The Texas two-step: The Redhawks' senior linemen hope to lead the team to a better season

Considering they have been good friends since middle school and played football side-by-side in high school, it's probably fitting that Austin Russell and John Ball remained together throughout their college years.

The seniors from Texas enter their fourth seasons at Southeast Missouri State as the most experienced members of the Redhawks' offensive line.

"We've known each other since middle school, and I guess we've been really good friends ever since then," said Ball, the Redhawks' center. "I'd consider us best friends."

Added Russell, one of Southeast's guards, "We played pretty good together in high school. We had the same opportunity [in college] and decided this was a good place."

Not only did Russell and Ball help anchor the line at Newman Smith High School in the Dallas suburb of Carrollton, they even took their recruiting visit to Southeast together.

The pair really didn't consider any of the many colleges and universities in their home state before deciding to make Missouri home, at least for the ensuing four years.

"It didn't really matter where we went, as long as we could play somewhere," Ball said.

Said Russell: "We came here to visit and really liked the people."

Russell, listed at 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds, has already been a three-year starter for the Redhawks. He broke into the lineup during his freshman campaign in 2002.

Ball, 6-foot-4 and 290, earned a letter as a freshman before starting the past two years.

"They're good guys and they've been through some changes, but they've adapted pretty quick," said Southeast first-year offensive line coach Brian Boerboom, who was hired in June. "They're two of the guys that have to play and they realize they have to be leaders."

As the only senior members of the Redhawks' offensive front, Russell and Ball say they have no problem serving as the unit's leaders -- even though neither is overly vocal by nature.

"We just do our jobs and try to lead by example," Ball said.

Added a smiling Russell: "We're usually too out of breath to yell anyway."

Russell and Ball both say they -- along with the rest of their teammates -- have taken well to Southeast's new coaching staff directed by head man Tony Samuel. All of Samuel's assistants also are in their first seasons with the program.

"I think everybody has adjusted really well to the new coaches," Ball said. "They've brought in a lot more discipline, and I think that's going to show up."

Even though Southeast's offensive line has officially been working under Boerboom since fall drills began Monday, the adjustment there has also gone smoothly, according to Russell and Ball. They say it's easy to look up to somebody who earned all-conference honors at the University of Nebraska, as Boerboom did.

"I think the line is coming together, and there's a lot of excitement with coach Boerboom," Russell said.

Said Ball: "When you played at Nebraska and made all-conference, you know what you're talking about."

Russell and Ball have been roommates since they were juniors. They do things together as much as they can off the field, but that's not just the pair. Their fellow linemates also are involved most of the time.

"Us linemen have to stick together," Ball said. "We have to do things with our boys."

The immediate plan for Russell and Ball is to help Southeast rebound from last year's 2-9 disappointment as they hope to finish their college careers with a strong season.

And after that, well, don't look for the dynamic duo to completely split up any time in the near future, even as they begin careers outside of football and perhaps start families.

"We're both majoring in business and we're either going to work here or go back to Texas and work," Russell said. "I'm pretty sure we'll stick together."