CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Bryce Norman, the 2024 Big South-OVC Association Preseason Defensive Player of the Year, is at the center of Southeast Missouri's linebackers which look to have another strong season in 2024.
 
A native of nearby Jackson, Norman was recently named to the Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List. The Buck Buchanan Award is presented annually to the National Defensive Player of the Year in Division I Football Championship Subdivision football. Norman was also named to both the Stats Perform and Phil Steele Preseason All-America teams. 
 
Norman garnered First-Team All-Big South-OVC honors each of the last two seasons and led SEMO in tackles every year he has worn a Redhawk uniform. He led the team with 87 tackles, 44 solo stops, 9.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. Norman finished with double-digit tackles five times and returned a fumble 46 yards for a touchdown.
 
HERO Sports ranked Norman as the #8 returning linebacker in the FCS and Sports Illustrated rated him #10. He is 28 tackles away from getting 300 in his outstanding career.
 
Norman is in his fourth year starting at the Mike linebacker spot.
 
Mali Walton is projected to make his starting debut at the Will position.
 
Walton played in all 11 games and made one start last season. He had 30 tackles, including 19 solo. Walton added one interception, one pass breakup and a quarterback hurry.
 
Returnee Slade Dollar and newcomer Jared Pedraza are listed behind Norman and Walton, respectively.
 
Dollar saw action in every game with the bulk of his playing time on special teams a year ago.
 
Pedraza will end his career at SEMO after spending the last five years at Southland Conference member Northwestern State. There, he accumulated 209 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss and 10.5 sacks in 37 games at linebacker.
 
At outside linebacker, Sam Cook is back at the Star spot. 
 
Cook started nine games in his first year with the Redhawks in 2023. He ranked tied for eighth on the team with 32 tackles. Cook had 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks, as well.
 
Trinity Valley Community College transfer McCoy Casey is expected to start at Rush outside linebacker. Casey recorded 54 tackles, 31 solo stops and three sacks during his freshman year in 2023.
 
Jeremy Walton and Zy'ier Thornton are behind Cook and Casey.
 
Last season, Walton participated in nine games and logged one start recording nine tackles along the way.
 
Thornton joins the Redhawks from New Mexico State, where he played in six games a year ago.
 
Trey Lisle (OLB), Temidayo Odugbemi (ILB), Judd Cunningham (ILB), Logan Hite (ILB), Brandon Mason (OLB), Latrevion Thompson (OLB), Robert Dover (OLB), Michael Cardilli (ILB), Jayden Davis (ILB) and  Davarious Nunley (ILB) are the rest of the linebackers on this year's roster.