BRENTWOOD, Tenn. – Southeast Missouri Football was picked to finish third in the 2025 Ohio Valley Conference-Big South Association Preseason Poll, the league announced on Thursday during the association's media day.
The Redhawks, who won a share of the 2024 OVC-Big South title, received two first-place votes and 53 total points in the poll voted on by the league's head coaches and communicators.
UT Martin (2) was picked second with 56 points while Tennessee Tech (5) was picked to finish first in 2025 with 57 total points.
Lindenwood (39), Western Illinois (30), Eastern Illinois (24), Gardner-Webb (24), Tennessee State (23), and Charleston Southern (18) rounded out the 2025 Preseason Poll.
SEMO Football is entering its 12
th season under Head Coach
Tom Matukewicz after finishing 9-4 in 2024. The Redhawks went to the playoffs for the fourth time under Matukewicz, and the fourth time in the last seven seasons.
After clinching a share of the OVC-Big South title, the Redhawks hosted their first-round playoff game against Illinois State at Houck Stadium (Nov. 30).
The Redhawks landed eight players on the 2025 OVC-Big South Preseason 'Players to Watch' list including
Payton Brown (So., RB),
Brandon Epton, Jr. (Sr., RB),
Cam Pedro (Jr., WR),
Rashad Turner (Sr., OL),
Nasim Cairo (Sr., DL),
McCoy Casey (Sr., LB),
Justus Johnson (Sr., DB), and
Judd Cunningham (Sr., LS).
On Thursday, Head Coach
Tom Matukewicz, Brandon Epton (RB), and
Nasim Cairo (DL) participated in the association's virtual media day.
SEMO Football will begin the 2025 campaign on Saturday, August 30, when they travel to Jonesboro, Arkansas to take on Sun Belt Conference member, Arkansas State. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m., CT. from Centennial Bank Stadium.
2025 OVC-Big South Predicted Order of Finish
1. Tennessee Tech (5 first-place votes) 57 points
2. UT Martin (2) 56
3. Southeast Missouri (2) 53
4. Lindenwood 39
5. Western Illinois 30
6. Eastern Illinois 24
Gardner-Webb 24
8. Tennessee State 23
9. Charleston Southern 18
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year
Steve Hall (RB, So.), Lindenwood
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year
JaMichael McGoy, Jr. (CB, R-Sr.), UT Martin
2025 OVC-Big South Preseason Players to Watch
QUARTERBACK
Zolten Osborne (R-So.), Charleston Southern
Nate Glantz (Sr.), Lindenwood
Kekoa Visperas (R-Sr.), Tennessee Tech
Jase Bauer (R-Sr.), UT Martin
Chris Irvin (Sr.), Western Illinois
RUNNING BACK
Tyson Greenwade (R-So.), Charleston Southern
Jay Pearson (R-Jr.), Eastern Illinois
Quasean Holmes (Grad.), Gardner-Webb
Steve Hall (R-So.), Lindenwood
Payton Brown (So.), Southeast Missouri
Aidan Littles (R-So.), Tennessee Tech
Armoni Goodwin (R-Sr.), UT Martin
Markell Holman (Jr.), Western Illinois
WIDE RECEIVER
Chris Rhone (R-Sr.), Charleston Southern
Cooper Willman (Grad.), Eastern Illinois
Anthony Lowe (Grad.), Gardner-Webb
Rico Bond (R-Fr.), Lindenwood
Cam Pedro (Jr.), Southeast Missouri
Noah Robinson (R-Sr.), Tennessee Tech
Delanie "Juice" Majors (Jr.), Tennessee State
Phaizon Wilson (R-Jr.), UT Martin
Christian Anaya (Jr.), Western Illinois
