Defensive tackle ShuMond Johnson (middle) transferred to head coach Nick Hill’s Southern Illinois Salukis from FBS Troy University this winter. (Photo by Barry Bottino, PrairieStatePigskin. com)
By Dan Verdun
CARBONDALE – Even before he ever stepped onto the practice field, Southern Illinois players had a pretty strong suspicion that defensive tackle ShuMond Johnson was a difference maker.
“Man, he’s a monster. From the moment he came in, I was like, ‘Whoa, that guy is huge,’” linebacker David Obadein said of Johnson, a midyear transfer from FBS Troy University.
Linebacker Ben Fiegel said his first impressions came in the winter weight room.
“He was throwing around some weight and I was thinking, ‘If this guy is just a little bit good at football, it’s going to be really good for us. Well, he’s a lot better than just pretty good at football.”
Johnson will be expected to plug the middle of SIU coordinator Lee Pronschinske’s unit, freeing up other Saluki defenders to pursue the ball.
Of course, Johnson is also capable of stopping opposing offenses as well. He recorded 51 tackles – 10 for loss – and registered nine sacks his senior year at Creekside (Ala.) High School. That team played in the 5A state championship game.
Johnson attended Troy for two years, redshirting in 2024 and playing two snaps last season for the Alabama-based school. He has three years of eligibility remaining.
According to his social media accounts, Johnson transformed himself from the 240 pounds he entered college to 300 pounds. SIU lists Johnson at 310 pounds.
Listed as a 6-foot-5 redshirt freshman, Johnson said head coach Nick Hill and defensive line coach Darious Davis were major factors in his decision to choose SIU from the offers he received.
“They were transparent. I trusted them,” Johnson said. “I felt like it was a great fit here.”
The Salukis see Johnson as a great fit as well.
Obadein said Johnson will be “a really good addition to our defense. He’s going to create a lot of ‘knock-back violence’ that we need.”
Hill said that he “really likes all the guys that we brought in up front. When you see them in winter conditioning you never really know until you get them out here.”
Johnson said the 15 spring practices allowed him time to not only “get better, but to adjust to the scheme” of the Saluki defense.
“Coming from a three-down front (at Troy) to a four-down one here is different,” Johnson said.
Asked to elaborate, Johnson said, “In the three-down system, I was expected to punch the center and take on double teams. Here, it’s more about the gap and your key reads.
“I’m ready to perform at a high level.”
Salukis add 12th game
SIU announced the addition of a 12th game to its fall schedule.
The Salukis will travel to the University of West Florida at 6 p.m. Aug. 27 in a “Week Zero” game. West Florida, located in Pensacola, Fla., is in its first year as an FCS program.
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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