P.J. Jules was a consensus All-American this season at Southern Illinois and made 280 career tackles for the Salukis. (Photo by Barry Bottino, PrairieStatePigksin.com)
By Barry Bottino
During his 56 career games played at Southern Illinois, P.J. Jules has played cornerback and also safety.
When he takes the field Saturday in the Hula Bowl in his hometown of Orlando, Fla., Jules wants to leave pro scouts with one important takeaway.
“That I’m a football player,” said Jules, who was a consensus FCS All-American this season at safety for the Salukis. “I can be a safety, a corner, a linebacker. I’ll do whatever is needed.”
Doing “whatever” on the field is a solid description of his 2023 season.
Jules led the Salukis in total tackles (109), tackles for loss (13) and pass breakups (11). He also had five double-digit tackle games, including 15 in a win against regional rival Southeast Missouri and 10 in a 17-10 loss to eventual national champion South Dakota State.
Jules, who is involved in pre-draft workouts in Texas, welcomes the opportunity to show off for scouts Saturday. He is one of six safeties on the roster for Team Kai, which will be guided by a pair of former NFL head coaches – Brian Billick (offensive coordinator) and Wade Phillips (defensive coordinator).
The game kicks off at 11 a.m. and will air live on CBS Sports Network.
Along with his versatility, Jules wants to show off another important trait.
“Just my football knowledge, knowing what each position has to do, where they need to be, how the position is played,” he said. “Understanding coverages and schemes. Knowing what the other positions – offensive and defensive – are doing.”
His commitment to the game goes beyond sharing his knowledge with younger teammates, which he often did on the practice field.
For Jules, “it’s a lifestyle” rhat requires sacrifices.
”It’s OK with not doing what everybody else does,” he said. “It’s all about sacrifice to get to where you want to be. Every single day, make that choice to be better. Every day, choosing football and choosing to be a better version of myself.”
The 6-foot, 208-pound Jules hopes scouts in Orlando – including representatives from the NFL, the Canadian Football League and the newly merged XFL/USFL – also see his biggest off-the-field strengths.
“It’s my mindset and my mentality,” he said. “As a player, I feel with time and experience comes growth and being more comfortable and confident in everything that I do. I’ll do whatever is necessary. I just love football.”
The game will be played on the University of Central Florida campus, less than 20 miles from Jones High School, where the 22-year-old Jules starred.
“I’ll have a few fans in the crowd,” Jules said with a laugh. “It will be a dream come true playing back home.”
The game also will be a full-circle moment in his career, having been recruited from Jones by SIU head coach Nick Hill and his staff.
“It means a lot just knowing Coach Hill and the coaching staff took that chance on me and believed and trusted in me,” Jules said. “Being here now in the position I am feels good. There’s more work to be done, though.”
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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