Former K-State QB headlines JUCO class for Southeast

About three months ago it became clear to Southeast Missouri State coach Tom Matukewicz that Iowa Western Community College quarterback Tay Bender was within reach of the Redhawks, which was something he hadn't anticipated.

The redshirt sophomore was nearing the end of the season, during which he led his team to an 11-1 record with its only loss coming in the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championship game, when running backs coach Matt Martin traveled to visit him during the Redhawks' bye week in the last week of October.

"We knew about him in June. We didn't think we could touch him," Matukewicz said. "In our off week before we played Tennessee Tech, his offers weren't stuff I didn't feel like we could compete with, and that's when it really started, at that point."

Matukewicz flew to meet the 6-foot-4, 220-pound quarterback and his family following Southeast's season.

"At that point I knew we had a shot, and so you don't want to waste time," Matukewicz said. "But at that point I knew we had a shot in the game. We brought two in on that first week in December, him and another kid, and went on [trying to recruit] him."

Bender was a first-team All-Midwest Football Conference selection after the season. He completed 166 of 282 passes for 1,912 yards and 25 touchdowns and had 184 yards rushing and four touchdowns on 82 carries.

"He's very athletic, he's a 4.5 kid, 6-4, 208-210, so just physically he's a BCS type of kid. He's got a good arm," Matukewicz said. "It's just a deal where he's got to be able to transition to this school, get the trust of his teammates, learn the offense, stay healthy and compete."

Bender, a native of Lincoln, Nebraska, was a three-star recruit out of high school and rated the No. 1 high school player in Nebraska by Rivals.com.

He enrolled at Kansas State for the spring 2012 semeseter after graduating from Southwest High School early, and was a starter for the second-team offense during the spring game before later transferring to Iowa Western.

Bender will compete for the vacant quarterback spot left by Kyle Snyder, who exhausted his eligibility last season.

Snyder started all 12 games, completing 196 of 320 passes for 2,582 yards and 23 touchdowns and rushing for 798 yards and nine touchdowns on 180 carries. His 3,243 yards of total offense broke Southeast's all-time single-season record.

Matukewicz knew that he wanted to sign either a junior college or four-year transfer quarterback to challenge senior Alex Niznak, who transferred to Southeast prior to last season.

Niznak, a transfer from Central Michigan, backed up Snyder, playing in four games. He completed 5 of 12 passes for 32 yards and rushed for 33 yards and a touchdown on seven carries.

"We just wanted a little more competition there," Matukewicz said. "Alex Niznak will rep with the [first-team offense] and we feel good about him, but competition brings out the best in everyone, and I owe it to the fans and the community to bring as much talent as I can to that room, so we can get the best from everyone in the room."

Bender is one of six players who has enrolled early at Southeast and will participate in spring practices.

Defensive lineman Kendall Carr from Northwest Mississippi Community College, running back Tremaine McCullough from Arizona Western Community College, defensive backs Jamarl Holloway and Taron Divens from Pearl River Community College and running back Donterio Fowler, who graduated early from Lakewood High School, are currently enrolled at Southeast.

Defensive backs Brandon Mack, from Northwest Mississippi CC, and Omar Pierre-Louis from Independence Communiy College in Kansas, and linebacker Byron Wilson from Highland Community College in Kansas are other junior college signees for the Redhawks.

"We had to get guys to come in right now and to be able to have six go through spring ball is very important for that depth thing," Matukewicz said. "It takes a transfer a little bit, and so having them in spring is everything because you can kind of get that out and by the time they're actually playing for you they're ready."