By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
Southern Illinois University of Carbondale has rolled up nine wins since losing its opener 31-28 at Marshall.
The Salukis, wrapping up the regular season, seek No. 10 on Saturday at 1 p.m. in Cape Girardeau against Southeast Missouri.
That success isn’t a surprise to former Webb City High School standout Marty Rodgers. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Rodgers starts at free safety.
“A surprise? Not really,” Rodgers said Tuesday. “We worked hard all spring and all summer to prepare for this season.”
The Salukis finished 8-0 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference with their 44-24 win last Saturday in Springfield against Missouri State.
“We have a deep and outstanding senior class,” Rodgers said. “Our goal, of course, was to win every game.”
Top-ranked SIU appears a lock for its seventh straight appearance in the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs.
One of those seniors performing in stellar fashion, Rodgers said, is running back Deji Karim. The Putnam City North product joined the Salukis from Miami-based Northeastern Oklahoma A&M.;
“Deji missed the 2008 season because of a knee injury,” Rodgers said. “He’s been amazing.”
The 5-11, 205 Karim has rushed for 1,390 yards and 14 touchdowns on 189 carries and has 13 receptions for another 161 yards.
Rodgers, who has one interception, enters Saturday’s game third on the team in total tackles with 51. Junior safety Mike McElroy, who has six picks, has 59 and senior inside linebacker Brandin Jordan is second with 58.
Former Webb City coach Jerry Kill (now at Northern Illinois) successfully recruited Rodgers for the Salukis.
Dale Lennon, moving from the University of North Dakota, has replaced Kill in impressive fashion. Fort Scott High School/Pittsburg State standout Travis Stepps, a member of Kill’s staff, is secondary coach for the Salukis.
Rodgers, a member of the all-Valley second team as a junior, had two interceptions and forced three fumbles. He earned MVFC defensive player of the week after registering nine tackles and returning an interception 57 yards for a touchdown.
Rodgers, in 2007, ranked fifth on the team with 73 tackles. He had two interceptions and six pass breakups.
Rodgers, as a freshman, made one start and played in nine games. He had four stops in the start against Southern Utah.
Rodgers, who turned 22 on Oct. 13, is a son of Pam Lewis and the late Marvin Rodgers. He plans to graduate next spring.
“I’m a recreation major,” Rodgers said. “But I’d like to work as a graduate assistant after receiving my degree.”
