CARBONDALE - Dale Lennon's second National Signing Day as Southern Illinois University football coach should be a little shorter than last year's.
Lennon signed 19 freshmen in 2008, just a few months after taking over in Carbondale. Today, the second-year coach expects to formally introduce about 15 new players, most of them high school seniors. Of course, that number could go up or down between this morning and the end of the day as the national letters of intent roll in.
"The way recruiting is today, you never know until you get those kids' signatures on it," Lennon said Monday.
Lennon expects a heavy freshman class this fall. The Salukis lost 13 seniors from last year's 9-3 squad that tied for the Missouri Valley Football Conference title. Included in that lot was Walter Payton Award candidate Larry Warner, outside linebacker James Cloud, guard Aaron Lockwood and wideout Damian Sherman.
"Quality was the one thing, more than anything," Lennon said about his recruiting targets. "This class will look a like like the senior class."
Lennon won the MVFC Coach of the Year award after leading SIU back to the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. Picked to finish fifth in the preseason poll, the Salukis won seven straight games before falling to No. 10 New Hampshire at home in the first round of the playoffs.
It was the sixth straight time SIU made the 16-team playoff field. The Salukis reached as high as eighth in the country in the national polls last season, and has now been ranked in 78 straight regular-season polls.
After signing day, Lennon will turn his attention to filling out his staff. Offensive line coach Scott Fuchs left the Salukis in January for MVFC rival North Dakota State, where he was an All-American offensive guard.
Fuchs will serve as the Bison's offensive line coach under head coach Craig Bohl.
Lennon said he would begin interviewing for the position after today's signing day.
todd.hefferman@thesouthern.com / 618-351-5087
