Illinois State football is glad to be back in the FCS playoffs and ready for a road trip

Dillon Gearharts faith in his abilities as an Illinois State football player has been repeatedly tested.

That same faith continues to produce rewards for Gearhart in his sixth season as a Redbird.

Ive seen this program the whole six years go through a lot of ups and downs, Gearhart said.

It means so much to be back in the playoffs again this year.

No.

11-ranked ISU opens the FCS playoffs Saturday with an 11 a.m.

game against No.

16 Southeast Missouri at Houck Field in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Both teams are 9-3 and won six of eight conference games.

Illinois State safety Dillon Gearhart (16) tackles Indiana State running back Justin Dinka (27) in a 2023 game at Hancock Stadium.

Gearhart, Jalen Carr and Nigel White are the only current Redbirds who were on the 2019 roster.

None played exactly five years ago when ISU started a run to the FCS quarterfinals with a 24-6 win over Southeast Missouri.

Arriving at ISU as a walk-on defensive back from St.

Charles East in 2019, Gearhart is in his third season as a starting safety for the Redbirds and ranks fifth on the team with 65 tackles.

Gearhart stayed with his older sister Danielle in an off-campus apartment for a semester.

He was not put on scholarship until the summer of 2021.

It definitely would have been a little bit challenging, Gearhart said of staying in school while not on scholarship.

But I trusted I was going to make it.

I trusted the coaches.

I knew once I kept working eventually it would pay off." ISU coach Brock Spack, a finalist for FCS Coach of the Year, points to Gearhart as a team leader on and off the field.

Talk about mental and physical toughness.

Hes been great, said Spack.

Hes earned his scholarship and become a really good football player.

Hes a guy I trust unequivocally in our secondary.

Unsure whether he would return for 2024, Gearhart participated in Senior Day in 2023.

But the thought of finishing his masters degree in business administration along with his belief in his teammates brought him back.

Illinois State linebacker Amir Abdullah (22) and safety Dillon Gearhart (16) celebrate after the Redbirds scored a touchdown in a 2023 game against Dayton.

Im blessed to be here at this time, Gearhart said.

I made the decision to come back because I knew this team was special and had something going on.

Hes getting his MBA.

Hes almost done with that.

That was really big to him.

Getting your MBA is something you can be proud of the rest of your life, said Spack.

I think he felt there was some unfinished business in his career here.

He saw what was around him.

I think he wanted to be part of a special group.

Niekamp going this time Despite his father Travis being ISU defensive coordinator at the time, Redbirds linebacker Tye Niekamp did not attend the 2019 playoff game at Southeast Missouri.

I had a basketball game that day, said Niekamp, a Normal Community High School graduate.

I remember watching the first half of that game and watching James Robinson have an absolute day.

"I was sitting on the bench at the basketball game.

My grandparents were at the game and said ISU won so I was pretty happy about that.

Niekamp is the current Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week after his performance in the regular-season ending win over North Dakota.

Scouting the Redhawks ISU faces one of the top passing offenses in FCS in the Redhawks and quarterback Paxton DeLaurent, a finalist for the Walter Payton Award as top offensive player in FCS.

The 6-foot-5, 229-pound DeLaurent launches an average of 44.4 passes per game.

He completes 60 percent of his tosses while throwing for 3,520 yards and 29 touchdowns.

Hes very calm under pressure, what you want out of our quarterback, said Spack.

Hes a big guy and a big, strong thrower.

He can run through you.

Hes not afraid to do that if he has to.

Hes played a lot of football.

He can make life miserable for you if you let him.

The Redhawks have three receivers over 60 catches in Cam Pedro (73 for 748 yards), Tristan Smith (66 for 795) and Dorian Anderson (63 for 930).

Anderson stands 6-foot-7 and Smith 6-5.

Theyve got a veteran quarterback back there, and hes going to be airing the ball out a lot, Gearhart said.

It comes back to us doing our job, paying attention to detail and executing.

I trust our guys.

I trust were going to execute.

SEMO does not have a rusher over 307 yards and has been tough defensively against the run at 98.2 yards per outing.

The Redhawks give up 222.9 passing yards.

Theyre really good against the run, one of the countrys best, said Spack.

Theyre disciplined.

They separate.

They play thick and square at the line of scrimmage, and their linebackers are active.

SEMOs top tackler is linebacker Bryce Norman with 126, 13.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.

Norman is a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award as the top FCS defensive player.

