Southeast Missouri State football team returns experience at linebacker

The Southeast Missouri State football team lost talent at most positions from last season, linebacker included.

But the way the Redhawks rotated their linebackers a year ago makes that group among their most experienced and well-stocked units for 2011.

"We have a bunch of returning starters," junior Blake Peiffer said. "Most of the guys have some experience."

Gone from last year's linebacker corps are Joshua Jackson and Justin Woodlief, Southeast's top two tacklers as seniors with 85 and 77 stops, respectively.

"They were really good players, but we were deep [at linebacker] last year," junior Darrick Borum said.

Southeast Missouri State linebackers Darrick Borum, left, and Philip Klaproth converge to sack Eastern Illinois quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo last season in Charleston, Ill. (Southeast Missourian file)

Linebackers represent three of Southeast's top five returning tacklers in Peiffer, Borum and senior Philip Klaproth. Those three players, who entered preseason camp first on the depth chart, combined to start 20 games a year ago.

Peiffer is the Redhawks' top returning tackler. He ranked fifth on the 2010 squad with 59 stops while making six starts.

Borum, who started 11 of 12 games a year ago, was seventh on the team with 48 tackles. He led the Redhawks and tied for fifth in the OVC with four sacks while ranking second on the squad in tackles for loss with 7 1/2. He also tied for first in the OVC with three fumble recoveries and had two interceptions.

Klaproth, who started three times last year, recorded 38 tackles, including 2 1/2 for loss and a sack.

"We've all played together for a couple of years and I think we work well together," Klaproth said.

The trio has not only performed well on the field but also is responsible for helping put fans in the stands at Houck Stadium since all three grew up not far from Cape Girardeau.

Peiffer is from Jackson, Klaproth from Poplar Bluff, Mo., and Borum from Marion, Ill.

"We all have quite a few families and friends who come to the games," Borum said.

Peiffer saw considerable action off the bench as a true freshman in 2009. He made 32 tackles, which set the middle linebacker up for a bigger role last season.

"I feel like I made a lot of improvement, but I still have a lot of improvement to make," Peiffer said.

Peiffer said the linebackers have been solid during the early practices.

"I think we're looking good in my opinion," Peiffer said. "We have what looks to be a lot of good newcomers looking to contribute. The experienced guys can help the younger guys. I think it's my job to help lead since I've been here a while now."

Peiffer is the son of former Southeast center Dan Peiffer, who played in the NFL and is a member of the school's athletic hall of fame. The younger Peiffer said playing his home games so close to where he grew up has been enjoyable.

"I get a lot of fan support at the games. That helps out a lot," Peiffer said.

Borum, a former walk-on, burst on the scene last year after a 2009 redshirt freshman season that was limited to just three games due to injury. He was among the Redhawks' top defensive playmakers in 2010.

"I just try to be around the ball and make as many plays as I can," he said.

Borum acknowledges that some people expect the 2011 Redhawks to take a step back after losing so much talent -- 14 starters, including several All-Americans -- from last year's record-setting team that won the program's first Ohio Valley Conference title and earned the program's first playoff berth on any level.

But Borum thinks the Redhawks can have another big season.

"I'm confident in what we have and what we can do," Borum said.

Klaproth, although he made just three starts last season, is the Redhawks' most experienced linebacker with 22 career starts. He has been a fixture at the position since coming to Southeast.

Klaproth made the OVC's all-newcomer team as a true freshman in 2008. He made 10 starts that year, leading all freshmen in the conference and ranking third on the squad with 76 tackles while intercepting two passes.

"I really didn't expect it [the early playing time]," said Klaproth, whose first collegiate start came in the second game of 2008, at then-sixth-ranked Missouri.

Klaproth, who started nine games in 2009 -- he tied for third on the club with 66 tackles and had an interception -- said it's almost hard to believe he's preparing for his final collegiate season.

"It has gone by faster than I thought it would. It has flown by," he said.

Being at Southeast is something of a family tradition for Klaproth. Both his parents attended the university, along with two of his grandparents.

"It's been great," Klaproth said. "I have family in Cape, and being from Poplar Bluff, I usually have a lot of people at the games."

Klaproth also believes there is no reason the Redhawks can't have another impressive season despite losing so many key players.

"We have enough people returning and we'll have some guys step up," he said.

In addition to the three projected starters, sophomore Wisler Ymonice adds more linebacking experience. He saw considerable action off the bench as a true freshman last year, recording 15 tackles.

"He's a good linebacker, and we've got some new guys looking good," Borum said.

Noteworthy

* Southeast will have its fourth practice of preseason camp today, which also will mark the Redhawks' first full-pad workout.

The first of four two-a-day sessions is set for Wednesday and the first of two scrimmages will be at 9 a.m. Saturday.