SE junior lineman welcomes a healthy start

Adam Jones was one of Southeast Missouri State University's most productive defensive linemen last year despite playing much of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

Now that the left knee has been surgically repaired, Jones figures his performance also should pick up -- not that it was anything to sneer at a year ago.

"The knee is full strength, and I'm really looking forward to the season," Jones said following Saturday's second and final intrasquad scrimmage of the preseason, a two-hour session at Houck Stadium. "I think everybody is."

Jones, a junior defensive end, was injured during last year's second game against Southern Illinois. At the time, it was believed he had suffered a sprained knee, and he played most of the rest of the season wearing a brace.

Although Jones missed two games besides the SIU contest, he was third among Southeast defensive linemen with 45 tackles, including seven for loss and three quarterback sacks.

"The knee gave out on me from time to time, but I kept playing," Jones said.

But after the season, it was discovered Jones had torn his ACL, and he underwent surgery in February. While he said he is now 100 percent physically, he's still getting back to full strength mentally.

"That's the main thing, mental. I just have to get my confidence back," Jones said. "I feel like every day I'm getting it back more and more."

A former standout at North County High School in Bonne Terre, Mo., the 6-foot-4, 245-pound Jones broke into the starting lineup for the Indians as a true freshman two years ago and recorded 54 tackles.

Last year, he was a part of Southeast's breakthrough season as the Indians went 8-4 for their first winning record since 1994 and their most victories since 1969.

With 19 starters back, expectations are even higher this year. Jones believes the defense is ready to match Southeast's explosive offense as the Indians chase their first-ever Ohio Valley Conference title.

"We've turned it up and expectations are high," Jones said. "If we want to win the OVC, the defense has to be there."

Jones is one of two key defensive linemen coming off knee surgery. Junior end Cal Jillson, a part-time starter the last two years who is second on the current depth chart, had 20 tackles in 2002, six of them for loss.

"Both those guys are healthy now, and they'll be important players for us," Southeast coach Tim Billings said.Pleased with scrimmage

Billings came away pleased with the scrimmage that was attended by about 100 fans.

"Overall, it was a lot better than last week's scrimmage. We had a lot less mistakes," Billings said. "I thought we were sound on both sides of the ball. There's no question we've gotten better."

The Indians did quite a bit of situational work, and Southeast's defense continued to impress as the offense's only two touchdowns came when using a short field.

"The defense keeps getting better," Billings said.

Junior-college transfer tailback David Taufoou scored on a 13-yard run, and backup true freshman fullback Adam Casper from Anna-Jonesboro (Ill.) High School scored on an 8-yard run.

Starting tailback Corey Kinsey, who rushed for more than 1,000 yards last year, sat out the scrimmage with a minor ankle injury. That left more work for Taufoou, redshirt freshman Bobby Dorsainvil and true freshman Elton Peterson, who all had several good runs, including a 35-yarder by Dorsainvil and a 27-yarder by Taufoou.

"We've got a lot of good running backs," Taufoou said. "We all try to work hard and push each other."

No. 1 kicker Derek Kutz booted field goals of 42, 36 and 30 yards, while backup kicker Spasimir Bodurski connected from 41 and 36 yards, all coming during situational work.

True freshman punter David Simonhoff was impressive and boomed several punts of well over 50 yards.

"So far, I think we're right on schedule, and things have been going well, but we still have a lot of work to do," Billings said of the first two weeks of practice. "We've had a few minor things so far, but no major injuries, knock on wood."

mmishow@semissourian.com

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