Southeast Missouri State football team is ranked eighth in OVC preseason poll

Southeast Missouri State football coach Tony Samuel never has put much stock in preseason polls, making him similar to most others in the profession.

So Samuel hardly batted an eye Monday when the Redhawks were tabbed to finish toward the bottom of the Ohio Valley Conference and had no preseason all-conference selections during the league's annual media day in Nashville, Tenn.

The Redhawks, coming off consecutive seventh-place OVC finishes -- consisting of identical 3-8 overall records and 2-6 conference marks -- were picked eighth out of nine teams. Voting was done by the league's coaches and sports information directors.

Defending OVC champion Eastern Illinois is the preseason favorite. Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee State rounded out the top three.

"I've never really put a lot of stock into those kinds of things. It's always so hard to predict," said Samuel, who is entering his eighth season at Southeast to tie him with Tennessee-Martin's Jason Simpson as the OVC's longest-tenured active coach. "Our league is always so close and it seems like it gets closer every year.

Southeast Missouri State linebacker Andy McNeel runs down field after making an interception during a scrimmage Saturday, April 20, at Houck Stadium. (Adam Vogler)

"It's [the poll] not the predictor. Someone was saying the last 10 years they haven't picked the team [that won the title]."

As proof of what Samuel is talking about, look no further than last year. Eastern Illinois was picked to finish eighth, one spot removed from the basement -- yet the Panthers captured the championship.

Or look at Samuel's own Redhawks, 2010 style. They were picked to finish toward the bottom of the OVC, but instead won the program's first OVC title and gained the program's first playoff berth on any level.

"You never know how it's going to turn out," Samuel said.

Samuel believes the Redhawks have the talent to bounce back in 2013, but it's easy to see why they are so lightly regarded by those outside the program.

Southeast Missouri State quarterback Kyle Snyder drops back to pass during a scrimmage Saturday, April 20, at Houck Stadium. (Adam Vogler)

Southeast must replace 23 seniors, many of whom ranked among the team's top players. Seniors filled 13 of 22 starting positions in 2012, along with kicker Drew Geldbach and valuable long snapper Brandon Gabbard.

The Redhawks return six offensive starters and only three defensive starters, along with punter Joe Vucic.

"I really like this group. I think the team chemistry is good, the attitude is really good. They're holding each other accountable," said Samuel, whose roster features 43 freshmen, including redshirts from 2012. "We've had a great summer. ... it's all good. Now we have to see what all that means."

Southeast, despite losing so many key seniors from a year ago, does return 40 letterwinners.

"We have enough people coming back with a lot of experience," Samuel said. "We've got enough people who know what they have to do. That's not a concern."

Southeast Missouri State quarterback Kyle Snyder warms up before a scrimmage Saturday, April 20, at Houck Stadium. (Adam Vogler)

Southeast players report for fall camp Aug. 4, with the first practice scheduled for Aug. 5. The Redhawks open the season Aug. 29 at Southeastern Louisiana.

"It's right around the corner," Samuel said. "I'm looking forward to getting started."

EIU favored

Preseason OVC favorite Eastern Illinois received 12 of 18 first-place votes after being last year's surprise champion.

The Panthers, who return 16 starters, garnered 122 poll points.

Eastern Kentucky and Tennessee State nabbed the remaining six first-place votes. The Colonels received four first-place votes and 114 points, while Tennessee State had two first-place nods and 90 points.

Jacksonville State (87 points) and Tennessee-Martin (78) rounded out the top five, with Murray State (53) and Tennessee Tech (53) tying for sixth. Southeast (35) and Austin Peay (16) completed the poll.

Tennessee State led the way with seven picks on the 27-member preseason all-OVC team while Eastern Illinois had six and Eastern Kentucky four. Southeast was the lone conference school without a selection.

Returning players who were first-team All-OVC last season -- a total of 11 -- were automatic selections to the preseason team this year. The squad also included 10 players who were second-team selections in 2012.

Eastern Illinois senior wide receiver Erik Lora is the league's preseason offensive player of the year while Tennessee State junior cornerback Steven Godbolt III gained the honor on the defensive side.

Lora, the 2012 OVC offensive player of the year, set the NCAA FCS record for receptions in a season last year with 136. He racked up 1,664 receiving yards (fifth-most in FCS history) and caught 12 touchdown passes. 

Godbolt ranked first nationally in interceptions per game last season, picking off six passes in 10 contests to go along with 45 tackles, six pass breakups and two forced fumbles.