Southeast players plan to impress at pro day

Virtually every college football program across the country -- big or small -- conducts pro day workouts where NFL coaches and scouts can get an up-close look at potential prospects, not just for this year but for the future.

Southeast Missouri State will hold its annual pro day today. While the Redhawks don't have any likely draft picks, they do have at least a couple of players who could get a look from the NFL after completing their collegiate eligibility last season.

Leading the way is long snapper Brandon Gabbard, who has received interest from various NFL teams and could wind up in a training camp this summer.

Among others hoping to earn a training-camp invitation is linebacker Blake Peiffer, the former Jackson High School standout.

Several former Southeast players who went undrafted in recent years wound up making NFL rosters as free agents and maybe that will again be the case for one or two of the Redhawks.

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It's looking more and more like Southeast's Sept. 21 football game against SIU Carbondale, originally scheduled to be played at Houck Stadium, will instead be moved to Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

SIU director of athletics Mario Moccia, in response to a question during the university's recent installment of its monthly online feature called "Ask the AD," had the following answer:

"Both institutions are currently negotiating with the St. Louis Cardinals to host our Sept. 21 game in Busch Stadium. While several issues still need to be resolved, both Universities believe this is a very unique opportunity to showcase their school and football program, and we should have a final decision of playing the game in Busch Stadium or at Cape Girardeau very soon."

And since that came out, I've been told by several sources that an agreement has been reached to play the contest at Busch. An official announcement should be coming soon.

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I wrote recently that Southeast men's basketball coach Dickey Nutt deserved the contract extension he received because he has done an admirable job elevating the Redhawks after he took over a floundering program four years ago.

My thoughts are similar about the contract extension that Southeast women's basketball coach Ty Margenthaler got last week.

Margenthaler, although just two years into his rebuilding project, also has done a nice job in boosting the Redhawks after he took over a struggling program.

Margenthaler, like Nutt, is highly personable and media friendly. Both have been pleasures for me to work with since they've been at Southeast.

Nutt and Margenthaler both had their contracts extended by a year, taking Nutt through the 2014-15 season and Margenthaler through the 2015-16 campaign.

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Former Southeast basketball player Telvin Wilkerson, who left the program following the 2011-12 season after receiving limited playing time, spent this year as a reserve sophomore guard for the Northwest Florida State team that finished second in the recent national junior college tournament.

Wilkerson averaged 4.9 points per game and shot 36.3 percent from 3-point range. He scored six points during a 74-69 loss to the College of Central Florida in the national title game.

No word on what type of schools are recruiting Wilkerson.

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Area track and field enthusiasts will have a chance to watch their sport this weekend when Southeast hosts the 32nd annual Joey Haines Invitational.

Although the meet begins Friday with the hammer throw, virtually all the competition will be held Saturday.

I've covered many of the meets over the years and they always bring plenty of great competition.

Let's hope the weather cooperates.

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Jackson High School graduate Jill Rushin's outdoor track and field season is off to a rousing start.

Rushin, a sophomore thrower at Missouri, fired an outdoor career-best 53 1/2 inches in the shot put Saturday at the Razorback Spring Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark.

It was Rushin's first shot put competition of the outdoor campaign and the mark places her among the top 10 nationally.

Rushin, a 2010 Jackson graduate, qualified for the 2012 NCAA Outdoor Championships as a redshirt freshman. She narrowly missed qualifying for indoor nationals this year.

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As the St. Louis Cardinals prepare to open the 2013 season tonight in Arizona, former Southeast baseball standout Justin Christian won't be with them.

Christian's bid to make the Cardinals' opening-day roster fell short when he was recently assigned to their minor-league camp.

But with the Cardinals' injury situation -- both currently and what might happen in the future -- there still could be an opportunity for the outfielder at the major-league level this year.

Christian, who turns 33 this week, played in the majors with the San Francisco Giants parts of the past two seasons, although he was not part of their 2012 playoff roster when they won the World Series. He also appeared in the majors with the New York Yankees in 2008.

Christian has put up impressive numbers in the minor leagues but has never received a consistent opportunity in the big leagues.

The speedy native of the San Francisco Bay area has batted .310 during seven seasons on the Class AAA level. His Class AAA totals include a .370 on-base percentage, 86 doubles, 16 triples, 27 home runs and 115 stolen bases in 132 attempts.

Christian played only one season at Southeast after transferring from Auburn in 2003. He batted .376 with 13 home runs, 12 doubles, 48 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 20 attempts while playing second base. He was the Ohio Valley Conference rookie of the year and was selected to a pair of All-American teams.

Christian, who was not drafted, began his pro career in the independent Frontier League before hooking up with an affiliated organization.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian