New (and long) pass-catcher looks the part for SEMO FB

Last fall, veteran Southeast Missouri State football coach Tom Matukewicz often boasted of his deep and talented wide receiver group, which played an integral part in the Redhawks leading the Ohio Valley Conference in scoring offense and being the second-best squad in the league in terms of pass efficiency.

The trio of Damoriea Vick (seventh in the OVC in receptions per game), Johnny King (third in the league in receptions per game), and Ryan Flournoy (third in the conference in receiving yards per game) were referred to as “a three-headed monster” by Matukewicz.

“When I came here,” SEMO then-sophomore quarterback Paxton DeLaurent said last fall, “I said ‘Holy cow!’ We have a really, really good team with NFL receivers, I believe.”

That proved prophetic, as King recently signed a free agent contract with the Indianapolis Colts, which now leaves the Redhawks with an opening for some athlete, perhaps newcomer Dorian Anderson, to become the third of the “three-headed monster” this fall.

“Dorian has gotten better every practice,” Redhawk offensive pass game coordinator and wide receiver coach Justin Drudik said at the conclusion of spring practice. “And he continues to do that.”

It doesn’t take an experienced coach like Matukewicz or Drudik to see the potential that Anderson possesses.

At 6-foot-7 and nearly 200 pounds, he physically stands out on the field, particularly when battling for catches against often sub-6-foot defenders.

“He knows that he has a ridiculous upside,” Drudik said of Anderson’s potential. “He needs to continue to get better and better until his moment comes.”

The Oakland, Tenn. native spent the past two seasons playing productive football at NCAA Division II Shorter University in Rome, Georgia.

Over the past two seasons, Anderson caught over 50 passes and scored 10 times in 18 games.

On average, each of his receptions was nearly 15 yards in length.

“He is going to be a huge factor for us,” Drudik said. “We’re excited about it.”

Anderson already has provided some excitement for Redhawk fans.

In the spring game last month, Anderson actually THREW the game-winning touchdown pass to Southern Mississippi tight end transfer Mitchell Sellers late in the game off a reverse trick play.

“He just needs to continue to get better and better,” Drudik said.