SIU wide receiver Kyle Thomas ranks second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference with 69 receiving yards per game. He has 35 receptions and five TD catches. (Photo by Barry Bottino, PrairieStatePigskin.com)
By Barry Bottino
Kyle Thomas has added nearly 30 pounds over the past year. Now, he’s added something just as big – the title of go-to receiver at Southern Illinois.
When the Salukis (3-5 overall, 1-3 Missouri Valley Football Conference) host No. 21 Northern Iowa (3-3, 2-1) on Saturday in Carbondale, Thomas will begin the final five weeks of the season with a chance to reach an SIU milestone.
With 248 yards over the next four games, Thomas would become only the 10th player in school history to record 800 receiving yards in a season. He’s currently on pace for 828 yards, which would be the ninth-best season at SIU, according to the school’s online record book.
Only one player – Cornell Craig in 1997, 1998 and 1999 – has surpassed 900 yards. Craig’s single-season record of 1,419 yards came in 1999.
“I always knew when he got his shot, he was going to go all the way with it,” SIU running back Chandler Chapman said of Thomas. “He put in a lot of work over the spring and summer. Everything that’s coming to him right now, he’s definitely earned and worked hard to get.”
Before this season, Thomas had four collegiate receptions, three of which came during his time at FBS Northern Illinois. His 35 receptions, 552 yards and five touchdowns this fall lead the Salukis in all three categories and rank in the top five among MVFC receivers.
“I’m proud of myself for not giving up and always keeping the main thing the main thing, no matter the obstacles that came,” Thomas said. “I always showed up with my best foot forward and that helped me get to this point.”
His position coach credited Thomas for an unwavering work ethic.
“His confidence has just skyrocketed over the past year,” SIU wide receivers coach Zach Grant said. “He’s worked his tail off for months to do this, and he’s still doing it. I’m super proud of him.”
The added weight and strength has helped Thomas — who began his college career at 170 pounds and is now above 200 — all over the field.
“The extra weight and strength definitely has played a huge role for me,” Thomas said. “Being able to withstand hits, being faster in my routes and also helping me with my contested catches.”
“He’s definitely a better route runner,” Grant added. “He’s much better at perimeter blocking. He’s always been a willing blocker. Now, putting on 25 or 30 pounds, he’s strong and he’s good at it.”
Along with being a downfield threat, Grant said the 6-foot-3 Thomas has “become more explosive.”
Kickoff: 1 p.m.; TV: ESPNU; Radio: CILfm.com
Key matchup to watch
SIU offense vs. Turnovers: Northern Iowa, at plus-6, has the best turnover margin in the MVFC and has forced key turnovers in wins against then-top five ranked opponents North Dakota and Illinois State. Southern has lost 13 turnovers this season, which is the second-highest total in the conference.
What’s at stake?
Southern’s losing streak has reached three games, and the offense has been wildly inconsistent. A victory would do a lot to soothe the sting of the past few weeks.
Quick hits
The SIU offense is seeking some consistency. The Salukis gained 146 yards in their final two drives against Illinois State. The Salukis gained 69 yards, however, on their first eight drives combined. “Knowing we put in the work all week and just not seeing it show on the field, that kind of sucks,” wide receiver/kick returner Tae Marrero Jr. said. SIU put together three drives of nine or more plays but only produced one touchdown last weekend. “Every drive is a grind of a drive,” SIU head coach Nick Hill said. “If you’re going to grind it out, you have to be great on conversion downs. You have to sustain drives. We haven’t done that.” For the season, the Salukis rank seventh in the nine-team MVFC in third-down percentage at 37%. … For the third time this season, SIU allowed five sacks in a game last week vs. Illinois State. Southern has given up a league-high 20 sacks. Northern Iowa has allowed the second-most sacks (18). … Transfer wide receiver Markell Quick, who is in his first season with the Salukis, has the third-best yards per catch average in the MVFC at 17.2. Thomas ranks fourth at 15.8. … Southern’s 10 interceptions lead the conference and is tied for sixth nationally among 124 FCS teams. … Ibrahim “Abe” Sanogo leads SIU in sacks with 6.5. The defensive end ranks second in the conference and 14th nationally in that statistic.
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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