Early signing day ‘24: SIU Salukis bolster roster with 10 additions

Southern Illinois head coach Nick Hill added 10 players, nine freshmen recruits and a junior college running back. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)

By Dan Verdun

Southern Illinois head coach Nick Hill and his staff added nine high school players and one junior college transfer during Wednesday’s National Signing Day.

Six of the players were on offense; four were on defense.

“Most of these guys have been committed for some time now, guys that we’ve recruited since their junior year and evaluated and seen in camps,” Hill said on SIUSalukis.com. “For us, especially with the early-commitment guys, you’re just able to do so much work on them and make sure that it’s the right fit, and not try to overstretch or take someone you really haven’t formed a great relationship with. 

“With all of these guys, we feel like we know them really well, their families, getting them on campus.”

Hill’s staff now turns its attention to the upcoming transfer portal window, which opens Dec. 9.

“Things are about to really get cranked up,” Hill said. “Starting Friday when recruiting opens back up for us coaches, is getting back on the road and seeing guys in their homes. Recruiting never stops.”

Biggest needs filled on offense: SIU signed two running backs.

Biggest need filled on defense: The Salukis brought in three secondary players, two of which are safeties.

Where they come from, by level: 9 high school, 1 from junior college.

Where they come from, by state: Illinois, 3; Florida, 2; Georgia, 1; Kentucky, 1; Missouri, 1; Mississippi, 1; Ohio, 1.

Player closest to campus: S Clayton Lakatos, Edwardsville HS (105 miles)

Player farthest from campus: DE Brennan King, West Palm Beach, Fla. (1,046 miles) 

Tallest players: TE Patrick Carr, 6-5

Shortest player: WR Jah Carter, 5-11

Heaviest player: OL Donte Green, 315

Lightest player: WR Jah Carter, 170

SIU Early Signing Day List 

(Name, Position(s), Height, Weight, School, Hometown)

Patrick Carr, TE, 6-5, 250, Fern Creek HS, Louisville, Ky.

Jah Carter, WR, 5-11, 170, Massillon Washington HS, Canton, Ohio

Chandler Chapman, RB, 5-11, 205, Mississippi Gulf Coast CC, Bay St. Louis, Miss.

Quade Chatman, RB, 6-0, 205, Lee’s Summit North, Kansas City, Mo.

Donte Green, OL, 6-4, 315, Plainfield South HS, Plainfield, Ill.

Brennan King, DE, 6-3, 230, Cardinal Newman HS, West Palm Beach, Fla.

Clayton Lakatos, S, 6-1, 185, Edwardsville HS, Edwardsville, Ill.

J.C. Mirasola, QB, 6-0, 185, HB Plant HS, Tampa, Fla.

David Obadein, LB, 6-2, 195, Plainfield South HS, Plainfield, Ill.

Grant Thompson, S, 6-0, 185, North Atlanta HS, Atlanta, Ga.

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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