Coach returns to help lead overhauled defensive unit

The Southeast Missouri State University football defense is facing major changes for the 2013 season with the loss of eight defensive starters, a new coach and a brand new defensive line.

Kenny Wilhite returns to coach the defensive backs, after a two year leave from Southeast. Wilhite coached the defensive backs at Southeast from 2006 until 2010. He helped lead the Redhawks to their first ever Ohio Valley Conference title and an NCAA championship subdivision playoff berth in 2010. Wilhite then took a job at Central Arkansas as the secondary coach for the past two seasons.

Wilhite played college football at the University of Nebraska and went on to play in the Canadian Football League. He began his coaching career at New Mexico State University under Southeast coach Tony Samuel and then was an assistant coach at multiple universities.

Brian Mohnsen, the defensive coordinator and linebacker coach, said that having a new defensive back coach hasn't hindered the team. The two men played together at Nebraska and Mohnsen said he knows how Wilhite coaches and runs things.

Though Wilhite is a new addition to the defensive backs, two out of three starters are back for the fall season. Last year, the team allowed 244.8 yards per game and had 13 interceptions.

Returning juniors Reggie Jennings and Tim Hamm-Bay were the two of the team's top eight tacklers last season. Hamm-Bay had 41 tackles while Jennings had 39 stops.

The cornerback position also will be rotated between Cantrall Andrews and David Cooley while Junior Ron Davis and senior Ben Kargbo likely will be the starting safeties. Kargbo participated in all 11 games last year and finished with 22 tackles and one fumble recovery, while Davis is a transfer from Cerritos College. Davis finished his junior year career at Cerritos with 25 tackles.

Sam Poole and Josh Freeman are other team members battling at safety, although Poole is expected to sit out for the next four weeks due to an injury. Both Poole and Freeman played in all 11 games last year and combined to make 25 tackles.

"Our defense right now, I really think that they have more speed than last year's defense," quarterback Blake Jackson said.

Along with Wilhite being a new addition to the defense, the defensive line is faced with a challenge this season after losing all four starters.

Jon Slania, returns to the defensive line with the most experience. He saw action every game and recorded 13 tackles last season.

Players spent time on the field for the season in fall. Photo by Alyssa Brewer

"I definitely want to make more plays but definitely want to do my job," Slania said. "I like what we're looking like this year."

Zach Clouse and Lucas Melo will join the football team this year. Clouse transferred from Grossmount College while Melo comes from LA Pierce College. Melo will challenge freshman Austin Black for the starter position for the tackle spot. Black redshirted last year after he suffered a Jones fracture and had to undergo surgery to put a screw in his knee. Black is now fully recovered and healthy.

"I feel really confident in the guys we have playing right now," Black said. "We have two guys who already have game experience and the younger guys are quick learners."

Travis Sanders and Lawrence Hills are the candidates for the right end spot. Both Sanders and Hills saw playing time last season, while the left-side candidates Selwyn Carrol and Dustin Hubler did not. Carrol said that after seeing how the team played in the public scrimmage, he feels confident in the defensive line. He did admit that he thinks that they still have some work to do before the first game against Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday.

"We are going to be young, fast and physical," Carrol said.

Mohnsen said he believes that having a new defensive line will be a positive thing since most of the players have been at Southeast for a year. He said the fact that they are young and athletic will play to their advantage for the upcoming season.

Samuel said that though the defense lost eight starters, including two-time OVC defensive player Blake Peiffer, the team can't dwell in the past. He said that the Redhawks will receive some new household names this year.

"As we go through camp, we've seen improvement every day," Mohnsen said. "From what we've seen, we're very excited."