Safety Keondre Jackson (3) and linebacker Amir Abdullah (22) returned to the Illinois State defensive lineup for Saturday’s win against Youngstown State at Hancock Stadium. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Dan Verdun
At the time of year when pro football teams are making trades to improve or rebuild themselves, college programs do not have such an option.
Instead Illinois State is getting its infusion of fresh blood thanks to the return of key players sidelined earlier this season with lengthy injuries or illnesses.
The Redbirds, for example, welcomed the return of preseason All-Americans Amir Abdullah and Keondre Jackson this past Saturday against Youngstown State.
“You sure feel the difference,” ISU head coach Brock Spack told Prairie State Pigskin Monday.
Abdullah, out of the ISU lineup since a knee injury in the Aug. 31 season opener at Iowa, delivered key plays as the Redbirds defeated the Penguins, 23-16, in Missouri Valley Football Conference action.
“Amir made his presence known quickly,” Spack said.
The Chicago Whitney Young graduate registered six tackles and collected 1.5 sacks. That presence was felt by his ISU teammates.
“I felt really happy to have him back out there,” said linebacker Tye Niekamp, who has battled his own injuries this season. “I call him a game wrecker. That’s what he is, a game wrecker.”
Junior Tommy Rittenhouse dovetailed Niekamp’s comments.
“It was awesome watching him from the sideline,” the quarterback said.
Jackson also returned to action after missing most of the last two games. The Freeport High School product was credited with five solo tackles against YSU.
“We were real confident out there, just having fun (from) having everybody back,” Jackson said of Saturday’s win. “There was no thinking at that point. You have all your dogs back, and you just let your dogs eat. That’s what it was.”
While Niekamp has played in all nine games to date, the sophomore has done so with two different casts on his right hand in recent weeks. The casts are protecting a thumb injury that required surgery during the bye week.
Niekamp led ISU with 11 tackles Saturday while also grabbing his third interception of the season.
“The ball went right through my hands last week,” he said. “So to get one this week made me a lot happier because it was not a happy time in the locker room at halftime last week.”
Revived receiving corps
On the offensive side, receivers Daniel Sobkowicz and Eddie Kasper both appear to be returning to top form as the season hits its final stretch.
Sobkowicz has worked through a series of nagging ailments this season.
Spack said in recent weeks that his star receiver seemed to be returning to the form that made him a preseason all-conference selection.
Sobkowicz leads the Redbirds with 45 catches, fourth highest among the Missouri Valley Football Conference leaders. His six receiving touchdowns ranks third.
Kasper missed most of the first month of the season with mononucleosis. Since his return to the lineup Sept. 28 against North Dakota State, Kasper has 18 receptions for 186 yards in five games.
Sobkowicz and Kasper each had a team-high four receptions in Illinois State’s win against Youngstown State.
Movin’ on up
Illinois State moved up in the national rankings when both polls were released Monday.
ISU was up two spots to No. 17 in the American Football Coaches Association poll. The Redbirds jumped three spots in the Stats Perform FCS rankings to No. 18.
Illinois State has three games remaining on its schedule.
ISU (6-3 overall, 3-2 in MVFC) next plays at 1 p.m. Saturday at Northern Iowa (2-7, 0-5).
The Redbirds follow that with a Nov. 16 trip to Indiana State and the home finale Nov. 23 against North Dakota.
The NCAA announces its FCS playoff bracket at 11:30 CT Sunday, Nov. 24 on ESPNU.
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
Instagram: Prairiestatepigskin
Prairie State Pigskin 
Leave a comment