True freshman's motor keeps him in Redhawks' starting lineup

Like most true freshmen in their first season of college football, Justin Love didn't know what to expect.

Love acknowledged that he didn't anticipate stepping into the starting lineup.

But that's exactly what happened. Love will make his sixth consecutive start at defensive end Saturday when Southeast Missouri State hosts Austin Peay on homecoming.

"It was pretty surprising," Love said after Tuesday's practice.

Southeast coach Tony Samuel said Love opened plenty of eyes during fall camp.

Then the Monday before the season opener against Quincy, Samuel revealed at his weekly news conference that Love would be the only true freshman to start the first game.

"He's active, very active. He's fast and quick," Samuel said. "He was trained in high school in a lot of the same techniques we use, which helped him."

Love said he was surprised but excited when he found out he would be in the starting lineup for his first college game.

"I had a real good scrimmage [in fall camp] and after it was over, coach told me I was starting," Love said. "I was pretty excited."

While Love didn't know how much, if any, playing time he would receive this year, he was determined to work as hard as anybody on the team.

"It didn't matter if I started or was last string, I was just going to try to contribute," he said.

Although a bit undersized right now -- the 6-foot-4 Love is listed as weighing 205 pounds, although he said he's about 215 -- Love has done nothing to warrant being taken out of the lineup.

In fact, Love statistically has been among Southeast's top defensive players despite his inexperience.

Love leads the Redhawks in tackles for loss with four and his 16 total tackles are second on the team among defensive linemen, trailing only junior college transfer J.J. Sanchez with 17. Overall, Love ranks ninth on the squad in tackles.

"He shows up on a lot of plays," Samuel said. "He shows up on film with quarterback hurries and pressures, things like that.

"He's still young. His best football is still ahead of him. But he's got a lot of talent."

Love, a native of St. Joseph, Mo., said he generally has been satisfied with his play but knows he has much room for improvement.

Love considers his current strengths to be speed and quickness, while he said his primary weakness is a lack of size and strength that he figures will increase with time and maturity.

"I know I need to get bigger and stronger," he said.

Although Love is the only true freshman to start every game for the Redhawks this year, several others have been key contributors.

Evan Conrad, from Columbia, Mo., has started the past three games at right offensive tackle after Jackson product Matt James suffered an injury at Cincinnati.

Linebacker Blake Peiffer from Jackson has seen quality action off the bench in all five games and is seventh on the team with 20 tackles.

Free safety Tylor Brock, from Parkway North in St. Louis, also has played off the bench in all five games. He has seven tackles and recovered a blocked punt in the end zone for a touchdown on the first play of his college career against Quincy.

"We've got some freshmen doing good things," Samuel said.

The group is led by Love, who said the mark he already has made will motivate him even more to try to become a top-level collegiate player.

"My goal is to keep working as hard as I can. That's all I know," Love said. "My high school coach always told me work hard and good things will come."