Southern Illinois quarterback Jake Curry took on a bigger workload this spring for the Salukis, which helped him grow his skills. (Photo by Barry Bottino, PrairieStatePigskin.com)
By Barry Bottino
CARBONDALE – When Southern Illinois quarterback D.J. Williams took part in spring football practices, he did so just a bit differently.
The player who finished eighth in voting last season for the Walter Payton Award and is one of the nation’s top returning QBs in 2026 enjoyed every minute of those differences.
“I was taking a back seat a little bit and taking on a coach’s role,” Williams told Prairie State Pigskin after last week’s spring scrimmage at Saluki Stadium. “A lot of work went into the mental things. It was about being able to sharpen my skills mentally.
“I want to be a coach when I’m done, so I was looking at it through that lens,” he said.
While Williams’ practice reps came in skeleton drills with no linemen on the field, sophomore Jake Curry’s workload involved every rep in 11-on-11 drills.
As Williams rested the left knee he injured early last season, Curry relied on his teammate’s feedback.
“Having him in my ear really helped out a lot,” said Curry, an Edwardsville native. “I feel like I’ve grown as a player. Just because D.J. is not out there doesn’t mean he’s not helping us.”
Curry and fellow quarterbacks E.T. Harris and J.C. Mirasola “developed a lot this spring,” Williams said. Curry’s reps were as extensive as when he started five games in 2024 as a true freshman. That year, the Salukis were ravaged by injuries.
“Jake getting a lot of reps is great for him,” SIU head coach Nick Hill said.
Curry’s play last season was limited to 3-for-9 passing in four games. This spring, he appreciated the opportunity to learn from Williams, who will be entering his seventh college season this fall.
“We both came in (to SIU) at the same time. We always talk about how we’d write the plays down and draw them out before we went on the field,” Curry said. “He’s got a lot of experience. He knows what he’s talking about.”
Resting his legs on the field this spring proved beneficial for Williams, who is a skilled runner.
“It has really allowed him to get better at throwing the football,” Hill said. “It challenged him to get really good at that.”
Williams also saw the game from a different perspective alongside Hill and new SIU quarterback coach Michael Lindauer, a former Saluki QB.
“I saw how Coach Hill looks at things and how Mike looks at things,” he said. “Me and Mike both have these aspirations. He’s doing a great job. We’re both learning from a great offensive mind.”
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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