A transfers, with the rest of the signees coming from the high school ranks.

Most of the Indians' key players in 2002 were underclassman, although some notable losses were record-setting wide receiver Willie Ponder, running back Keiki Misipeka, defensive lineman James Jennette, safety Prince Anderson and cornerback Demar Winston.

"We feel like we have some good young players at wide receiver, but we'll probably sign three, with one or two of them speed guys. But the Willie Ponders are hard to replace," Billings said. "We lost some defensive backs. We'll try to sign two or three. And we lost some running backs. We're also going to try to sign a punter."

Placekicker Derek Kutz took over as the Indians' punter last year after Andrew Winters, a touted but raw recruit from Australia, struggled early in the season. Winters has since left Southeast and returned to Australia, Billings said.

Noteworthy

Central running back-defensive back Monroe Hicks and Jackson lineman Matt McComas are both being recruited by Southeast and are believed to have the Indians high on their list of college choices.