Making the grade

Corey Kinsey had no problem on the field for Southeast Missouri State University last year when he became the fourth player in school history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in one season.

But his classroom work was not nearly as productive.

"I just didn't work as hard as I could have," he said.

A wakeup call from Southeast coach Tim Billings apparently was all Kinsey needed to get his off-the-field work in order.

With Kinsey not meeting up to Billings' standards academically -- and with Kinsey perhaps in danger of being ineligible for 2003 -- the coach held his star tailback out of spring practice this year. It was just the message Kinsey said he needed.

"It woke me up a lot," he said. "I had been taking things for granted and I shouldn't have been."

Motivated by the prospect of not playing this season, Kinsey shaped up and turned in an impressive spring semester, then followed up by performing well in summer classes.

"It motivated me a lot," Kinsey said, laughing. "When I saw I couldn't play in the spring, and if I didn't do what I had to do I probably wouldn't be able to play this year, that got me going."

And now Kinsey, safe academically, again is ready to lead the Indians' ground attack. He's also come into high praise from the person who disciplined him.

"I'm really proud of Corey," Billings said. "Our players aren't just here to play football. The main reason they're here is to get an education, and we're always going to emphasize that.

"Hopefully what happened in the spring woke him up. I think he understood the situation. He did a lot of work academically this spring, and this summer he just had to finish it off. It says a lot about his character."

Kinsey -- listed officially as 5-feet-9 and 185 pounds, but he said he actually stands about 5-7 -- had a breakout sophomore season last year. After seeing limited action as a redshirt freshman, the Miami native used his speed and darting moves to rush for 1,067 yards while averaging 4.5 yards per carry.

"I really wasn't surprised," said Kinsey of his 1,000-yard season. "We have a great offensive line, and I credit them for a lot of my success."

Kinsey said he once hoped to play for one of the major-college powers in his home state, but his lack of size was one of the primary reasons those schools backed off.

"I really wanted to go to Florida State, and at first they recruited me hard, but a lot of recruiters dropped me because of my height," he said.

Their loss has been Southeast's gain. With the Indians' stellar offensive line returning intact, Kinsey figures to have another big season, although he said he's not caught up in individual accomplishments.

"If I don't get as many yards as last year it really doesn't concern me because we have a lot of great backs," he said, mentioning the likes of junior-college transfer David Taufoou, redshirt freshman Bobby Dorsainvil, true freshman Elton Peterson and others. "Of course, I hope to do better."

Kinsey, a preseason all-Ohio Valley Conference pick, predicts the Indians will be better than last year's breakthrough 8-4 season. Southeast is favored to win its first OVC title and is ranked 16th nationally entering the campaign.

"I think this year we're going all the way," he said.

mmishow@semissourian.com

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