Southeast gains three transfers, 13 senior recruits

Coming off the program's best season since 1969, Southeast Missouri State University football coach Tim Billings says the Indians reaped the rewards of that success Wednesday when the signing period began.

Billings announced the signing of 16 players to national letters of intent, including a transfer quarterback from Arizona State already enrolled at Southeast, a transfer wide receiver from Texas Christian, a junior-college transfer and 13 high school seniors. Southeast expects to sign a few more players in the coming weeks.

"I'm excited with this group," Billings said. "I feel like this is our best recruiting class yet. Of course, everybody says that every year, but I really feel like this will be a very good group.

"We really did a good job of getting what we needed, and the good thing is, we're not in dire need of anything, we just need to supplement what we have."

In Billings' first two seasons at Southeast, plenty of true freshmen were forced into action but the majority of last year's true freshmen were redshirted, and Billings envisions the same for the bulk of this year's group.

Billings will expect more of an immediate impact from the three transfers, and there could be a few more of those added in the next few weeks.

Andrew Goodenough, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound quarterback, was a first-team All-American at Palomar (Calif.) Junior College before signing with Arizona State, where he redshirted last year, meaning he'll have two seasons of eligibility remaining. He will participate in spring practice with the Indians.

"We feel real good about him, and it showed last year that you can't have too many good quarterbacks," Billings said.

Last year, starter Jeromy McDowell was hurt early, but junior-college transfer Jack Tomco stepped in and had a record-setting season.

Anthony Gilliam (6-0, 185), a wide receiver who signed with Texas Christian out of high school and is now attending a junior college in Tulsa, could help offset the loss of record-setting receiver out Willie Ponder.

The same for defensive lineman Arthur Johnson (6-5, 285) from Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College who originally signed with Southeast out of high school.

"We're real excited about getting him," Billings said. "After his first year at Trinity Valley, he was getting looked at hard by some major schools, but he got hurt and didn't play much this year."

Among the high school seniors signed Wednesday are Jackson defensive lineman Matt McComas and Anna-Jonesboro (Ill.) fullback Adam Casper.

Billings said McComas (6-5, 250) will almost certainly redshirt, but the coach likes his potential.

"We think he'll be big and strong," Billings said. "He reminds me a lot of Caleb Daniel out of high school, but of course Caleb had to play right away."

Daniel, also from Jackson, has been a key defensive lineman for Southeast the last two seasons.

Casper (6-2, 240), who rushed for 1,414 yards last season and more than 4,000 yards in his career, could be a candidate for early playing time as the Indians incorporate more two-back sets into their offense.

"We really like him. He's a big, strong, physical guy who could play early," Billings said.

Also among the high school seniors signed Wednesday are wide receiver Scott NesSmith from Alabama, the brother of Southeast starting receiver Chris NesSmith; and identical twin offensive linemen Micah and Seth Brimer from Booneville, Mo.

The Indians went 8-4 in 2002, marking the program's first winning mark since 1994.

Southeast is scheduled to begin spring practice March 6.

mmishow@semissourian.com

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