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• HEAD COACH NICK HILL PRESS CONFERENCE

CARBONDALE, Ill. —  Southern Illinois head coach Nick Hill met with the media on Monday afternoon as the Salukis prepare for Thursday’s season opener at Murray State. Also on Monday, the Ohio Valley Conference announced that the game between SIU and Murray State will be televised live on ESPN+ at 6 p.m.

On the excitement leading up to the first game.
“You get to the point where you need to play another team and we’re there. All the stuff that you do that the outside world doesn’t see you doing, you really get 11 opportunities to go out there and do it in a real game. I’m concerned about the Salukis and going out there and playing good, fundamental football, not letting things like penalties and missed tackles and putting the ball on the ground and having the excuse that it’s the first game. Those won’t be excuses for game one. We should look sharp and we should go out and execute.”

“Every opportunity we have to go out there and play is an opportunity for us to show growth in our program, go out and compete at a high level. My expectations for us as a coaching staff is we have to get this team to play at its full potential. That’s your job as a coach, to get the most out of each individual, and Thursday is an opportunity for us to show where we’re at.”

Injury update to WR Darrell James and S Jeremy Chinn.
“Both of them are going to play. Both of them were out there in practice yesterday. I’m optimistic for both of them to have key roles in the game.”

On redshirt freshman DT Keenan Agnew.
“He’s an Agnew. Anybody who knows the other two who came through here knows what kind of person they are, and what kind of commitment to their teammates, and how they go about their business of working. He’s no different. He knows how to work. He knows what the expectations are in and out of the building. He’s come along and developed. We knew that coming out of high school he needed that redshirt year to get stronger and faster. He changes every few weeks. He has a bright future here.”

On the kicking battle between Nico Gualdoni and Matt Sotiropoulos.
“Nico will kick off. They both will dress and both have to be ready to go to kick field goals and extra points. They’ve both done a good job throughout camp and both have had their days. Kicking — you have to go out there and perform when the lights are on.”

On 5-foot-11 OLB Cody Crider, who is from Mayfield, Ky.
“I wouldn’t trade him for anybody in the country, if you told me you could have a different Will linebacker. He plays with an edge, he loves football, he’s just kind of a throwback-mentality type guy, not a complainer. Sideline to sideline he’s one of the fastest players on our team. He’s just built a little different. The kid can play some football.”

On 6-foot-8 Nigel Kilby’s impact on the tight end corps.
“He’s a matchup problem. He’s got to be able to put his hand in the ground and block, and he’s coming along. You have to be willing to do that and Nigel’s willing. We feel good about our tight ends, led by Jacob Varble, who can do all of that and has really put himself as a upper-level blocking tight end in the country. He’s stronger than he’s ever been. His technique in blocking — Coach (Pat) Poore has done an outstanding job with those guys. Jacob Garrettcan do a little bit of everything and weighs 255 pounds.” 

On the mentality he want to see from the running backs.
“I think you have to see yards after contact. If we block it for two, then go get four. If we block it for one, then get two and we stay on track. Then when we block it for a big one, get it over with. We have a few guys that can do that. Having the mentality, running through a half a man, protecting the football while doing that, but not letting that one guy. In any run scheme there’s always someone that’s unblocked. It’s their job to either make that guy miss or run through him.”

On FB Jaylon Graham.
“Jaylon Graham has come a long way. He was a defensive tackle who couldn’t find his way, then in the middle of the season, in ’16, we moved him over to play a little bit of offense and he got in some goal line. He didn’t have a clue about offense and was almost a liability to put out there. He had never really played offense going back to high school. He has really taken the next step and I trust putting him out there as another tight end or at fullback. You can do a lot of things with a person like Jaylon. He’s proven he can catch the football and he brings a physicality. He’s never shying away from contact and is really a throwback guy. I’m proud of him.”

On WR Raphael Leonard.
“The sky is the limit for Ralph. Any time you see a transfer come in, year two is usually better than year one. You’re more comfortable about everything with the day-to-day operation. As you guys have gotten to know Ralph, he’s such a nice kid and isn’t going to be a guy to step on people’s toes or create controversy. He just goes about his business working every single day. That’s why so many people respect him around here.”

On whether the front four is good enough to get a pass rush without blitzing.
“Yeah, without a doubt. Across the board, Anthony Knighton is an excellent pass rusher by himself, not needing a blitz or a stunt to get him free. I think he can win one-on-one matchups on the edge. He proved that last year as a freshman. Anthony’s bigger and stronger. He’s really worked on his craft, as far as pass-rushing moves and studying the game. Jordan Berner the same thing. Malik (Haynes) from the inside, the 3-technique, is the best I’ve seen Malik getting some push. When you can create pressure with your four down, and you can play coverage behind it, any coach would say that’s the recipe for success.”