Wide receiver Allen Middleton made the most of his opportunities last season and offers flexibility for the Southern Illinois offense. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
First in a four-part series.
By Barry Bottino
During his redshirt season last fall, Allen Middleton focused on knowledge, grabbing lessons wherever he could.
“The college game is played a lot faster, so it definitely took me some time to understand that,” the Southern Illinois wide receiver said. “My knowledge of the game expanded through the season – learning different coverages, different looks that (defensive backs) will give you and how they disguise that. Just becoming a smarter player.”
This fall, Middleton is ready to put those lessons into action as a redshirt freshman.
“I’ve always felt that catching and getting yards after the catch are my biggest skills,” he said. “One thing I’ve definitely improved is my route running and my releases off the line. I’ve learned to separate, but I’ve always been able to catch ball when it comes my way.”
The sure-handed Middleton is one of four Fresh Faces at Southern Illinois this fall. The annual Prairie State Pigskin series introduces readers to newcomers to the roster and returnees who will play expanded roles.
Last season, Middleton played in four games, with his performance at Western Illinois being the major highlight. In SIU’s 63-0 win, Middleton caught three passes for 35 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown.
His goal is to put more scoring plays on his resume.
“I feel like I can score at any moment,” Middleton said. “Put on my high school tape and you’ll see that.”
During fall camp, his confidence has grown while working in the slot and as an outside receiver with a veteran group of wideouts, including Vinson Davis III, who led the team with 54 receptions last season, and three notable transfers – Keontez Lewis (Wisconsin), Brad Clark (Tennessee Tech) and Nah’Shawn Hezekiah (Howard).
“They all have in-game experience,” Middleton said. “So for a guy like me who doesn’t have a lot, talking to them and learning from their experiences helps out when we get into situational things in practice. It makes you more calm and collected when we get into those situations.
“Being that young buck in the room helps me out a lot,” he said. “Going into the season, I haven’t gotten those reps, but the confidence is there as if I have.”
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Middleton has added 10 pounds as a Saluki to prepare for the physicality of the game.
“Being in the slot, you might have to take some hits from linebackers or stick your face in and block,” he said.
This season, there’s also one new player with plenty of lessons to share on the SIU roster – Middleton’s older brother Timothy, a speedy 5-7 transfer from Division II McKendree, where he averaged 17.6 yards a return on kickoffs and 18.4 on punts in 30 career games.
“We played together in Little League and in high school, so it was a dream come true to be able to play together in college,” Allen Middleton said. “We both bring speed to the game and being able to make plays with the ball in our hands. He’s definitely a bigger special teams guy than I am as a returner. He’s really a threat.”
SIU’s other Fresh Faces are:
Offense
Keontez Lewis, WR, Junior
A transfer from Wisconsin, Lewis played in the same 7-on-7 program as Allen Middleton growing up in East St. Louis.
“He’s got that swagger, for sure,” Middleton said of his new teammate. “We trained together before he even came here, so I’ve been around him. When he lines up, he feels like nobody can stop him.”
Last fall, he left Wisconsin two games into the season when his playing time was diminished.
As a sophomore in 2022, however, he ranked third for Wisconsin in receptions (20), receiving yards (313) and touchdown catches (three).
Defense
Jamir Conn, CB, Sophomore
Even when the Salukis are not officially practicing, Conn finds a way to work on his craft.
“There are days that we’ll just go to the rec center here and get work in,” Middleton said. “He’s really a student of the game.”
The 6-foot, 180-pound Conn – who hails from Kansas City – is known as someone who doesn’t back away from challenges.
“Being around him, you see that competitive side,” Middleton said. “The confidence he has flows throughout the team and the defense.”
Jamond Mathis, DE, Redshirt Freshman
Mathis played in four games last season and is part of a young group of promising defensive linemen.
The 6-3, 245-pound defensive end set the school record with 23 sacks at Duchesne High School in suburban St. Louis.
Before moving to end at Southern, Mathis was an all-state linebacker in Missouri as a prep senior in 2022.
Mathis will be needed to provide some sacks for the Salukis, who tied for third nationally with 39 last season.
However, players who combined for 27 of those sacks last fall are no longer on the roster.
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and spent 19 years at three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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