No shortage of talent to back-up Redhawk All-American in 2023

The only running that Southeast Missouri State All-American running back Geno Hess did during the program’s recent spring game at Scott City High School was running the sidelines during timeouts, which the top players in the program, who did not have to participate in the game, did frequently.

The absence of Hess, the transfer of his 2022 back-up, Shamenski Rucker, and a recent foot injury to reserve runner Darrell Smith, created an abundance of carries for the remainder of the group, including Charleston High School graduate Q’Nairies Anderson, who contributed to Team Redhawk’s 17-16 win over Team SEMO by scoring an early touchdown from one-yard out.

“He has been in the program for a long time,” Redhawk running backs coach Luke Berblinger said of Anderson, who is a senior in 2023. “He knows the offense, so if he needed to be thrown in there, he could definitely handle it.

“He’s got the wheels and he knows the plays.”

Anderson got several carries, as did sophomore Keveon Robbins, who also worked as a return guy on kickoffs.

“Keveon had a good spring,” Berblinger said. “He is just a smart football player, who wants to be a coach. He is a guy that I can trust to throw out there and he’ll get the job done.”

Robbins totaled 14 carries for 107 yards in 2022, while Smith had 28 carries for 193 yards.

Those two will work as the primary backup to Hess, who was the 2022 Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year after rushing for 1,720 yards and 21 touchdowns.

“I like it,” Berblinger said of his position group. “I’ve got some guys who I can trust, who have been in the program a little bit, and then there are some good, young, up-and-coming guys, who I think we can grow and develop.”

Junior Devin Willis transferred into the program from Missouri Baptist this spring, while sophomore Dylan Schnitzler (Jefferson High School, Festus) saw action in the spring game, as well.

As far as Smith goes, his timetable for a healthy return, according to Berblinger, is unknown at this time.

“It’s still early,” Berblinger said of evaluating the injury. “We’re still trying to see what happens with it.”