Southeast has high hopes for newest class

Losing 23 seniors from last season means Southeast Missouri State football coach Tony Samuel has to somewhat replenish his roster for the 2013 campaign.

Samuel took a major step toward that on Wednesday's opening of the NCAA signing period.

Samuel announced the signing of 25 players to letters of intent, including five junior college transfers who are already enrolled at Southeast for the second semester and will participate in spring practice.

The 25 signees represent Southeast's third-largest recruiting class under Samuel, who will be entering his eighth season. And that number should grow because Samuel said he will look to add a few more players prior to the campaign.

"I think we signed a good crop. We have a good combination of speed, youth and athleticism," said Samuel, whose 2007 and 2009 recruting classes each consisted of 28 members. "I feel real fortunate. When you take a look at these kids. ... Some of them will develop into top-flight athletes."

The signees feature players from 12 states, Illinois producing the most with six, including three from the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area.

Four of the mid-year transfers played at California junior colleges.

"Nice variety, people from a lot of different areas," Samuel said.

Graduation hit Southeast's lines hard as all four starting defensive linemen were seniors and three of the starting offensive linemen were seniors.

Southeast signed seven defensive linemen and six offensive linemen. Three of those 13 are mid-year transfers.

"I thought it was very important to get offensive and defensive linemen. We'll still probably take a look at a couple of more," Samuel said. "We got some nice wide bodies with really good feet. ... good physical, athletic big men."

Southeast signed four linebackers and four defensive backs after graduation also hit those units hard. Two of the defensive backs are mid-year transfers.

The mid-year transfers are defensive tackles Zach Clouse and Lucas Melo; offensive lineman Kyle Finney; safety Ron Davis; and cornerback Kelvin Wilkins.

Clouse recorded 26 tackles and five sacks last year at Grossmont (Calif.) College.

Melo was first-team all-American Pacific Conference at Pierce (Calif.) College in 2011, when he had 47 tackles, 9.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss. He left Pierce and went to South Alabama, where he participated in 2012 preseason camp but did not play that season.

Finney earned second-team all-Southern California Football Association honors at Orange Coast College last season.

Davis earned all-South Coast Conference honors at Cerritos (Calif.) College in 2012, when he had 25 tackles and two passes broken up.

Wilkins recorded 59 tackles and two interceptions a year ago at North Dakota State College of Science.

Samuel said the plan is always for the mid-year transfers to make immediate impacts.

"They get spring ball, they get summer, they get fall camp," Samuel said. "It's very important you get major contributions."

Rounding out Southeast's signees are two running backs, a fullback and a tight end.

Both running backs, from the St. Louis area, had prolific high school careers.

Michael Ford rushed for 1,614 yards and 24 touchdowns as a senior at Marquette Catholic High School in Alton, Ill.

Brendan Stewart rushed for 4,425 yards and 72 touchdowns while averaging 10.1 yards per carry during his career at Carlinville (Ill.) High School. As a senior he ran for 2,049 yards and 34 touchdowns, averaging 12.5 yards per carry.

"We've got speed out of Ford and Stewart can do either one [power and speed]," Samuel said. "They can catch the ball. Those are some good numbers."

Southeast failed to sign a quarterback but that wasn't an area of immediate need.

The Redhawks have several quarterbacks on the roster, including reigning Ohio Valley Conference freshman of the year Scott Lathrop and Kyle Snyder, the Ohio transfer who missed all of 2012 with a knee injury.

"We would have liked to have gotten one but we're in a really good situation," Samuel said.

Several freshmen always wind up contributing while others redshirt but Samuel said it's way too early to predict which players fall into which category.

"We'll see. It's hard to tell. There's always going to be surprises in fall camp," Samuel said.

Southeast open spring drills March 26.