Jennette looks for big results after summer work

James Jennette smiled when he talked about the commitment he and many of his Southeast Missouri State University teammates made over the summer.

"Instead of going home, so many guys stayed here over the summer to work out together," he said. "I think we had like 70 stay in town and that commitment always makes a difference. That's one of the reasons I think we're going to surprise a lot of people this year."

If the Indians are going to prove all the so-called experts wrong -- they have again been picked to finish next-to-last in the Ohio Valley Conference, the spot they have occupied every year since 1996 -- then it's likely their big defensive tackle will play a big role.

Jennette, a 5-foot-11, 310-pound senior with surprising quickness for his size, will be called on to anchor a defensive front that has struggled as a unit in recent years and returns just one established inside run-stuffer -- Jennette himself.

"James is the only proven guy we've got inside," Southeast coach Tim Billings said. "We don't have a lot of depth there and we need James to play well. He's a big key for us."

While Jennette has put up solid numbers during his first three seasons with the Indians, he and Billings know the potential is there for much more.

"James can be a dominating player, but he needs to be more consistent," Billings said. "At times last year he was dominating and at other times he wouldn't show up."

Jennette, a starter since his freshman year, turned in his best performance last season when he recorded 78 tackles, including 15 for loss, and four quarterback sacks. He was voted second-team all-OVC.

As evidence of how much the other coaches in the league think of his potential, Jennette was recently voted to the all-OVC preseason first team.

"People in the league talk about how they can't block him," Billings said. "He can be the premier defensive lineman in the conference."

Jennette has been bothered some by injuries throughout his Southeast career, and he also acknowledged that at times he hasn't been in the best shape. But he believes he took care of the latter over the summer.

"I worked hard this summer trying to get in really good shape," he said. "I think I'm pretty healthy right now and hopefully I'll stay that way."

The soft-spoken Jennette believes his added maturity will lead to the kind of play Billings is looking for.

"I'm a lot more experienced so I won't make the same mistakes I have in the past," he said.

Billings thinks the St. Louis native is ready for a breakout year.

"James has really worked and he's become more of a leader," Billings said. "He's in better shape and he's stronger, although he's always been strong. I think he's going to have a really good year."Noteworthy

***The Indians completed their second day of two-a-day practices Thursday and everybody has remained relatively healthy, although quarterback Jeromy McDowell continues to be limited somewhat in his throwing.

McDowell, who set a Southeast freshmen passing record with 2,051 yards last year, missed spring drills after having knee and shoulder surgery.

While McDowell reports that his shoulder feels good, Billings said the muscles in that area have not totally regained their strength so the coaching staff is proceeding cautiously, although Billings said he's confident McDowell will be fine for the season.