Redshirt senior Andrew Behm (46) returned from an injury-plagued first year at Southern Illinois to lead the team in tackles in the Salukis’ season-opening victory. (Photo by Saluki Communications)
By Dan Verdun
Don’t expect Andrew Behm to be wowed Saturday when he steps onto Purdue’s Ross-Ade Stadium turf. After all, he’s been there and done that.
“It helps me keep perspective, having been in those environments before,” the Southern Illinois linebacker told Prairie State Pigskin ahead of Saturday’s FBS non-conference game in West Lafayette, Ind.
Prior to transferring to SIU last season, Behm played in 27 games at FBS Akron. During those three years, he played against Auburn, Indiana, Michigan State, Ohio State and Tennessee.
“It’s still football,” he said. “You just have to be as physical as you’ve ever been and your attention to detail has to be really high level. The margin for error really shrinks when you play teams in the Big Ten or SEC.”
A year ago, Behm was limited to just three games while battling a variety of foot injuries.
“I’ve only played in seven games over the last couple of years,” he said. “It was a long process trying to figure out how to get past those injuries.”
SIU head coach Nick Hill is delighted to have Behm back on the field.
“Probably a lot of people didn’t know Andrew Behm on our team,” Hill said. “He dealt with plantar fasciitis all year. He got called into action last year against South Dakota State and hadn’t even really practiced much. He went out and played and reaggravated the foot.”
Behm wound up taking a redshirt year and returned for a senior season in which he was voted one of four captains by his teammates.
“I personally look up to a lot of the guys on the team. For them to give me their vote of approval and to say they want to trust me and follow me, that means a lot,” he said. “It motivates me even more to give this team everything that I’ve got.”
Hill appreciates the linebacker’s approach.
“He has an unbelievable perspective on life. He never wasted a day. I’m sure there were frustrating times coming here and then not playing last year,” said Hill, noting Behm’s work behind the scenes.
“His teammates saw it,” Hill said. “The way that he works (and) the accountability that he provides this team. He’s a really good football player. I’m really happy for him as a person and then obviously we’re a better team because he’s on the team.”
Behm led a balanced defensive effort with six tackles in SIU’s 49-3 rout of Division II Thomas More.
“It had been so long (since I’d been on the field) that it was really a culmination of all the hard work I’ve put in,” he said. “I had great support from all the people around me.”
This week’s opponent
Purdue opened its season with a 31-0 shutout of Ball State.
Sophomore quarterback Ryan Browne passed for a career-high 311 yards and two touchdowns. Browne spread the ball around to seven different receivers.
Senior running back Devin Mockabee produced 104 all-purpose yards and scored a TD.
The Boilermakers held the Cardinals to 203 total yards and just 87 passing yards. Defensive back Tahj Ra-El, a fifth-year transfer from Memphis, led the team with seven tackles.
Kickoff: 6:30 p.m. TV: Big Ten Network; Radio: Cilfm.com.
Key matchup to watch
SIU OL vs. Purdue front seven
The Boilermakers racked up seven tackles for loss, including four sacks, in their season-opening win. Establishing a running game and giving quarterback D.J. Williams time to throw are keys to Saluki success.
What’s at stake
Southern Illinois is out to beat its third FBS opponents in the last four years.
Quick hits
Southern Illinois jumped six slots to No. 14 in this week’s Stats Perform FCS Top 25 poll. SIU moved up five spots in the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 poll to No. 15. … Southern Illinois begins a string of three straight road games. SIU won’t return to Saluki Stadium until an Oct. 4 Missouri Valley Football Conference game with Indiana State. … SIU has posted two wins over Big Ten Conference opponents in its history. The Salukis scored victories at Indiana (2006) and Northwestern (2022). Hill was the quarterback against the Hoosiers and head coach against the Wildcats.
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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