Redhawks' recruiting class appears promising

College recruiting is an inexact science at best, especially outside the major-college level.

That especially holds true for recruiting by Football Championship Subdivision programs like Southeast Missouri State.

That's why it's hard to get a handle on just what to make of the 25 players Southeast landed last week as the NCAA signing period began.

On the surface it looks like the Redhawks were able to capitalize on one of the best seasons in program history.

I say that because, according to various internet reports, Southeast beat out some high-profile FCS schools for several of the signees who no doubt were influenced by the team's 2010 success.

Since the Redhawks lost 20 seniors, they signed considerably more junior college transfers (11) than last year, along with one Football Bowl Subdivision transfer from Buffalo. The signees include 13 high school seniors.

Southeast signed more players from Missouri and the St. Louis area than a year ago, which coach Tony Samuel also attributed to the 2010 success. The Redhawks landed six players from Missouri and five from the St. Louis area, including two from O'Fallon, Ill.

While the transfers should provide instant help -- especially along the offensive and defensive lines, where nine of the jucos play -- it's always hard to gauge which, if any, of the incoming freshmen will be able to contribute right away.

At first glance, one of the current high school seniors who might make an early impact is Lewis Washington Jr., a 215-pound running back from Arlington, Texas.

Samuel suggested that Washington is a back to keep an eye on as Southeast looks to replace its top three rushers, including record-setting All-American Henry Harris.

According to rivals.com, Washington also was offered scholarships by FBS programs Minnesota, Colorado State, Rice, North Texas and Arkansas State.

I don't know what Washington's story is -- maybe some of the schools wanted Washington to switch positions -- but for Southeast to beat out those programs is worth noting.

I especially like the signings of Sikeston's Trey Lewis and St. Louis product Demarco Billups, two athletic dual-threat high school quarterbacks. One internet site has Billups ranked as the top dual-threat quarterback in the state.

With all-conference senior-to-be Matt Scheible firmly established as Southeast's starting quarterback, neither Lewis nor Billups figures to make much of an impact in 2011 -- they could end up redshirting -- but both appear to have the skills to one day battle for the position in the Redhawks' versatile attack that includes plenty of option.

Lewis is an exceptional athlete who could wind up playing another position, but Samuel said Lewis will start out at quarterback when he arrives on campus.

Many of the other signees also appear intriguing, particularly the juco linemen who should be able to help fill a major void after the 2010 Redhawks featured so many seniors at those spots.

My initial reaction about Southeast's recruiting class -- more players might be added before fall practice begins in August -- is it looks like the Redhawks signed at last a few future stars.

Only time will tell.

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I had been saying for weeks that I would be surprised if Samuel didn't return to Southeast even though there had not been an official announcement as time was running out on his contract.

That finally was resolved Tuesday as the university announced a five-year contract for Samuel, whose original five-year deal expired the day before.

Samuel received a substantial pay boost as part of a pretty nice contract that definitely is not out of line with what other OVC football coaches make, and probably less than those at some of the more established programs.

I think Samuel deserves everything he got. Although there's no guarantee of future success -- no Southeast football coach on the FCS level has had more than one winning season -- Samuel and his staff have breathed life into a floundering program, making it relevant on the national level.

For that Samuel should be rewarded.

And now we'll see if Samuel can become the first Southeast football coach to be more than a one-year FCS wonder, something that might prove even tougher to accomplish than the historic 2010 season.

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The high school basketball season is heating up and quite a few area teams are playing well.

Few squads have been hotter than Central's boys, who are 16-3, have won nine straight and last week broke into the state rankings -- No. 8 in Class 5 -- for the first time in years as coach Drew Church continues to do a great job building up the program.

Central received a major boost when point guard Curtis Branch -- receiving Division I interest from Southeast and others -- became eligible last month. The Tigers, in fact, have not lost with Branch in the lineup.

The Tigers will find out how much better they are with Branch because they face a rugged conclusion to the regular season, featuring games this week against Jackson -- Tuesday at the Show Me Center -- and undefeated Sikeston and a date next week against Charleston. Those squads have accounted for all of Central's losses.

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The Southeast softball team opens the season Thursday at Jackson State.

Southeast's baseball squad kicks off its campaign Feb. 18 at Louisiana-Lafayette.

The calendar says it's still winter, but spring definitely is in the air.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian.