Plays such as freshman Izaiah Hartrup’s one-handed catch gave SIU fans plenty to cheer about in 2021. (photo courtesy siusalukis.com)

Head Coach:  Nick Hill

Overall Record: 8-5

Missouri Valley Conference Record:  5-3

Biggest Win: Southern Illinois rallied from a 20-point deficit to stun No. 2 ranked South Dakota State 42-41 in overtime in a first-place showdown and a thrilling sequel to last spring’s quarterfinal FCS Playoff game.

Most Frustrating Loss: Five straight wins pushed the Salukis to No. 3 in the national polls, then came a 23-16 loss at Northern Iowa in which SIU suffered costly turnovers, settled for field goals rather than touchdowns and saw a failed final drive end with four chances at first-and-goal.

Telling stat: SIU ranked 11th nationally among FCS leaders in first down offense. The Salukis kept the chains moving with 276 first downs — 137 by pass, 115 by run and 24 by penalty.

Returning strengths for 2022: There’s plenty of reason for SIU fans to be excited about next season. Head coach Nick Hill and his staff have firmly established a winning culture in Carbondale. There is an abundance of playmakers on both offense and defense, and Hill has a knack for landing not only quality recruits but also key transfers.

Emerging Star:  Multi-threat Izaiah Hartrup returns for his sophomore year after a breakout freshman season in which he was SIU’s third-leading receiver, seventh-leading rusher and top returner. Hartrup’s long kickoff return plus a spectacular one-handed catch against Illinois State helped spark a Saluki comeback victory against SIU’s longtime rival (see feature photo).

Biggest Shoes to Fill: Six-foot-two, 327-pound guard ZeVeyon Furcon was both a force in the offensive line and positive presence in the locker room. Furcron won the Doris Robinson Award,  named after the late school teacher and wife of legendary Grambling State coach Eddie Robinson; the award is presented to a student-athlete who excels both in the classroom and the community.

New Year’s Wish List:  SIU keeps its mojo rolling with a third straight playoff appearance and challenges for the Missouri Valley title.

Next Up:  Barry Bottino explores Five Burning Questions that face SIU football for 2022.