SE Football To Open Season vs Muleriders on Thursday

DURANT, Okla. – Southeastern will kick off the 2024 season on Thursday evening, Sept. 5, when it welcomes Southern Arkansas to Paul laird Field for a 6 p.m. season-opening matchup.
 
Southeastern fans can listen live via the Southeastern Sports Network on GoSoutheastern.com/SESportsNet or across the largest DII radio network in the area with Jay Lindly and Rob Johnson on the call. Local fans can pick up the game on 96.1 FM, while fans across southeastern Oklahoma and north Texas can pick up the games on 94.7 FM in Valliant, Okla., 97.7 in Ardmore, Okla., 99.5 in Rattan, Okla., 102.1 in Atoka, Okla., and 107.5 in Atoka.
 
Southeastern football heads into the 2024 season picked to finish fifth in the Great American Conference Preseason Poll, while its Thursday night opponent was picked third.
 
SE returns a pair of All-GAC selections from a year ago in DJ Brown and Ryan Hirt who paced the Savage Storm rushing attack.
 
Brown, a junior from Leonard, Texas, led the way with 671 yards on the ground, averaging 4.7 yards per carry with four touchdowns.
 
Hirt, a senior from Coppell, Texas, was next in line with 370 yards, averaging 6.6 ypc, with a team-high seven touchdowns.
 
The Storm return two of their top six receivers, led by Kaleb Whitley who posted 437 yards on 34 catches with one touchdown, while Victor Taylor added 111 yards on seven catches.
 
Whitley was also the team leader in kickoff returns, averaging 20.25 yards per return.
 
On defense, SE welcomes back four of its top six tacklers, with Michael Hookfin leading that group with 66 tackles along with a pair of interceptions.
 
Tyveon Williams followed with 58 stops and a forced fumble, with Braeden Winters recording 54 tackles, while Jordan Hood racked up 44 tackles from the defensive line with a pair of sacks.
 
Jackson Nalley leads the special team's returners after ranking fourth in the GAC in punting a season ago at 40.7 yards per punt.
 
In all, SE welcomes five starters who earned at least five starts on offense and six on defense, while welcoming a host of depth with 20 players on the two-deep who are listed as sophomores or younger.