TIGHT END
Landon Sauers (R-Sr.), Charleston Southern
Alex Herrera (Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Cole Schneider (Sr.), Gardner-Webb
Darrin Fugitt (Jr.), Lindenwood
Jason Hoath Jr. (Jr.), Tennessee State
Brian Courtney (Sr.), Tennessee Tech
Drake Martinez (Sr.), UT Martin
Brandon Lanier (Grad.), Western Illinois
OFFENSIVE LINE
Andrew Threatt (Jr.), Charleston Southern
Nic DiSanto (Jr.), Eastern Illinois
Andrew Threatt (R-Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Gavin Hulet (Sr.), Lindenwood
Rashad Turner (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Drew Wilder (Sr.), Tennessee Tech
Anthony Smith (Grad.), Tennessee State
Josiah Tingley (Grad.), UT Martin
Dagen Miller (Sr.), Western Illinois
ALL-PURPOSE
Tyson Greenwade (R-So.), Charleston Southern
Cooper Willman (Grad.), Eastern Illinois
Anthony Lowe (Grad.), Gardner-Webb
Brandon Epton Jr. (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Tremel Jones (R-Sr.), Tennessee Tech
Demari Davis (Sr.), Western Illinois
PLACEKICKER
Zach Gordon (Jr.), Charleston Southern
Will Graham (R-So.), Lindenwood
Dom LeBlanc (So.), Tennessee Tech
Antonio Chadha (Sr.), Western Illinois
DEFENSIVE LINE
David Portu (R-Jr.), Charleston Southern
Drake Van Hyfte (R-Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Antonio O'Berry (Grad.), Gardner-Webb
Tajay Passmore (Sr.), Lindenwood
Nasim Cairo (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Hudson Tucker (Sr.), Tennessee Tech
Peyton Bradford (Grad.), Western Illinois
LINEBACKER
Steve Zayachkowsky (Jr.), Charleston Southern
Phoenix Porter (R-Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Jackson Marshall (R-Jr.), Gardner-Webb
Devon Edwards (Sr.), Lindenwood
McCoy Casey (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Sammy Taylor (R-So.), Tennessee State
Aaron Swafford (Sr.), Tennessee Tech
Tah Mac Bright Banda (Sr.), UT Martin
Christian Pierce (Grad.), Western Illinois
DEFENSIVE BACK
Champ Brantley (Jr.), Charleston Southern
Tienne Fridge (Grad.), Eastern Illinois
Wendall McClain (R-Sr.), Gardner-Webb
Jayden Patrick (Sr.), Lindenwood
Justus Johnson (Sr.), Southeast Missouri
Camani Cobbs (R-So.), Tennessee State
Tim Coutras (Grad.), Tennessee Tech
JaMichael McGoy Jr. (R-Sr.), UT Martin
Willie Jones (Sr.), Western Illinois
PUNTER
Gilbert Brown (Sr.), Charleston Southern
Mason Miller (Grad.), Eastern Illinois
Mark Shenouda (R-So.), Tennessee State
Spencer Ashby (So.), Tennessee Tech
Jaren Van Winkle (R-Sr.), UT Martin
KICK RETURN SPECIALIST
Quay Kindell (Jr.), Charleston Southern
Anthony Lowe (Grad.), Gardner-Webb
Tremel Jones (R-Sr.), Tennessee Tech
Avery Knight (R-Fr.), Western Illinois
PUNT RETURN SPECIALIST
Jamil Bishop (R-Sr.), Charleston Southern
Cooper Willman (Grad.), Eastern Illinois
Rico Bond (R-Fr.), Lindenwood
Tremel Jones (R-Sr.), Tennessee Tech
Demari Davis (Sr.), Western Illinois
LONG SNAPPER
Noah Summers (R-Jr.), Charleston Southern
Brett Galletti (R-Sr.), Eastern Illinois
Jaylan Mays (So.), Gardner-Webb
Nelson Pipes (Sr.), Lindenwood
Judd Cunningham (Sr.), Southeast Missouri Ben Bergfeld (Jr.), Western Illinois
