Safety Cejai Parson brings down an Indiana State ball carrier earlier this season. Parson is the second-leading tackler for the Salukis. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
By Barry Bottino
When Cejai Parson moved to safety this season, it was a return to what knew. But the Southern Illinois senior brought some new lessons with him.
Last season, Parson played nine games at cornerback, starting two. But that’s not where his career in Carbondale began.
“The move from corner to safety was great,” he said. “That’s what I played originally. When I first got to college, I was a safety. Last year, the asked me to make the move. I was doing whatever I could to help the team out.”
This fall, with the No. 12 Salukis off to a 4-2 start (1-1 Missouri Valley Football Conference), Parson is helping the team by being an active contributor on the back end of the defense.
His 38 tackles rank second on the team this season, and Parson ranks 18th in the MVFC with 6.3 stops per game for the Salukis, who host No. 9/11 North Dakota (4-2, 2-0) at noon. (ESPN-Plus)
“He’s doing what we’ve seen out of him in the spring, summer and fall camp,” SIU head coach Nick Hill said. “He’s matured. He’s really become a leader on our team. He plays extremely hard, he’s in the right position, then the production follows.”
Playing cornerback gave Parson a different view on the game and allowed him to add new skills.
“Being able to see things from a corner’s perspective helps me as a safety,” he said. “I can understand where those guys might need help or might not need help. I learned a lot of different techniques. It helps me be more versatile in how I can play.”
When it comes to Parson’s biggest strength, he said it’s not big hits or covering wide receivers.
“First, it’s my communication,” he said. “I try to do my best to make sure everybody’s on the same page. That’s one thing I really pride myself on.”
Parson said he appreciates how cornerbacks coach Eriq Moore and other assistants expect constant communication.
“Coach Moore does a really good job of it,” he said. “If I communicate something, the coaches always say to make sure you relay a message back so they understand. Saying something back helps us have an open line of communication.”
In football, where 11 players on defense are reacting to shifting offenses, the communication is crucial.
“Football is not a stagnant sport,” Hill said. “North Dakota is not going to line up in a front and just stay there. High-level communication is a separator on whether you become a high-level player or not.”
With six regular-season games left and playoff opportunities on the line, Parson said SIU will be best served by quickly leaving last week’s 45-17 loss to North Dakota State behind in Fargo. They plan to do that with “togetherness and cohesiveness,” he said.
“We can’t be too stuck on a loss,” he said. “That’s what I love about this team. We all know we’ve got each other’s back. I love that brotherhood we have.”
This week’s opponent
Senior linebacker Malachi McNeal, who played prep football at Warren Township High School in north suburban Waukegan, was selected as the FCS national defensive player of the week Monday. McNeal, led North Dakota with 10 tackles (nine solo), a sack and a pass breakup in a 35-17 victory against Youngstown State. McNeal and the Fighting Hawks limited YSU quarterback Beau Brungard to 71 yards, which is 60 yards below his season average. … The North Dakota coaching staff includes two assistants with ties to Southern Illinois. Offensive line coach Trevor Olson was in charge of SIU’s offensive line from 2016 to 2022. Running backs coach D.J. Davis played the position for the Salukis. He graduated in 2020 after piling up 2,697 career rushing yards, which ranks fifth in SIU history. … The Fighting Hawks lead the MVFC in rushing defense, allowing only 95.5 yards a game and 2.89 yards a carry. … UND quarterback Jerry Kaminski has completed passes in every game this season to at least eight different receivers. … North Dakota’s two losses with to FBS Kansas State (38-35) to open the season and to No. 5/7 Montana (35-17) on Sept. 13.
Kickoff: 2 p.m.; TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: CILFM.com
Key matchup to watch
SIU defense vs. UND QB Jerry Kaminski: The Salukis will have to pay special attention to North Dakota QB Jerry Kaminski, who has passed for 17 touchdowns and only one interception. Kaminski, a Wisconsin native, also averages 5.1 rushing yards per carry and has scored three TDs on the ground. He is responsible for 20 points per game. He has been sacked only five times this season
What’s at stake?
A win would help the Salukis bounce back from a 28-point loss in Fargo and give SIU a victory against a ranked team, which would boost the playoff resume.
Quick hits
SIU trails only No. 1 North Dakota State in the MVFC in rushing offense. The Saluki are averaging 220.8 yards a game, which ranks 11th nationally. Williams leads the team with 71.7 yards a game. Hill said he was pleased with how running backs Chandler Chapman (31 yards), Edward Robinson (25 yards) and Lem Wash (20 yards) performed at NDSU. “When the game was back and forth, we were able to run the ball,” he said. “Our backs are doing a great job of getting downhill and being one-cut backs that play physical. All three had plays that are what you’re looking for.” … Groin injuries, according to Hill, kept linebacker Andrew Behm and running back Lashaun Lester out of last weekend’s game. Tight end Ryan Schwendeman left the NDSU game because of an injury. “Hopefully we’ll be getting some of those guys back soon,” Hill said. … Southern’s 39 points per game scoring average ranks 12th-best nationally and third in the MVFC. … The 11 turnovers gained by the Salukis are the second-most in the conference and 17th in the country. Cornerback Jeremian McClendon’s eight pass breakups are tied for the MVFC lead and are good for a fifth-place tie in all of FCS. … Seven different defensive players have started every game for SIU, which includes all four defensive backs – cornerbacks Gavin Shepard and McClendon, along with safeties Vinny Pierre Jr. and Parson.
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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