Southeast Missouri State football preview: Rebuilt line a key to offensive success

All-American, record-setting running back Henry Harris and four starters from a dominant offensive line, including two All-Americans, are gone.

Those are just some of the offensive graduation losses from Southeast Missouri State's record-setting 2010 season.

But that side of the ball, which ranked third nationally in rushing with 265.1 yards per game, returns all-Ohio Valley Conference senior quarterback Matt Scheible along with some other key pieces.

First-year offensive coordinator Tim McGuire, previously Southeast's defensive coordinator, believes his unit once again can be formidable and plenty tough for the opposition to contain.

"Matt has all those leadership qualities. He's basically another coach out there, which makes it nice," McGuire said. "We lost some people, but I think the offense can continue to be productive."

Southeast returns three offensive starters from a unit that averaged 26.9 points and 368.9 yards per game, ranking fourth in the OVC in both categories.

A position-by-position look at Southeast's offense:

Quarterback

This position should be in good hands with the experienced and durable Scheible, who has made 24 consecutive starts under center.

Scheible became the first Southeast quarterback to make the all-OVC first-team last year. He passed for 1,246 yards and eight touchdowns against just three interceptions while finishing second on the Redhawks and third in the OVC in rushing with 887 yards and seven touchdowns.

No other quarterback on the roster has taken a snap in a college game.

True freshman Trey Lewis, from Sikeston, Mo., is listed No. 2 on the depth chart, ahead of redshirt freshman Tyler Peoples, last year's backup although he never got in a game.

Another returning quarterback is sophomore Zach Levy.

Running back

Southeast not only must replace Harris, who set school records and led the OVC with 1,735 yards rushing and 19 touchdowns, but also solid backs Mike Jones and Nathan Grass.

Returning running backs accounted for only 18 of the 3,181 yards rushing gained by the 2010 Redhawks.

Junior Renard Celestin is the most experienced among several returning tailbacks. He had 15 yards on four carries last year after recording 84 yards on 10 carries with a touchdown in 2009.

Junior transfer Levi Terrell, listed No. 1 on the depth chart, led Division II Nebraska-Omaha in rushing the past two seasons before the school dropped its program. Terrell is eligible to play immediately at Southeast since UNO no longer fields a team.

Redshirt freshman Lennies McFerren also figures to see extensive playing time, while sophomore Bryant Worts, who saw limited action at linebacker last season, is another returning back.

Two true freshmen, Lewis Washington from Texas and AJ Cobb from Oklahoma, also will battle for carries, although Washington has missed virtually all of preseason practice with an injury.

Redshirt freshman Ron Coleman is No. 1 at fullback, just ahead of sophomore Josh Nicks. Freshman Brandon Beck from Jackson High School also is battling for playing time.

Nicks accounted for Southeast's other 2010 yards by a returning running back, gaining 3 yards on three carries.

Wide receiver

Southeast's top receiver returns in senior Chantae Ahamefule. He led the Redhawks with 26 receptions for 357 yards, a 13.7-yard average, while scoring one touchdown.

Sophomore D.J. Foster came on strong down the stretch last year, catching three passes for 30 yards and a touchdown.

Senior Aaron King caught three passes for 41 yards, and sophomore Matt Bell added a reception.

Redshirt freshman Spencer Davis is expected to be a factor after missing last season with a knee injury.

Among others battling for playing time are senior Josh Coleman and junior Ola Alli.

Tight end

Sophomore Art Mueller is the most experienced returning tight end after making two starts last year before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He caught one pass for 18 yards.

Junior college transfer Tyler French is No. 1 on the depth chart, while fellow juco transfer Marq Goodlitt, sophomore Wyky Jean and redshirt freshman Mike Cyliax also are in the mix.

Line

This unit, which lost three first-team all-OVC selections, returns just one starter, but junior tackle Evan Conrad is a good one. He earned first-team all-conference as a sophomore and has appeared on several preseason All-American lists.

Senior guard Chris Duggins saw action in 11 games last year, but he suffered an injury during preseason practice and his status for the year is not known.

Junior Colt McCauley and juco transfer Pete Niggemann are No. 1 on the depth chart at the guard positions.

Sophomore tackle Dominic Maldonado, who missed last season with an injury but made four starts in 2009, opens No. 1 at the other tackle spot.

Junior Matt Shannon, who missed the last two seasons due to injury but made two starts in 2008 before going down, is No. 1 at center.

Also in the mix on the line are sophomore Chris Watson, who played in nine games last year; senior Armin Blagajcevic; juco transfers Ben Fulghum, Spencer Hilley and Josh Jourdan; redshirt freshmen William Jelks and Ben Schmidt; and true freshman Corey Porter from Sikeston, Mo.