Flipping on the TV on NFL Sundays last fall became a weekly habit for the Southern Illinois football coaching staff.

Plenty of eyes were tuned to Carolina Panthers to see second-round pick Jeremy Chinn, who finished second in NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.

Along with Chinn, the Salukis have produced three other NFL defensive backs under head coach Nick Hill and his coaching staff — Edwardsville product Craig James (Philadelphia), Ryan Neal (Seattle) and Madre Harper (New York Giants).

This fall in Carbondale, the Salukis have two seniors – safety Qua Brown and cornerback James Ceasar — who could be the next Saluki DBs to find their way from the FCS to the NFL.

“I think those two guys will have their opportunity,” SIU head coach Nick Hill said. “They’re bought in to having the best season they can as a team.”

Brown and Ceasar were standout players on an SIU team that advanced to the FCS quarterfinals during the spring season.

Both players were voted to the All-Missouri Valley Football Conference first team, which was announced Tuesday at the league’s virtual media day event. The Salukis have a league-high 13 players who were named all-conference.

“Qua is a safety, more of a tackler,” Hill said. “James and Qua both played with all four of those guys in the NFL. They were part of our original signing class. Same class as Jeremy Chinn. Same class as Craig James. They know what it looks like. They’ve started alongside those guys.”

Brown led the team in the spring with 44 tackles and four forced fumbles a year ago.

Ceasar, who had 40 tackles, broke up a team-best 14 passes during the spring season and ranked eighth in the nation in passes defended.

“James has really got an opportunity to be pretty special,” Hill said. “He’s tough as nails. He’s got all the intangibles. You don’t have to coach James very hard as far as getting the best out of him. He wants to be the best.

“That’s where those guys kind of separate themselves,” he said.

From NFL to Carbondale

Ceasar and his fellow cornerbacks will be coached this season by a new face, former Florida State standout and NFL veteran Tony Carter, who played for Denver, New England, Minnesota, Indianapolis and New Orleans.

“I’ve known Tony more as a friend,” Hill said. “There was no interview. It was more of us talking him into coming here. It was like an official (recruiting) visit.”

Hill said Carter has transitioned quickly to life in southern Illinois.

“He’s a pretty cool, calm, collected guy,” Hill said. “Tony is humble as can be. He rides his bike to work every day and lives in a little apartment here in Carbondale.”

Carter spent last season with the Detroit Lions as a defensive assistant after coaching cornerbacks in 2019 at FCS Jacksonville University, which has discontinued its program.

“He had some opportunities to stay in the NFL, but he wanted to get back to working with college kids,” Hill said.  

Carter replaces former SIU player Marty Rodgers, who spent five seasons coaching cornerbacks in Carbondale.

Countdown to fall

The Salukis open the season on the road with a Sept. 2 rivalry game at Southeast Missouri before a showcase non-conference game at FBS Kansas State on Sept. 11.

The home schedule begins with a Sept. 18 night game at Saluki Stadium against Dayton, which plays in the non-scholarship FCS Pioneer League.

MVFC Preseason Poll

Team (First-Place) … Points

1. South Dakota State (24) … 454

2. North Dakota State (18) … 435

3. North Dakota … 357

4. Southern Illinois … 345

5. UNI (1) … 311

6. Missouri State … 256

7. Illinois State … 196

8. South Dakota … 163

9. Youngstown State … 126

10. Indiana State … 112

11. Western Illinois … 83