THE OFFENSE: MCDOWELL GETS NOD IN TIGHT QB RACE

A position-by-position look at Southeast Missouri State University's offense:

Quarterback

The Indians have two experienced quarterbacks in seniors Rashad West and Bobby Brune, who have basically split starting time over the past two years and put up some solid numbers.

But head coach Tim Billings will turn to Jeromy McDowell -- a redshirt freshman -- to run the offense as he recently named the former North County High School standout as his starter for Saturday's season opener at Eastern Michigan.

"I feel like Jeromy has earned the position and we have a lot of confidence in him," Billings said. "But I think we'd be in good shape with either of the three quarterbacks."

West, who has been hobbled somewhat by a a knee injury suffered in a June pickup basketball game, passed for 911 yards last season, when he was also Southeast's leading rusher with 313 yards.

Brune, a Cape Girardeau Central High School product who has started games since his freshman season, passed for 1,363 yards a year ago and he has thrown for 3,415 yards in his Southeast career.

Running Back

For a variety of reasons, the Indians had an abysmal ground game in 2000 as they gained just 985 yards as a team and averaged a paltry 2.8 yards per carry. The leading rusher among running backs was Marcus Patton with 264 yards -- and he has left the program.

But Billings is hopeful of better things from the backfield this year with the addition of senior Curtis Cooper, who has switched positions after being the squad's third-leading receiver last season. The elusive Cooper is also one of the OVC's top return men -- he earned second-team all-league honors in 2000 -- and will continue to perform in that capacity.

Two returning running backs are juniors Iven Brown and Mark Blissett (Sikeston), who rushed for 168 and 118 yards, respectively, a year ago. They have both had their moments at Southeast but have been slowed by injuries.

Billings is extremely high on true freshman Corey Kinsey, who gained more than 2,000 yards as a high school senior in Miami, Fla., last season, although it remains to be seen how much he'll contribute this year.

Wide Receiver

Even though Cooper moved to running back and last year's top two receivers -- Leslie Weaver and Corey Chester -- completed their eligibility, this could be the Indians' most talented position, thanks in large part to a pair of touted junior-college transfers: Willie Ponder and Adrian Sanders.

Ponder, who started as a freshman at Tulsa two years ago, and Sanders are both in the 6-3, 200-pound range -- which solid agility and speed -- which has Billings particularly excited because last year's primary receivers were more than a half-foot shorter.

Junior Tarik Simpson had a solid season last year after transferring from Marshall, catching 23 passes, while junior Jerl Huling and senior Andy Dunaway (Cape Central) both have starting experience. They caught 21 and eight passes, respectively, a year ago.

Also figuring in the mix as Southeast utilizes plenty of wide outs are sophomore Chris NesSmith and redshirt freshman Mark McCluney, along raw but talented true freshman Chris Brawley.

Tight End

Sophomore Charles McElroy returns as the starter after catching nine passes during his rookie season a year ago.

Also figuring to see plenty of action is true freshman Ray Goodson (Jackson) while redshirt freshman Nick Reid could figure into the mix here or at running back.

Offensive Line

Billings has made no bones about this unit being the squad's biggest question mark entering the season and also likely holding the biggest key to whether the Indians are able to show significant improvement this year.

This unit is slated to contain as many as three true freshmen starters, with several other rookies and sophomores also ticketed for action.

Anchoring the line will be sophomore left guard Eugene Amano, who broke into the lineup last year as a true freshman and became perhaps the Indians' top performer up front.

Likely freshmen starters are right guard Dan Bieg, right tackle Dan Connolly and center Brett Swann, who is battling junior West McKee at that position.

Sophomore Justen Meyer, who saw plenty of action a year ago, is the starter at left tackle.

Kicker

This position will also be a big key for the Indians as it will be manned by a pair of true freshmen from the local high school ranks.

Derek Kutz (Perryville-St. Vincent) and Brian Emmendorfer (Cape Central) are the only kickers on the squad and are waging a battle for the No. 1 spot.

Kutz and Emmendorfer both were among the state's best prep kickers a year ago, but they'll have to make the adjustment to the added pressure of the collegiate game.