Latest news with #SoutheastMissouriState
USA Today
09-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Tennessee Titans invite explosive small-school wide receiver prospect to local Pro Day
Tennessee Titans invite explosive small-school wide receiver prospect to local Pro Day The Tennessee Titans continue to build the roster of draft-eligible players who will attend their local Pro Day. While many of these players won't be household names, some may have a shot at being drafted or signed as undrafted rookie free agents. Hailing from Oakland, Tennessee, Southeast Missouri State wide receiver Dorian Anderson is a player to watch. A big-bodied receiver checking in at 6-foot-7 and 200 pounds, Anderson is coming off a breakout season in 2024, when he recorded 67 receptions for 1,011 yards and 12 touchdowns. A small-school prospect, Anderson is a tremendous route runner who understands the nuances of creating separation and finding soft spots in the defense. Because of his size, he is a matchup problem in the red zone and has shown to be a consistent, explosive play threat against lower-level competition. At this point, there are questions about his weight and physicality heading toward the 2025 NFL draft and whether his skills will translate against the considerable jump in competition he will face in the NFL. With the Titans lacking depth at wide receiver, he could be on their radar late in the process.
USA Today
06-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Dabo Swinney says transfer wide receiver was a guy that they 'really needed'
Dabo Swinney says transfer wide receiver was a guy that they 'really needed' Clemson closed out spring practice Saturday with the annual Orange and White Spring Game, and the name that stood out most under the Memorial Stadium lights was one Tigers fans are just getting to know. Tristan Smith, a junior wide receiver who transferred from Southeast Missouri State this offseason, delivered the kind of breakout moment that could set the tone for his Clemson career. The 6-foot-5 wideout caught five passes for 137 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown that put his length and speed on full display. It was exactly the type of performance coaches had hoped for from one of the program's most important offseason additions. 'He's never played in front of a crowd like that probably,' Dabo Swinney said after the game. 'Spending his first couple of years at a junior college and then obviously at SEMO. So it's a big deal. His confidence will grow.' Smith arrived as a bit of an unknown, but he's quickly earning trust behind the scenes. 'We had to kind of get him going,' Swinney said. 'He's the new guy, and it's been a lot of pressure on him, so for him to go out and do what he did today, that will really boost his confidence.' More importantly, he's fitting in well with a wide receiver room that Swinney believes has six players who could start. 'He just puts his head down. He's a humble kid that doesn't say much. He just works,' Swinney said. 'From what I saw on tape, I was like, 'This is the guy. This is what we need,' and he's just come in and bought in.' Smith's spring game performance was a strong sign that he could quickly carve out a big role for an offense looking to continue reestablishing its explosiveness through the air. For more, follow us on X @Clemson_Wire
USA Today
05-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Clemson transfers impress in the Tigers annual Orange and White Spring Game
Clemson transfers impress in the Tigers annual Orange and White Spring Game Clemson wrapped up spring football on Saturday with its annual spring game at Memorial Stadium, concluding an important offseason for the program. The Tigers switched things up this year with an offense vs. defense format that included a unique scoring system for the defensive side. In the end, the offense came out on top, 33-15. This spring has been especially notable because of Clemson's transfer additions — the largest group Dabo Swinney has brought in since taking over the program. Two of those newcomers made a big impression in their spring debut. Tristan Smith, a 6-foot-5 wideout from Southeast Missouri State, turned heads with five catches for 137 yards, including a 72-yard touchdown that highlighted his size and speed. Smith brings a much-needed vertical threat to Clemson's passing game and looks like a strong addition to Garrett Riley's offense. On the other side of the ball, Alabama transfer Jeremiah Alexander showed why he was such a key pickup. The veteran linebacker led all defenders with seven tackles and was consistently around the ball. Clemson defensive coordinator Tom Allen has spoken highly of Alexander this spring, and his versatility will be a major asset moving excellent start for the Tigers' two new key players. For more, follow us on X @Clemson_Wire
Chicago Tribune
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Plano's Brad Korn and Southeast Missouri State deal with likely NCAA, NIT shutout. ‘It makes me mad.'
