CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Southeast Missouri quarterback Paxton DeLaurent, offensive lineman Zack Gieg, tight end Danny Joiner and kicker DC Pippin are among the 2024 Big South-OVC Offensive Players to Watch, the Association announced Monday.
 
A native of Camdenton, Missouri, DeLaurent is back for his third year as SEMO's starting quarterback. He started the first seven games of 2023 before a shoulder injury ended his season. DeLaurent completed 149-of-247 passes for 1,792 yards and 11 touchdowns. He ran for 75 yards and another four scores on 62 carries.
 
This preseason, DeLaurent was rated as the #8 returning quarterback in the FCS by HERO Sports. Additionally, he worked as a counselor at the Manning Passing Academy in June.
 
Gieg, who hails from Morgan Hill, California, is in his fourth year as SEMO's starting center. A graduate working on his master's in public administration, Gieg is a three-time First-Team All-Big South-OVC honoree. HERO Sports rated him as the #4 returning offensive lineman in the FCS and best returning interior lineman in the Big South-OVC. Gieg was also tabbed the #6 returning FCS interior offensive lineman by Sports Illustrated ahead of the 2024 season.
 
Joiner, who is from Kansas City, Missouri, started 10 games at tight end for the Redhawks a year ago. He caught seven passes for 90 yards, averaging 12.9 yards per reception. 
 
A native of Springfield, Illinois, Pippin was SEMO's leading scorer with 68 points in 2023. He kicked 11-of-14 field goals to go along with a near-perfect 35-of-36 PATs en route to Second-Team Big South-OVC honors.
 
Quarterback
Zolten Osborne (So.), Charleston Southern
Pierce Holley (Grad.), Eastern Illinois 
Ren Hefley (Grad.), Gardner-Webb
Paxton DeLaurent (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Draylen Ellis (Grad.), Tennessee State
Dylan Laible (Jr.), Tennessee Tech
Kinkead Dent (Grad), UT Martin
Nate Lamb (Sr.), Western Illinois

Running Back
Autavius Ison (So.), Charleston Southern
MJ Flowers (So.), Eastern Illinois
Carson Gresock (So.), Gardner-Webb
Robert Giaimo (Jr.), Lindenwood
Jordan Gant (R-So.), Tennessee State
Obie Sanni (Jr.), Tennessee Tech
Narkel LeFlore (Sr.), UT Martin
Torrance Famer Jr. (Sr.), Western Illinois

Wide Receiver
Noah Jennings (So.), Charleston Southern
Eli Mirza (Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Jordan Bly (Sr.), Gardner-Webb
Jeff Caldwell (Jr.), Lindenwood
Jalal Dean (Sr.), Tennessee State
Tremel Jones (Jr.), Tennessee Tech
DeVonte Tanksley (Grad.), UT Martin
Demari Davis (Jr.), Western Illinois

Tight End
Landon Sauers (R-Jr.), Charleston Southern
Anthony Manaves (Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Cole Schnieder (Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Danny Joiner (Jr.), Southeast Missouri
Jason Hoath Jr. (So.), Tennessee State
Hunter Barnhart (Sr.), Tennessee Tech
Brandon Lanier (Jr.), Western Illinois

Offensive Line
Ronnie Hayes II (R-Jr.), Charleston Southern
Sebastian Pares (Sr.), Eastern Illinois 
CJ Dawson (So.), Gardner-Webb
Ethan Johnson (Jr.), Lindenwood
Zack Gieg (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Connor Meadows (R-So.), Tennessee State
Logan Weedman (Jr.), Tennessee Tech
Drake Carroll (Grad.), UT Martin
Isaiah Foote (Jr.), Western Illinois
 
Placekicker
Jay Billingsley (Jr.), Gardner-Webb
DC Pippin (Jr.), Southeast Missouri
James Lowery (R-Sr.), Tennessee State
Hayden Olsen (Sr.), Tennessee Tech
Christiaan Masucci (Grad.), Western Illinois
 
All-Purpose
Leon Thomas (So.), Charleston Southern
Edward Sayeed (Sr.), Gardner-Webb
Dayron Johnson (Sr.), Tennessee State
Kyron Cumby (Sr.), Tennessee Tech
Narkel LeFlore (Sr.), UT Martin