Southern Illinois defensive end Ibrahim Sanogo (9) leads the Missouri Valley Football Conference with 15.5 tackles for loss this season and ranks second with 7.5 sacks. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
By Barry Bottino
No matter the job, Southern Illinois defensive end Ibrahim “Abe” Sanogo has willingly done it this season.
Rush the quarterback. Check.
Stop the run. Check.
Drop in coverage. Check.
“I’m just working hard. I’ve giving it my all,” said Sanogo, a graduate student who transferred from Albany in the off-season. “I think I’ve been effective against the run and the pass. In coverage, I drop a good amount of times.
“I’ll do anything the team needs me to do, and I’m showing my versatility out there,” he said.
That versatility has improved the defense as a whole.
“His skill set means a lot to our defense,” SIU defensive line coach Darius Davis said. “Last year, we were not as athletic up front. We’re able to do more things with him, whether that’s dropping him or bringing him in different line movements or giving him the freedom to just go make something happen.”
The results have been impressive.
The 6-foot-2, 244-pound Sanogo leads the Missouri Valley Football Conference with 15.5 tackles for loss and ranks second with 7.5 sacks. His TFL total ranks third nationally in FCS.
In SIU’s thorough defensive effort last weekend during a 37-20 win against Indiana State, Sanogo collected four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a quarterback hurry.
“He’s got some speed to him, but he also uses angles and body position very well to make plays,” Davis said. “His timing when he does things is probably the most impressive thing. Just the timing of when he’s going to shoot a move or dip in on a guy. That’s his advantage going against bigger guys.”
The Salukis (5-5 overall, 3-3 MVFC) will need a strong pass rush Saturday when they play their final home game, hosting No. 4 South Dakota State (8-2, 5-1) at 1 p.m. in Carbondale.
The Jackrabbits have the top-ranked rushing offense in the country and a solid offensive line led by All-American left tackle Quinten Christensen, a three-year starter.
“It’s a challenge that I came here for, to play against the best of the best,” Sanogo said of facing the Jackrabbits.
Winning two games in a row has boosted the team’s morale as they aim to win out and finish 7-5.
“The last two games have been very important,” Sanogo said. “It’s given us confidence and put us in the right situation to still have a chance to make the playoffs.”
SIU is in a must-win situation to have any chance at being a playoff participant. Pairings will be announced at 11 a.m. Nov. 22 on ESPNU. Currently, no national analysts have the Salukis as a projected playoff team, but two more wins could get them some consideration.
Regardless of the opponent, Sanogo prides himself on preparation.
Earlier this season, SIU head coach Nick Hill – during the team’s three-game losing streak – mentioned how he spotted Sanogo reviewing film one evening alone at the team facility.
“Preparation means a lot to me,” Sanogo said. “It’s about doing extra film study, extra work, extra stuff to get better. You prepare all week to get to Saturday, then when the game comes, it’s fun.”
Kickoff: 1 p.m.; TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: CILfm.com
Key matchup to watch
SDSU run game vs. SIU defense: The Jackrabbits have the most productive rushing offense in the country. They lead the nation with 259.3 yards a game on the ground, rank second in rushing touchdowns (30) and second in yards per carry (6.34). Up front, Christensen is a first-team All-American and a likely NFL draft pick in April.
What’s at stake?
A victory would give SIU a signature win this season and keep their playoff hopes alive.
Quick hits
Fifth-year wide receiver/return specialist Tae Marrero Jr. was named the MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday after his performance at Indiana State. He compiled 106 yards in punt returns, including a 51-yard effort that set up an SIU touchdown. Marrero also added 81 yards on three kickoff returns. “Special teams really gave us a spark,” Hill said, citing a 50-yard field goal from Seth Adams against the Sycamores and strong kick coverage units. “(Special teams) is a momentum play. You feel it on the sidelines. It affects wins and losses every single weekend.” Marrero’s 285 punt return yards this season (25.9 average per return) lead the conference. … The Salukis played at Indiana State without veteran offensive guard Derek Harden Jr. last weekend, but Hill said Harden “should be back this week.” A sixth-year player for SIU, Harden has appeared in 33 career games, starting 30. … The Salukis won the turnover battle, 3-0, against Indiana State. That performance has boosted SIU’s season turnover margin to a plus-4, which ranks third best in the conference. … SIU continues to be the least penalized team in the conference with 54 total penalties and 43 yards a game through 10 games. … Southern’s three conference wins this season have come against Murray State, Indiana State and Northern Iowa. Those teams are a combined 3-15 in MFVC games. All three wins belong to UNI.
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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