Call it the very good, the very bad and the very ugly. Brad Korn certainly could. That derivative of the 1960s movie title might best sum up what will stand as an impressive fifth season for the Southeast Missouri State basketball coach who hails from Plano. His team had a bounce-back season, winning the Ohio Valley Conference regular-season title and earning the top seed in the tournament, only to be upset last weekend in the title game 69-48 by SIU Edwardsville, a team the Redhawks had beaten twice. 'It's been a remarkable year that will stick with me forever,' Korn posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. 'Success is fleeting. I'm sorry we won't get to play in the NCAA Tournament, but this team will forever be Ohio Valley Conference champions and that brings a smile to my face. 'It's my hope that we've made our folks proud. I know I am.' So much for some of the good and the bad. The third time was a charm for the Cougars, who grabbed the conference's automatic NCAA Tournament berth. It left Korn, the conference's coach of the year, and the Redhawks dealing with the ugly. The Ohio Valley is not a power conference and won't receive a second NCAA bid. Unfortunately, Southeast Missouri State (21-12) isn't likely to have a strong enough profile to receive a bid to the National Invitation Tournament either. The NIT is also run by the NCAA. 'We play a 20-game conference schedule and win it by two games,' Korn said. 'I think we should be in the NIT. It makes me mad we don't get rewarded for the season we had, but it is what it is.' He pointed to a recent reduction in the NIT field to 16 teams as hurting a team like SEMO that stumbled in a conference tournament. 'It's kinda (baloney),' Korn said, noting that the NIT field will likely be filled with higher-profile teams from power leagues who didn't do enough to make the NCAA Tournament. How about remaining postseason tournaments like the College Basketball Invitational that will be played at Daytona Beach, Florida, or Postseason Tournament, played at campus sites? There could be a spot for Southeast Missouri State, but is it worth it? Korn plans to gauge the interest of his players if an invite comes and then see what his administration says. 'There's also a financial obligation with those as well and we'd have to figure that out,' Korn said. Programs have to pay to play in those events, ranging from $25,000 to 30,000 to cover costs. It puts a bit of a damper on what Southeast Missouri State accomplished. In his third season, Korn's team made the Cinderella run, winning four games in four days as the fifth seed to win the 2023 OVC Tournament title and take the automatic NCAA berth. His contract was extended through 2027. Last season, the team fell to 9-22 and placed 10th in the 11-team conference, failing to make the eight-team tournament for the first time in Korn's four-year tenure. 'It wasn't like we had a complete fall off,' he said. 'We had injuries that made a huge difference. We had two seniors, starters at both forward spots, who weren't able to play all season long.' Korn brought in six transfers, five from junior colleges and one via the portal, and one freshman. One of the JC transfers, the portal transfer and junior guard Rob Martin, who had transferred in from Indiana State the previous year, all earned all-conference honors. The 6-foot-9 Korn played for Bruce Weber and Matt Painter at Southern Illinois after leading Plano to a fourth-place finish in the state. He was an assistant for 16 years and has dealt with continual changes since becoming a head coach in 2020. 'I was hired in March of the COVID year and didn't get to meet my team until September,' Korn said. The transfer portal, plus name, image and likeness to pay players, followed. 'Every year, it's something new,' Korn said. 'Even with the changes, there's no point in complaining. Whether it's (junior colleges) or portal transfers or signing high school recruits, you try to identify kids of character and talent and then work your tail off with them. 'It's the nature of the beast. As long as you can retain your core, that's about the best you can do.' It appears he could keep the Redhawks in the tall corn.
Fox Sports
08-03-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Southeast Missouri State knocks off Little Rock, 78-59, advance to OVC championship game
Associated Press EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Rob Martin had 21 points in top-seeded Southeast Missouri State's 78-59 victory over fourth-seeded Little Rock in the Ohio Valley Conference tournament semifinals Friday. Southeast Missouri State will play for the conference championship Saturday against the winner of the semifinal between No. 2-seed SIU-Edwardsville and third-seeded Tennessee State. Martin shot 8 of 15 from the field, including 1 for 4 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 5 from the line for the Redhawks (21-11). Troy Cole Jr. added 17 points while going 6 of 9 from the floor, including 2 for 3 from 3-point range, and 3 for 4 from the line while they also had five rebounds. TJ Biel had 13 points and shot 4 of 4 from the field and 3 for 4 from the line. The Redhawks picked up their 11th straight win. The Trojans (19-14) were led by Creed Williamson, who posted 20 points. Johnathan Lawson added 11 points for Little Rock. Mwani Wilkinson finished with 10 points and two steals. Southeast Missouri State took the lead with 10:00 remaining in the first half and never looked back. Cole led their team in scoring with 12 points in the first half to help put them up 40-29 at the break. Southeast Missouri State extended its lead to 69-47 during the second half, fueled by a 13-2 scoring run. Biel scored a team-high 10 points in the second half as their team closed out the win. ___ The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar. recommended
