When members of the Southeast Missouri State football team split off into position drills prior to the start of their first scrimmage of spring on Friday afternoon, Tremane McCullough didn't make his way over to the small group of running backs that were working alongside the quarterbacks.
Instead, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound McCullough, who was a first-team All-Ohio Valley Conference running back after his first season as a Redhawk last fall, joined up with the wide receivers contingent.
Once the Redhawks began their scrimmage at the Rosengarten Athletic Complex, one of the first major plays was McCullough making a catch in the end zone on a deep ball from quarterback Dante Vandeven.
The versatile McCullough will be a mainstay in Southeast's retooled offense, as the Redhawks try to make up for departed star receiver Paul McRoberts and recently-dismissed running back DeMichael Jackson.
"He's going to have the ball in his hands. I don't have a crystal ball, but I can promise you he will have a ball in his hands a lot," Southeast coach Tom Matukewicz said of McCullough. "A lot will just depend on other players -- who develops into playmakers. ... That's his deal -- when he has the ball, he's able to create plays. That may be running back, that may be receiver, so we're cross-training him right now."
McCullough, who's also working as a punt returner this spring, had a breakout season last year, rushing for 1,028 yards and five touchdowns as a junior transfer after filling in for Jackson after he suffered a season-ending ACL injury.
"I feel like they're depending on me a lot, which is a great honor to have, but I just feel like I've got a lot more to work on with punt return, with wide receiver," McCullough said. "I've got to get in the weight room. I've got to do off-the-field things -- I've just got to grind a lot more because they're going to be depending on me, so I've got to really make it happen this year."
Junior running back Will Young also made his presence known against the Redhawks' defense. The 5-11, 195-pound junior, who played in five games and rushed for 20 yards and a touchdown on five carries in his first season at Southeast, was able to break off some big runs on Friday.
"Well, one thing, I think our defense is pretty good, and we were able to run the ball," Matukewicz said. "We had some missed assignments on the second team, but I really was proud of Will Young. He had some good holes up in there that he ran through."
Junior Brendan Stewart, who ran for 83 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries as a sophomore, was held out of the scrimmage due to a hamstring injury, but he will also be an option at running back along with sophomores Cam Sanders and Tyler Fallert.
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Sanders, who was converted to running back from safety, showed his running ability last season when he scored on a 99-yard kickoff return against OVC champion and Football Championship Subdivision runner-up Jacksonville State.
Sanders fumbled twice during the scrimmage, with one being recovered by cornerback Jamarl Holloway.
"This is without really watching film, but Will Young obviously stood out today," offensive coordinator Jon Wiemers said. "I think he's got a chance to be a really good running back for us. He's worked for everything he's had and really proud of his effort today. Between him and Cam Sanders -- obviously if he doesn't hold on to the ball then he's going to have a hard time playing. He's got some speed, he's got talent, but right now potential doesn't mean anything if you don't hold on to the ball, and that's a staple of our program."
Vandeven was also picked off during the scrimmage. Sophomore defensive back Rudie Frye intercepted the pass and ran it back for a touchdown.
Wiemers, who was promoted from offensive line coach in January, stressed the need to improve the passing game, something that Matukewicz focused on since evaluating his second season shortly after it ended.
"We're not good enough throwing the ball right now," Wiemers said. "Alignment and assignment will get you beat before anything, and that's really what we're trying to fix. That was our biggest downfall today."
Wiemers, who replaced Sherard Poteete, said the offense will be a "bit of a hybrid" with option concepts. He called it a "multiple style of spread."
"We've been focusing on the process over the last couple weeks because we've carried over some stuff from last year, but a lot of it's new, so there's been a real emphasis on execution," Wiemers said. "We were really hit or miss today. I think we've got some big-play potential. Obviously I think Tremane had a really good day, and I'm really proud of the way our guys are playing up front. I think that from our offensive and defensive side, between our O-line and our front seven on defense, those guys are fun to watch right now and there's a lot of good physical play in the run game."
What most impressed Matukewicz on Friday was kicker Ryan McCrum connecting on all four of his field goal attempts. As a junior, McCrum made 9 of 16 field goals and all 29 of his PATs. He was a first-team all-conference and third-team Sports Network All-American two years ago, finishing 18 of 23, including four 50 yards or longer and a career-long 55-yarder. He also made the first 42 PAT attempts of his sophomore season before missing his final one.
"I'll tell you what, the best thing about it was 4 for 4," Matukewicz said. "... They weren't just gimmes either, so very proud of him. He had a rough day on Wednesday with field goals and really challenged him. And that's what it is, you're going to have bad days, but he came out here and hit them. When you look at it we lost three [close] football games last year and we missed a field goal in every one of those three -- UT Martin, Eastern Illinois and Indiana State. ... We've got to take that off the film, and if it's up to Ryan, he's going to get it done."
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