Quarterback Nic Baker (8) ended his SIU career as the program leader in multiple passing categories. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
By Dan Verdun
After a year’s hiatus, Southern Illinois returned to the FCS playoffs for the third time in four seasons under head coach Nick Hill.
SIU started strong, winning its first four games including a victory at FBS Northern Illinois. The Salukis then hit a lull, dropping four of their next six games.
Those six games were all part of the Missouri Valley Football Conference schedule as was the the regular season finale against Indiana State. The Salukis hammered the Sycamores, 38-9. Thanks in large part to a Top 5-ranked strength of schedule, SIU received a postseason invitation.
SIU shut out visiting Nicholls, the Southland Conference champion, in the opening round. The victory was the first shutout in SIU playoff history.
Southern’s season ended the following Saturday, when the Salukis squandered opportunities in a 20-17 overtime loss at No. 4 seed Idaho.
Here’s our look back on Southern’s 2023 season:
Head coach: Nick Hill
Overall record: 8-5
MVFC record: 4-4
Biggest win: SIU got out fast and dominated Nicholls, 35-0, in the first-round playoff triumph. It marked the first postseason game at Saluki Stadium, which opened in 2010.
Most frustrating loss: As Hill said in the postseason, the Salukis’ 20-17 overtime loss at Idaho will sting for years to come. The Salukis held seven-point leads at halftime and early in the fourth quarter, only to see Idaho tie the game. SIU had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation time, but a partially blocked field goal attempt sent the game to overtime. It was just one of many wasted opportunities the Salukis had in the game.
All-MVFC:
First Team: P.J. Jules, S
Second Team: Branson Combs, LB
Honorable Mention: Kam Bowdry, DT; Mark Davis, Jr., CB; Vinson Davis III, WR; D.J. Johnson, CB
All-Newcomer Team: Colin Bohanek, LB; Devin Cowan, DE; Vinson Davis III, WR; Ubayd Steed, S; Tim Varga, DE
Record holder: Quarterback Nic Baker ended his SIU career as the all-time leader in passing yards (9,404), touchdown passes (67), completions (792) and attempts (1,208). He finished fourth among all-time SIU quarterbacks in completion percentage (65.6) and lowest interception percentage (2.4).
Breakout players:
Offense – Vinson Davis III, a transfer from Charleston Southern, ranked 10th in the MVFC in receptions (47) for 572 yards and two touchdowns. Davis had at least two catches in every game, including a nine-reception performance against Missouri State. He also returned 21 kickoffs for a 20.86 average.
Defense – Steed, a transfer from Towson, finished second on the team in tackles (67). The Philadelphia native grabbed two interceptions and registered four pass breakups. Steed recorded a season-high 15 tackles against nationally ranked South Dakota.
Player SIU will most miss: Jules, the do-it-all safety, finished sixth in the Buck Buchanan Award balloting for the top FCS defensive player. The preseason All-American lived up to the hype as the leader of the Salukis’ Top-10 ranked defense. Jules led the team with 109 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and 11 pass breakups.
2024 season opener: According to FBSchedules.com, SIU opens at FBS Brigham Young, a Big 12 Conference member, Aug. 31 in Provo, Utah.
Coming up tomorrow:
Barry Bottino examines 5 Burning Questions facing Southern Illinois football.
Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.
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