Tight end Karsen Konkel of Pickneyville High School had several FBS offers but instead chose to stay in his home region. (Twitter photo)
By Dan Verdun
Football teams and coaches often talk about being family and having close-knit ties.
That certainly held true when Southern Illinois landed highly coveted tight end Karsen Konkel of nearby Pinckneyville.
“I’ve known who Karsen is since he was probably in junior high,” SIU head coach Nick Hill said during Wednesday’s National Signing Day.
Du Quoin, Hill’s hometown, and Pinckeyville are just 10 miles apart.
In addition, Hill’s sister is married to Pinckeyville High School’s principal, who was also Konkel’s junior high basketball coach.
“I’ve known his family for a long time,” Hill said.
Over those years, Konkel grew into a 6-foot-6, 225-pound athlete who had offers from numerous FBS programs including Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan State.
After originally committing to the Illini, Konkel announced that his recruitment was again open via a Dec. 12 social media post.
On Wednesday, Konkel signed with the Salukis. Hill said that the prep star ultimately relied on knowns to make his decision.
“Going through the recruiting cycle (and) having some SEC offers, Big Ten offers, it started to be (a question of where) do I (Konkel) think that I know what I’m getting with the coaching staff as people,” Hill said. “I feel like he and his family were comfortable with who we are, what we’re about and (he) knows this is going to be a good home.”
Like Konkel, Hill had offers to play elsewhere out of high school. In fact, Hill began his collegiate career as a basketball player at Western Kentucky before transferring to SIU and becoming a record-setting quarterback who led the Salukis to the playoffs.
“I told him from (my) experience, there’s nothing like playing close to home,” Hill said.
“Edgy” Tim O’Halloran has covered the state recruiting scene since the 1990s. O’Halloran shared his take on Konkel.
“He has a lot of development and growth to do, but the frame and the size and the wingspan are all legit,” O’Halloran said. “You cannot pass up that kid’s raw potential. It’s a real good get.”
QB additions
A new era of SIU football will dawn next fall with someone other than record-setting Nic Baker at quarterback.
Marion native Hunter Simmons returns with limited playing experience gained this season as Baker’s backup.
The Salukis signed three quarterbacks: freshmen Jack Curry (Edwardsville) and E.T. Harris (Louisville, Ky.) along with Murray State transfer D.J. Williams.
The versatile Williams is a dual-threat quarterback with two years of eligibility remaining.
“This day in age you’ve got to be able to move,” Hill said. “When you’re talking about keys to your offense, that’s one of them. Your quarterback has got to be able to make off-schedule plays. He’s got to be able to do all the things well.
“And I feel like D.J. can do that.”
Williams, who prepped at Thornton Township High School, was the 2021 Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year after passing for 1,020 yards and rushing for 532 yards with 10 total touchdowns.
Williams injured his knee in the 2022 opener versus Texas Tech and missed the remainder of the season.
He returned to starting role for the Racers this season. Williams passed for 1,529 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Hill, however, said the competition to become Baker’s successor is open.
“If there’s anybody on our team that is scared of competition, then they’re probably in the wrong program,” Hill said. “(As coaches, we) clearly communicate that. Our roster knows that.
“Each team is different. You’ve got to go back out there and earn it.”
More Edgy thoughts
O’Halloran also shared an interesting take on another pair of Illinois prep recruits headed to Carbondale.
“I would like to be there the first day of practice and see a cage match between Aiden Moriarty (Oswego East) and Ben Fiegel (Batavia) because those are two bad hombres right there,” he said. “Both are physical.”
O’Halloran said Moriarty is more of a “hand-on-ground” tight end.
“He’s not a put-him-out-wide. He’s a tight end who knocks a defensive end on his rear,” he said.
O’Halloran compared Fiegel to a former Illinois prep linebacker who is presently on the SIU roster.
“To me, Fiegel is Colin Bohanek, Part II,” O’Halloran said. “Great motor. Both of those kids love football, love football. I don’t say that about everybody.
“Fiegel comes from Batavia where he had a lot of success at inside linebacker. He shuts down the run, and he’s good enough to drop back in coverage. He’s an inside guy so he’s not going to be a world beater in speed, but I’m telling you both times I saw him live this season, I loved his game.”
Biggest needs filled on offense: SIU signed three quarterbacks, including Williams, three receivers and four offensive linemen.
Biggest need filled on defense: The Salukis brought in three linebackers.
Where they come from, by level: 14 high school, 3 from FCS (Missouri Valley, Murray State-2; Big South-OVC, Tennessee Tech-1); 2 from D-II (Charleston, William Jewell); 1 from D-III (John Carroll).
Where they come from, by state: Illinois, 7; Kentucky, 5; Florida, 2; Ohio, 2; Georgia, 1; Indiana, 1; Iowa, 1; Michigan, 1; Missouri, 1; Mississippi, 1.
Player closest to campus: WR P.J. Winters, Du Quoin HS (20 miles)
Player farthest from campus: K/P Paul Geelen, Utrecht, Netherlands (approximately 4,390 miles)
Tallest players: OT Parker Getter, TE Karsen Konkel, DE Tyrese Reid, 6-6
Shortest player: WR P.J. Winters, 5-9
Heaviest player: OL Jak Lindsey, 300
Lightest player: WR P.J. Winters, 158
SIU Early Signing Day List
(Name, Position(s), Height, Weight, School, Hometown)
Quentin Boke, OL, 6-5, 275, F.J. Reitz HS, Evansville, Ind.
Bradley Clark, WR, 6-0, 208, Tennessee Tech, Lakeland, Fla.
Jake Curry, QB, 5-11, 185, Edwardsville HS, Edwardsville, Ill.
Cameron Dye, OL, 6-3, 290, Georgia State University, Alpharetta, Ga.
Ben Fiegel, LB, 6-3, 225, Batavia HS, Bataiva, Ill.
Paul Geelen, K/P, 6-5, 185, William Jewell College, Utrecht, Netherlands
OL Parker Getter, 6-6, 290, Glenwood Community HS, Glenwood, Iowa
E.T. Harris, QB, 6-2, 160, Kentucky Country Day HS, Louisville, Ky.
Karsen Konkel, TE, 6-6, 225, Pinckneyville HS, Pinckneyville, Ill.
Jak Lindsey, OL, 6-5, 300, Owensboro HS, Beaver Dam, Ky.
Tae Marrero, WR, 5-11, 185, University of Charleston, Louisville, Ky.
Lukus McDaniels, DE, 6-5, 240, Jeffersontown HS, Louisville, Ky.
Denym Mitchell, CB, 6-0, 185, Madison Central HS, Jackson, Miss.
Aiden Moriarty, TE, 6-4, 240, Oswego East HS, Plainfield, Ill.
Jerrian Parker, RB, 5-10, 190, Jones HS, Orlando, Fla.
Jahiem Peake, LB, 6-1, 220, John Carroll University, Akron, Ohio
Tyrese Reid, DE, 6-6, 240, Webster Groves HS, St. Louis
Eddie Robinson, RB, 5-11, 188, Maple Heights HS, Cleveland, Ohio
Nate Tronzo, DE, 6-3, 235, Trinity HS, Louisville, Ky.
Shug Walker, LB, 6-1, 225, Murray State University, Bethalto, Ill.
D.J. Williams, QB, 6-2, 218, Murray State University, Harvey, Ill.
P.J. Winters, WR, 5-9, 158, Du Quoin HS, Du Quoin, Ill.
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.
Find us on social media!
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PSPigskin
Facebook: Prairie State Pigskin
Prairie State Pigskin 
Leave a comment