Free safety Ta’Nerrean “Rue” Jackson (12) has 15 tackles in the past two games for Southern Illinois. He also tackles plenty of duties as a father. (Photo by Barry Bottino, PrairieStatePigskin.com)
By Barry Bottino
Southern Illinois defensive back Ta’Nerrean “Rue” Jackson isn’t new to playing free safety.
“I’m more of a ballhawk guy,” said Jackson, who has started every game this season for SIU (2-2), which is ranked No. 24 in this week’s FCS national media poll. “I’ve been a free safety all of my career, even in high school. That’s where I belong.”
Over the past two weeks, he has piled up 15 tackles, including eight last week at FBS Illinois. This week, Southern opens Missouri Valley Football Conference play at 6 p.m. Saturday at Murray State (1-3).
What is also normal to Jackson is being a father.
He and his fiancé live in Carbondale with their two sons, a newborn and a 2 ½-year-old.
“I love my little guys,” said Jackson, who was a mid-year transfer from Mississippi’s Copiah-Lincoln Community College. “They keep me going. It gets tough having a newborn baby. You don’t get much sleep.
“But my days are great,” he said. “I’m glad I had those dudes when I had them. They always keep me smiling. They always keep me happy. They give me a reason to go hard every day.”
SIU head coach Nick Hill admires how Jackson has handled being at a new school with a young family.
“Rue is a special kid,” he said. “He’s a great dad. It’s a different schedule for Rue going home at night. I think he’s doing a phenomenal job.”
Listed at 6-foot and 180 pounds, Jackson is smaller than most players at his position.
“I’m 6-1 on a good day,” he joked. “I’m not the tallest guy. But I lift heavy weights. I take the weight room personally. The weight room is a confidence booster for me.”
Spending spring football, summer workouts and fall camp with the Salukis also has paid dividends.
“You get to learn the playbook and get the game to slow down for you,” Jackson said. “The speed of the game increased by a lot (from junior college). I believe that mindset matters and hard work pays off.
“I never had any doubt in my mind that I could come in and be a guy,” he said.
Kickoff: 6 p.m.; TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: CILfm.com
Key matchup to watch
SIU run game vs. Murray State defense: The Racers are among the 20 worst run defenses in FCS, allowing 210.5 yards a game and eight TDs on the ground through four games. With quarterback D.J. Williams and running back Chandler Chapman leading the way, the Salukis are averaging nearly 150 yards on the ground.
What’s at stake?
A victory would make SIU 5-1 in the last six conference openers.
Quick hits
What has Hill learned about his team through four games? “It’s been a good group as far as their mentality and their response,” he said. “It’s a team that’s going to give you everything that it’s got.” When FBS Illinois scored four consecutive touchdowns in a 48-10 victory against SIU last weekend, Hill called on that response. “I told the defense that this is probably good for us to see what we’re made of. What’s our response going to be? What’s our body language going to be?” … Hill’s younger brother, AJ, is working as a volunteer coach for the Salukis this season. “I’ve probably been around AJ more the past few months than I have been in years,” SIU’s coach said. “On a personal level, it’s been awesome.” The relationship has also paid other dividends. “He knows when he can say something, whether that’s to settle me down or when nobody wants to talk to the head coach. That’s when AJ pipes in.” … Freshman Weston Schofield connected on a 27-yard field goal and had three kickoffs go for touchbacks against Illinois in his first collegiate action last weekend. The Salukis used transfer Seth Adams in the first three games, during which he was 3-for-7 on field goal attempts with a long of 50 yards. Hill said the placekicking job “will continue to be a competition. The guys that practice the best are going to play.”. … Defensive back Sebastian Vargas is tied for the league lead with two interceptions. Linebackers Ben Fiegel and Andrew Behm are tied for second in the conference with 8.0 tackles a game. … Since Murray State joined the MVFC in 2023, Southern is 3-0 against the Racers, outscoring them 116-13.
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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