Young Redhawks defense will be tested

Southeast Missouri State's defense was especially hit hard by graduation as the unit returns just three starters from last year's squad that went 3-8 overall and a seventh-place 2-6 in the nine-team Ohio Valley Conference.

The Redhawks' top four tacklers a year ago, and five of their top six, were seniors. Seniors also accounted for all eight of Southeast's league low total of quarterback sacks.

Southeast's defense ranked fifth in the OVC in scoring defense last year at 33.3 points per game and fourth in total defense at 437.4 yards per contest.

A position-by-position look at Southeast's defense:

Defensive line

Tim Hamm-Bey intercepts a pass intended for Austin Peay’s Scott Thomas during a 17-13 victory over Austin Peay during 2011. (Kristin Eberts)

Seniors made every start at the four line positions last season.

Sophomore Jon Slania is projected to take over at nose tackle. He played in all 11 games last year as a true freshman and posted 13 tackles.

Redshirt freshman Austin Black is listed as the starter at the other tackle spot.

Junior college transfers Zach Clouse and Lucas Melo, along with several true freshman, are also in the mix at tackle.

Sophomore Travis Sanders and redshirt freshman Selwyn Carrol are projected to start at the ends, with sophomore Lawrence Hills, junior Trent Peterson, junior Dustin Hubler from Patton, Mo., and several true freshmen also battling for playing time.

Sanders and Hills saw significant action as true freshmen. Sanders played in all 11 games and recorded 11 tackles. Hills added three tackles in 10 contests.

Peterson had seven tackles, including two for loss, in 10 games. Hubler, who has not yet seen game action at Southeast, redshirted.

Linebacker

Southeast must replace All-American Blake Peiffer, the 2012 OVC defensive player of the year. He led Southeast with 117 tackles and eight tackles for loss.

Junior Daniel Siehndel is the Redhawks' lone returning regular among their front seven. The strong-side linebacker started all 11 games a year ago and is the team's top returning tackler with 51, which ranked fifth on the squad. He also had three tackles for loss and recovered a fumble.

Junior George Neuhaus will fill Peiffer's role in the middle. Neuhaus, who made one start last year and saw action in all 11 games, recorded 16 tackles and tied for second on the team with two interceptions while also recovering a fumble.

Junior Matt Starks, a converted safety who played in 10 games last year, is projected as the starter on the weak side.

Among others expected to see action at linebacker are sophomore Andy McNeel, junior Wisler Ymonice, redshirt freshman Roper Garrett and redshirt freshman Terrance Hill.

McNeel played in all 11 games last year and posted six tackles while Ymonice redshirted after being a key contributor the previous two seasons.

Secondary

Five players who made at least one start return in the secondary, led by junior cornerbacks Reggie Jennings and Tim Hamm-Bey.

Jennings, who started all 11 games, posted 39 tackles, including three tackles for loss. He tied for second on the team with two interceptions and tied for second with four pass breakups.

Hamm-Bey, who started seven contests, is Southeast's No. 2 returning tackler with 41. He led the Redhawks with five pass breakups.

Senior Cantrell Andrews, a Central High School product, made three starts at cornerback while playing in eight games during an injury-plagued season. He had 19 tackles and three pass breakups while tying for second on the team with two forced fumbles. He also recovered a fumble.

Sophomore David Coley saw action in all 11 games and made one start at cornerback as a true freshman. He had 17 tackles and two pass breakups while tying for the team lead with two fumble recoveries.

Senior Ben Kargbo is the starter at free safety after playing in all 11 games a year ago. He posted 22 tackles and recovered a fumble.

Sophomore Josh Freeman made one start at free safety as a redshirt freshman, when he recorded 18 tackles and an interception while playing in all 11 games.

Juco transfer Ron Davis is projected to take over at strong safety, with sophomore Sam Poole among others in the mix. Poole had seven tackles while seeing action in all 11 games as a redshirt freshman.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker

Several players are battling to take over for the graduated Drew Geldbach, led by senior Joe Vucic, redshirt freshman Ryan McCrum and true freshman Alex Knight.

Punter

Vucic, back for his fourth year as Southeast's punter, had another strong season in 2012, averaging 41.9 yards per attempt to rank third in the OVC and 20th nationally.

Returns

Junior Spencer Davis enters his third season as Southeast's primary return man.

Davis ranked fifth in the OVC in kickoff returns last year with a 20.8-yard average. He accounted for 33 of the Redhawks' 48 kickoff returns and all seven of their punt returns, averaging seven yards.

Davis needs 494 yards to break Southeast's career record for kickoff return yardage.