Southern Illinois offensive lineman Derek Harden Jr. is back for his seventh year of college football this fall. He started last season at right guard. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
By Barry Bottino
Southern Illinois offensive lineman Derek Harden Jr. has played well enough that he has drawn national attention.
A starter at right guard last season for the Salukis, Harden was named a preseason third-team All-American by PhilSteele.com.
While performing on the field is a constant, Harden also takes smelling good quite seriously.
“Randomly, I became a cologne fanatic,” he said. “It was out of nowhere. I slowed down a little bit when it started getting a bit expensive.”
Harden, who is playing his seventh season this fall, missed two seasons with injury and went through an emotional 2024 season with the passing of his father, Derek Sr., from a rare form of brain cancer.
Harden Jr. shares his favorite SIU sport to watch, a cartoon that was a big part of growing up, the best postgame meal and more in our weekly Moving the Chains Q&A.
This fall is your seventh season. Why come back to SIU?
I was back and forth between going into the workforce and coming back to football.
I put my waiver in last minute and didn’t know if I had another year of eligibility. I waited a couple weeks and ended up getting the waiver, then decided that I hadn’t finished my master’s degree yet. I thought, ‘I’ll come back to school, be a leader for the guys for another year.’
It was always in the back of my mind.
You primarily played right guard last season. Why does that spot suit you?
It’s probably the most physical position. Whenever the ball is snapped, the defensive lineman is in your face 99% of the time. I really love it because it’s so physical, compared to tackle.
It’s the most fun.
Did you always play offensive line growing up?
In Little League, I played a little bit of defensive line. But I’ve always been an offensive lineman.
I appreciate how it’s a selfless position. Most of the time, offensive linemen are blocking for somebody else. You don’t get a lot of fame. There’s no stats for offensive linemen. It’s hard-nosed football. I just love that it’s selfless.
Your father passed away after the 2024 season. What traits from him do you carry with you?
A big one is resilience. Sacrifice is another one. I’ve seen my dad go through a lot. Nothing deterred his mission. He loved his family more than he loved himself. That was a big thing for me.
The guys I’m around, the coaches, my fiancé (Tristian), my mother, my sister … I love them more than anything else in the world.
I carry that with me to be what he set the example to be.
In 2022, he got brain cancer. It was a very rare cancer. He ended up losing his vision. It was a long battle. The doctors told him he probably only had six months to live. He ended up living 46 months.
He was a Marine, so (fighting) was within him.
Speaking of love for your family, you’re engaged. Have you started making plans for the wedding?
Right now, we have talked about doing a courthouse wedding. We want to get a house first. After football, we plan on moving to Georgia. We’re saving up to make sure we can get a house down there. Within the next two, three years we plan on getting married.
You recently completed your second SIU degree. What did your studies focus on?
I just finished up my master’s degree. My bachelor’s is in information technology. I achieved my master’s this summer in healthcare informatics. I want to go in the direction of cybersecurity. My master’s ties in with IT.
What was the first car you ever owned?
It was a 2002 Hyundai Sonata. It was gold. It broke down on me (in high school) in the middle of the street. I was about to go see a girl. (Laughs) Maybe it broke down for a good reason.
What are your hobbies that you enjoy during your free time?
I’m trying to get into fishing. I took a pickleball class and really got into it. After football, that will be something that will keep me active. I love pickleball.
I took a disc golf class here. That’s another thing I want to get into.
What’s your favorite way to unwind after a long day?
Probably watching movies. That settles my mind down. I’m not thinking about anything else other than the movie.
The best movie I’ve seen in the last six months is “Obsession.”
Other than Saluki Stadium, what’s your favorite place on campus?
The Dawg Lounge (in the SIU Student Health Center). I worked there last semester. They have massage chairs in there, so you know. (Laughs) When I have time, I’ll go sit in the massage chair for 30 minutes.
Who has been your funniest teammate?
(Offensive lineman) Cam Dye, who I played with last year. He was hilarious. He could make me laugh at any moment.
What are three things you hate about defensive linemen?
I hate when they complain about holding. We gotta do it sometimes. I hate when they put their hands in my face. A lot of them have put their hands in my face. And when they talk trash, I hate that too. You pancake them one good time and they’re still talking trash. I don’t like that. C’mon dude, you just got pancaked.
If you could play any position on the football field, what’s a dream position?
QB might be too hard. I’d say safety. That sounds like a fun position.
Did you play other sports in high school?
The only other sport I did was wrestling. I did it for one year. I was good at wrestling. I won All-County as a freshman, but I didn’t enjoy it. I didn’t enjoy not having a Christmas break. I didn’t enjoy missing time with my family.
Is there another sport you like to watch at Southern?
A good one is softball. They’ve been good ever since I’ve been here. I like to keep up with them.
Last year, you were a team captain. What does leadership mean to you and what type of leader do you try to be?
Leadership, to me, means putting others before yourself, sacrificing. Trust is a big thing. The people you’re leading have to be able to trust you. Leading by example is another one. You can’t be a leader if you’re not doing what you’re supposed to be doing.
What’s your favorite postgame meal?
I’d go with Buffalo Wild Wings first. They just came out with Buffalo Ranch (flavor). That’s a good one. Get it with the bleu cheese.
Do you cook for yourself?
Do I cook? Sometimes. Can I cook? Yes.
I like to make honey chicken thighs with mashed potatoes. You’ve got to add your greens in there too, so I’ll make some broccoli.
You’ve played a long time at SIU. What’s your favorite uniform combination?
I love the all-white, even though the pants are a little tight.
Is there a favorite stadium you’ve visited at SIU?
I didn’t get to play in the BYU game (the 2024 season opener). But that was the best one. The atmosphere with the mountains in the background, how nice the fans were … I really enjoyed it.
What was your favorite cartoon as a youth?
Growing up, I was a big Spongebob guy. Anything Cartoon Network or Nickelodeon, you’ve got me. I loved it all.
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.
Find us on social media!
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/PSPigskin
Facebook: Prairie State Pigskin
Instagram: Prairiestatepigskin
Blue Sky: PSPigskin
Prairie State Pigskin 
Leave a comment