NORTH COUNTY, MEHLVILLE FOOTBALL STARS TO JOIN BILLINGS' BANDWAGON

It apparently hasn't taken new Southeast Missouri State University football coach Tim Billings and his staff long to make quite an impression on prospective recruits.

Wednesday is the first day that players can begin signing with colleges, but Billings and his new staff have already received several oral commitments, including from two of the state's top high school players.

North County record-setting quarterback Jeremy McDowell and Mehlville standout linebacker Terrell Jones have both orally committed to Southeast. Oral commitments do not bind a recruit to that school, but both are expected to sign with the Indians Wednesday.

Billings is prohibited by NCAA regulations from commenting on prospective recruits until they actually sign, but McDowell and Jones both apparently decided on Southeast in recent days.

McDowell, a 6-foot-3, 198-pounder, had a brilliant three-year varsity career at North County as he became the state's all-time leader in passing yardage and touchdown passes.

McDowell passed for 6,610 yards to break former Missouri quarterback Jeff Handy's previous record of 6,130, compiled from 1987-89 at the Kansas City suburb of Blue Springs. And McDowell's 81 touchdown passes broke the mark held by former Dexter High standout Earl Wheeler, who tossed 69 TDs from 1985-87.

Under McDowell's direction, the Raiders went 33-5 the last three seasons and reached the Class 4A playoffs all three years. North County lost in the 1997 state championship game during McDowell's sophomore season. As a senior, McDowell passes for 2,007 yards, with 21 touchdowns and just five interceptions.

North County coach Matt Haug, who ironically also coached Wheeler at Dexter, said he is happy with McDowell's decision to sign with Southeast.

"Very much so," said Haug. "We got to talk with the coaches from down there and it seemed like their offense would be suited to what Jeremy does best."

While possessing a strong arm, McDowell also has more than adequate speed, running a 4.7 40 according to Haug. One recruiting service ranks McDowell as the state's No. 2 quarterback prospect.

"He's very mobile in the pocket. He can evade people and he has a good arm," Haug said. "What he does best is he understands the game and makes great decisions."

At one point, it appeared that McDowell would be headed for a Division I-A program. But Haug believes that staying in the area and playing for I-AA Southeast might just be the best thing for McDowell.

"Up until the last week of the season, Mississippi and Washington were really interested, then all of a sudden they backed off. I don't know why," said Haug. "But sometimes things work out for the best. I really like their (Southeast's) situation right now."

Ditto for Jones' coach at Mehlville, Gary Heyde, whose Panthers won the Class 5A state championship in November.

"I know Terrell really liked the coaches down there and he fit in with the players well," Heyde said. "I know he's real happy with SEMO."

Jones, a 5-9, 219-pounder who has been timed at 4.58 seconds in the 40, was the ringleader of the Panthers' defense, recording 113 total tackles and 12 sacks as he was named the St. Louis area Defensive Player of the Year by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

"He's a great football player, the best defensive football player in the state," said Heyde. "He can really move, and he's real young. He only turned 17 about the third game of the season."

Heyde said that Jones was also recruited by other I-AA programs Southern Illinois and Southwest Missouri State, along with I-A Miami of Ohio. In addition, he said Iowa and Northwestern had recently shown some interest.

"He's 5-9," Heyde said. "If he were a few inches taller, probably everybody would have wanted him."

Added Heyde, "I feel like SEMO is getting quite a player, and a great kid too. He was a three-time captain for us as elected by the players. To be elected captain as a sophomore is very unusual."

* In addition to the 15 to 20 high school and junior-college players that Billings and his staff plan to sign Wednesday, already enrolled at Southeast are three transfers from Marshall, where Billings served as defensive coordinator during the Thundering Herd's 13-0 season in 1999.

The three Marshall transfers, who will be eligible to play for the Indians during the 2000 season, are junior running back Byron White (5-10, 212), sophomore wide receiver Tarik Simpson (5-11, 173) and sophomore defensive lineman Jermaine Motley (6-2, 270).

Simpson and Motley both redshirted at Marshall last season while White saw limited action, rushing for 37 yards on eight carries.