Linebacker Harrell heads to Southeast

When Southeast Missouri State University begins football practice next weekend, a familiar area face who wasn't expected to play for the Indians will be on hand to compete for a starting position.

Seth Harrell, one of the state's premier linebackers as a senior on Jackson High School's 2001 team that reached the Class 5 semifinals, this week enrolled at Southeast for the fall semester and will be a member of the Indians' 2004 squad.

Harrell spent his first two college seasons as a walk-on at the University of Missouri. He redshirted in 2002 and was a team member last year, although he did not see any game action. As a transfer from a Division I-A program, Harrell will be immediately eligible to play at Division I-AA Southeast. He will be a sophomore in eligibility with the Indians.

Harrell, a 6-foot, 220-pounder, was a three-year starting linebacker at Jackson, and he earned first-team all-state honors as a senior when he recorded 130 tackles. Southeast recruited Harrell but he opted to walk on at Missouri.

"We absolutely recruited him. He was a great high school football player," said Southeast coach Tim Billings, who was contacted by Harrell earlier this week. "I was surprised when he contacted us and said he was interested in coming back, but I'm excited about him becoming a part of our football program."

Although Billings said he feels good about his linebacking situation, three of the Indians' top four players at that position completed their eligibility last season, including second-leading tackler and four-year starter Ricky Farmer. Senior O.J. Turner from Central High School is the lone returning regular after he led Southeast in tackles a year ago.

"I haven't seen him play since high school and I don't know where he's at or how much he's improved, but he looks great," Billings said. "Right now I feel we're good at linebacker, but we lost some and he makes us even better. He'll help us, there's no doubt."

Harrell was on vacation and unavailable for comment.