OPPOSITES ATTACK: DIVISION I-A TRANSFERS SOLIDIFYING SE DEFENSE

One walks and talks softly but carries a big stick.

The other walks and talks with as much volume as imaginable but carries a big stick as well.

Chris Justice and Zuri Buchanan -- Southeast Missouri State University's two highly-touted Division I-A sophomore linebacker transfers, from Florida and Oklahoma, respectively -- are certainly as different as night and day when it comes to personality and emotional makeup.

But they do share one very important trait on the football field: they're both extremely talented players who moved right to the top of the Indians' depth chart in the early days of practice and figure to solidify an area that was hit hard by graduation.

"They are totally different people," said Southeast defensive coordinator Charles Sabbatini with a laugh. "But that's kind of good. Chris has a really calming effect on Zuri. Zuri is such an emotional young man, but sometimes that's a good thing for a football team."

What the two really share in common, according to Sabbatini, is plenty of size and speed at a position where that combination usually proves to be a lethal weapon.

"We've had people (at linebacker) that could run before, but they weren't as big," said Sabbatini. "Zuri and Chris are both big and strong and they can really run."

Buchanan, the Indians' starting middle linebacker, is listed as standing 6-feet and weighing 240 pounds. Justice, a Southeast starting outside linebacker, stands 6-2 and weighs 235 pounds. Both players have sculpted physiques, the kind you'd probably chisel if you were trying to carve out a pair of ideal college linebackers.

"Both Zuri and Chris are tremendous physical specimens," said Southeast head coach John Mumford.

And, by all accounts, each is the type of player who should fare extremely well at the NCAA Division I-AA level on which Southeast competes.

Buchanan will tell you -- and anybody within earshot -- as much. Justice prefers to let his play do the talking.

"I bring drama, power, dedication (to the team)," said the hyped-up Buchanan during Southeast's recent media day. "People around here better start getting used to a lot of W's (wins), cause that's what they're going to get."

As Buchanan -- known around the Southeast camp as Zebo -- speaks, he appears to be half-scowling and half-smiling. Mumford said it's probably more smile than scowl.

"Zuri is a nice young man, but he's an emotional young man," said Mumford.

It didn't take long for Buchanan to display that emotional side to his teammates. From the very first practice, Buchanan has been a constant source of chatter, his mouth running a mile a minute. He's been known to get in the faces of the other Indians, either to offer encouragement or to talk smack. But he's also been known to address the troops before or after practice in an attempt to motivate his new teammates.

"Zuri has kind of taken over as the leader of our defense," Mumford said. "A lot of what he does, all the emotional things, are good for a football team, but we just have to make sure he keeps it under control and doesn't go too far."

Fellow linebacker Gabe Jenkins, a Cape Central High product who is more of the quite sort, said with a chuckle that "Zuri is different. But we all like him."

A native of the Dallas area, Buchanan said he has pretty much been a vocal player all his life. He doesn't really mean anything by it. That's just the way he performs best.

"I've always been that type of player," he said. "Brian Cox, Lawrence Taylor, Greg Lloyd, I've always patterned myself after those types of linebackers."

Told that a player who talks a lot can become a prime target for the opposition, Buchanan concurred.

"I know that," he said, then added with a grin. "If you talk, you have to back it up. I talk it and I back it up."

Buchanan was one of the nation's top linebacker prospects coming out of high school. He said he was recruited by "107 schools across the nation" before eventually settling on Florida.

It was while playing for the Gators, said Buchanan, that he learned not to expect anything to be handed him on a platter. He was a squad member last year as Florida won the national championship but didn't letter.

"I picked Florida (out of high school) because I wanted the glitter. I wanted to be the man without having to prove myself," he said. "I found that's not the way it works."

Buchanan said he and the Florida coaches "didn't click. I felt I needed a quick change."

Enter Southeast and particularly coach Jay Thomas, one of the Indians' defensive assistants.

"I got along with the coaches. Me and coach Jay Thomas, we hit it off right away," Buchanan said. "He said `Zebo, we need you here.' "

So far, Buchanan said he's more than happy with the decision. He's having fun and looking forward to the Aug. 30 season opener at home against Lambuth.

"I'm excited," he said. "I feel like I get along with everybody here. The people have taken me in."

While Buchanan was one of the centers of attention at media day with his mannerisms and boasts, Justice just kind of blended in with the rest of the Indians. Which is the way he likes it.

"Zebo is different than I am," said Justice as he flashed a big smile. "But we get along real good. That old saying, opposites attract. That's us."

Unlike Buchanan, who didn't make an impact at Florida before transferring, Justice had already proven himself to be an accomplished Division I-A player at Oklahoma.

As a redshirt freshman last year, the native of Austin, Texas, started seven games and had several noteworthy performances, getting 16 tackles against Texas A&M, 11 tackles against Kansas State and seven tackles against Nebraksa.

But, like Buchanan, Justice ran into a personality conflict with the coaches at Oklahoma.

"The coach who had recruited me left. Coach (John) Blake came in and we just didn't see eye to eye on things. I felt it was best for me to leave," he said.

Justice said he initially wished to attend another Division I-A program, but if he had done that, he would have had to sit out a season under NCAA transfer rules. By transferring down to a Division I-AA program, he would be eligible immediately.

"I didn't think sitting out was the right thing," he said. "I knew sitting out would depress me. I wanted to play right away."

Justice, whose brother Jason also transferred to Southeast after attending Texas A&M, learned that the Indians were also talking to Buchanan and he liked the idea of joining Southeast with the Florida transfer.

"I knew if we came here together we could make a difference," he said.

They already have -- but in totally different ways.