Good at home vs.

good on road ISU is the No.

12 seed in the playoffs while SEMO was not seeded in the top 16.

But the Redhawks got the home game because ISUs Hancock Stadium is occupied this weekend with the Illinois High School Association state championship games.

Both schools are fine with that arrangement.

SEMO is 5-0 at home, while the Redbirds have won five straight on the road since a season-opening loss at Iowa.

Were a team that likes to play on the road.

We feel like it brings us together more, Tye Niekamp said.

So to be honest, playing on the road when we're supposed to have a home game really doesnt affect us.

Were pretty excited about the chance to go play on the road again and see what we can do.

Siegal out, Harman in ISU will be without nose tackle Jake Siegal on Saturday because of a knee injury suffered in the regular season finale.

Spack said Siegals injury will not require surgery and he could return for a second round playoff game if ISU defeats SEMO.

Siegal has 12 tackles on the season.

The Redbirds defensive line does get a potentially impactful player back in true freshman Ben Harman, who has recorded 11 tackles and two sacks in four games.

ISU has limited Harman to four games this season to retain his redshirt status.

Playoff games do not count against the four-game limit so Harman will be available for snaps at tackle or end.

That would free up tackle Jake Anderson to shift to nose.

Anderson will play tackle and the nose, Spack said.

Were going to turn him (Harman) loose.

You will see him a lot more than you have the last couple weeks.

Wright stuff SEMO coach Tom Matukewicz is impressed with ISU tailback Wenkers Wright, who has rushed for 1,035 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Illinois State quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse (16) and running back Wenkers Wright (32) celebrate after a touchdown earlier this season at Hancock Stadium.

Its a little unique running style, One thousand yards in the Missouri Valley is not easy to do, said Matukewicz.

Hes a really tough tackle.

You could be there and still not get the job done.

The Redhawks coach sees a stout run defense in the Redbirds.

Theyve been hard to run on, Matukewicz said.

They have good length and good size so they win a lot of point of attack blocks.

Playoff brothers ISU linebacker Lavoise-Deontae McCoy had his brother Dontae at Hancock Stadium last Saturday on Senior Day.

McCoy was a safety on the 2014 team that advanced to the national championship game.

Lavoise said the brothers didnt get ahead of themselves in pregame conversation.

We touched on it (the playoffs), but we didnt want to jinx ourselves, said Lavoise.

We had to handle business (against North Dakota).

Reasons to celebrate Former NFL linebacker Gary Reasons spoke to the Redbirds at practice on Tuesday.

Reasons played most of his eight-year pro career with the New York Giants.

Reasons presented ISU's captains with the FCS Team of the Week award on behalf of STATS Perform.

The Redbirds closed the regular season on a high note with a 35-13 win over North Dakota.

Illinois State captains and honorary caption Cameron Meredith comes out for coin toss before the game against Eastern Illinois.

The 2014 national runner-up Illinois State football team is celebrated at halftime against Eastern Illinois.

The 2014 national runner-up Illinois State football team is celebrated at halftime against Eastern Illinois.

The 2014 national runner-up Illinois State football team is celebrated at halftime against Eastern Illinois.

Illinois State wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz (2) runs into the end zone for a touchdown against Eastern Illinois.

Illinois State wide receiver Daniel Sobkowicz (2) runs iagainst Eastern Illinois in the second quarter.

Illinois State wide receiver Xavier Loyd (1) and tight end Javon Charles (85) celebrate after Loyd scores against Eastern Illinois.

Illinois State safety Keondre Jackson (3) returns an interception against Eastern Illinois.

Illinois State defensive back Keondre Jackson (3) tackles Eastern Illinois quarterback Pierce Holley (3) in the second quarter.

Eastern Illinois running back MJ Flowers (4) scores a touchdown against Illinois State.

Eastern Illinois quarterback Pierce Holley (3) looks to throw in the first quarter against Illinois State.

Eastern Illinois running back MJ Flowers (4) runs against Illinois State in the first quarter.

Eastern Illinois quarterback Pierce Holley (3) looks to throw in the first quarter against Illinois State.

Illinois State defensive lineman Steven Curtis (8) celebrates after a stop against Eastern Illinois.

Illinois State tailback Wenkers Wright (32) looks for an opening in the first quarter against Eastern Illinois earlier this season.

Illinois State running back Wenkers Wright (32) runs in the first quarter against Eastern Illinois.

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