Redhawks ready to turn up dial on practices

~ Southeast to begin contact and two-a-days today.

After somewhat easing into preseason practice -- per NCAA regulations -- Southeast Missouri State will kick things up several notches today with its first two-a-day, full-contact session.

The Redhawks will work out at 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Two-a-days will continue on alternating days until classes begin Aug. 21.

"We're looking forward to the two-a-days. It's going to be more intense," said senior wide receiver/kick returner Antonio Scaife during Friday's media day at Houck Stadium. "Everybody has a very positive attitude. Everybody has bought into the system."

Southeast began fall workouts Monday. The NCAA limits the first two days of practice to helmets only, with the next two in helmets and shoulder pads and the fifth in full gear but with no contact.

Teams can practice only once per day during those first five days. Also, after that initial five-day period, squads are prohibited from holding two-a-day workouts on consecutive days.

"We're working on picking up the intensity every step of the way," Southeast first-year head coach Tony Samuel said.

Samuel said he so far has been pleased with preseason practice, particularly Thursday's session.

"We're making progress," he said. "Thursday, for some reason, I thought we took a step in the right direction. It may have had something to do with the heat index not being 120 degrees."

The Redhawks will have their first scrimmage at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Another scrimmage will be at 8 p.m. Aug. 19.

"Practice will definitely be at a faster pace now that we're going to start hitting," senior linebacker Seth Harrell said. "I'm anxious to see how it will go"

Dunaway leaves

Cape Girardeau Central High School graduate Mark Dunaway, who played at Southeast the past two years and came out of spring drills as the Redhawks' starting free safety, decided to leave the program prior to the start of preseason practice.

Dunaway said his decision was based on academics. His goal is to some day be a pilot, so he will transfer to Division II Nebraska-Kearney, which has an aviation program.

Dunaway, who nearly attended the Air Force Academy out of high school, will play football at Nebraska-Kearney.

"It had nothing at all to do with football or SEMO. I really liked the new coaches," Dunaway said. "But I really want to go into aviation and this is a good opportunity for me."

Late additions

Among several recent roster additions is an intriguing defensive lineman who played last season at junior college powerhouse Joliet, Ill.

Shaun Richardson, a St. Louis native, originally signed with Purdue -- where Samuel was an assistant coach last season -- but left school after only a few weeks.

Coming out of Cleveland NJROTC High School in St. Louis -- where he played linebacker and running back -- Richardson was rated the No. 5 player in Missouri. He was also ranked among the top 40 linebackers nationally by both Rivals.com and SuperPrep.

Richardson is a junior in eligibility.

Noteworthy

* Wide receiver Oge Oge, who redshirted last year, is back for his senior season. Oge was a starter in 2004, when he caught 33 passes for 426 yards and three touchdowns.

* After entering fall camp with just 13 seniors last year, the 2006 Redhawks are much more experienced. Southeast has 25 seniors listed on its current 80-man roster.

* The Redhawks will have a new game-day dressing room this year, in the Student Recreation Center South as the team will enter the stadium from the east end. Previously the game-day dressing room was in Houck Field House, with entry from the west end of the stadium.