INDIANS MAKE BIG STRIDES IN SPRING

More than halfway through spring practice, Southeast Missouri State University football coach Tim Billings likes the way things are progressing for his second Indian squad.

The Indians held two more workouts this week, their eighth and ninth of 15 such spring sessions allowed under NCAA guidelines. As Billings surveyed the situation on the artificial surface at Houck Stadium, he said there is no comparison between his team now and even a few months ago.

"I'm pleased. We're so much better now than we were, even at the end of the fall last year," said Billings, whose first Southeast team went 3-8. "We're so much more mature and stronger. We still have to get stronger, but we've made a lot of progress there.

"I think one of the most pleasing things is the expectations of the kids is so much higher than last year. They're more realistic of what they have to do to win. They know us (the coaching staff), they know our system. They're just so much further ahead."

From an athletic standpoint, even though Billings acknowledges the Indians still have some deficiencies, he said, "We're going to be better at every position, except maybe kicker."

New arrivals

While some more reinforcements particularly along the offensive line and in the kicking department, two areas that are seriously lacking in numbers right now won't come in until the fall, the Indians have already benefited from several newcomers who have made their mark during the spring.

Four junior-college transfers enrolled in school at the semester and are participating in the current workouts. Billings expects all of them to offer immediate contributions during the 2001 season.

A real eye-opener, according to Billings, has been wide receiver Willie Ponder, who started at Tulsa as a true freshman before spending last season at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, where he did not play football. Ponder is a 6-foot-2, 195-pounder with speed.

"He can really play," said Billings.

A second newcomer who will add size and speed to what appears to be a deep and talented receiving corps is Adrian Sanders (6-3, 200), also a transfer from Coffeyville CC. Sanders is a nephew of former NFL great Barry Sanders.

"Those two make us better real quick," Billings said. "They're both big and can run."

Prince Anderson, from Northeastern (Okla.) A&M, should provide an immediate impact at safety, according to Billings, who said Anderson would have been a major recruit had he not missed most of last season with an injury.

"He was one of the top safeties as a freshman, but he was hurt most of his sophomore year," said Billings. "That helped us get him and he's healthy now."

The final juco product is linebacker Todd Frazier from Fullerton (Calif.) College, whom Billings also expects to contribute.

One juco transfer from last season who made a major impact as both a kick returner and wide receiver, Curtis Cooper, has been moved to running back and has been looking solid there, said Billings.

"He should be a big-play guy for us there," Billings said.

QB competition

As far as the high-profile position of quarterback, an intriguing competition could be shaping up in the fall between returning regulars Rashad West and Bobby Brune -- who basically split time last year -- and touted redshirt freshman Jeromy McDowell.

"All three of them can play, and Frank McGinty (who sat out last year after transferring) is doing a good job," said Billings.

The offensive line is a question mark right now, said Billings, but more for a lack of depth than talent.

"I like the kids we have and they're doing very well, but we've basically just got five right now," he said. "We signed eight (all from the high school ranks) and they'll have to help us. I feel like we signed some good ones, they'll just have to be ready to play."

The spring depth chart shows just two positions with seniors at the top of the list, which Billings said is not a bad thing.

"We're still really young, which is a plus, because these guys are only going to get better," he said.

Southeast will conclude spring drills with its annual public intrasquad scrimmage on April 28.

Three new signees

The Indians have signed three more players for next season, bringing their total recruiting class to 26.

All three of the new signees announced Wednesday are wide receivers from the high school ranks.

Chris Brawley, a 6-4, 190-pounder, earned all-state honors in Leighton, Ala., where he is also a state track champion in the 200-meters; Bill Coleman (6-2, 175) is an all-stater from Tulsa, Okla; and Michael Goodwin (6-3, 200) earned honorable-mention all-state honors at Paducah (Ky.) Tilghman High School, where he is also a state indoor track champion in the high jump.