SIU’s Jules earns NFL Bengals roster spot milestone
Saluki football star PJ Jules notified Cincinnati Bengals that he made the final 53-man roster after spending 2023 on the Bengals practice squad. The second-year pro, SIU consensus All American, could become SIU’s 43rd NFL player, with debut planned Sept. 7 against Cleveland. Hill praised Jules’ work ethic and study habits.
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Carbondale
Saluki
PJ Jules
Nick Hill
Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals
Jules
Hill
NFL
Southern Illinois
Jeremy Chinn
Madre Harper
Chinn
Las Vegas Raiders
Cleveland Browns
SIU
MVFC
Buck Buchanan
Tom Weber
Strongdawgs.com
Benton tops Carbondale in three sets to stay unbeaten
Benton Rangers improve to 2-0 after a 25-22 17-25 25-22 victory over Carbondale Terriers. Coach Kelly Griffith cautioned about a flat start, but praised the team’s late third set rally sparked by Makena Drew. Carbondale, hampered by 10 service errors and an injured Amariah Luckey, struggled with consistency and smarter play.
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Carbondale
Carbondale Terriers
Benton Rangerettes
Benton
Kelly Griffith
Griffith
Rangerettes
Makenna
Drew
Terriers
Fae Ragan
Amariah Luckey
High school football opens season with Marion clash at Lions Field
Southern Illinois notes Friday marks the start of high school football with many non conference games. The Black Diamond Conference will stage nine league games over nine weeks. Carterville coach Brett Diel confirms this is the first regular season meeting with Marion since 1955 as Lions Field hosts Friday night battle.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Southern Illinois
Marion
Carterville
Brett Diel
Lions Field
Centralia Named SI Preseason No 1 Team in 2025
Centralia Orphans earn top spot in Southern Illinois preseason ranking from SI editors John Homan and Matt Cagle. The squad returns key players from last season’s playoff run, led by senior quarterback Callahan Roper and standout sophomore Archie Goeney. Wildcats also made playoffs but exited in the first round, and eye a strong senior class as the season begins.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Matt Cagle
Marion
Callahan Roper
Wildcats
Roper
Carterville
Centralia
Southern Illinois
Archie Goeney
Also Mentioned on This Page
Alukis
Benton Downs Carbondale
Ragan
Grif
Fith
Matt Cagle Benton
Callie McCann
Kinley Glover
John Homan and
Jhoman
Thesouthern.com
McAgle
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