Jimmy Athans brings compact, downhill energy to SIU’s backfield
In the 2024 season, Jimmy Athans flashed efficient burst for Southern Illinois, rushing 29 times for 159 yards and a touchdown at 5.5 yards per carry, with a season-long 35-yard pop; in 2023, he was more of a special-teams grinder, showing the kind of willingness coaches love. He’s a smaller back at 5-foot-8 and 192 pounds, but that usually means low center of gravity, quick feet, and contact balance — useful traits for a team needing reliable rotational juice rather than a bell-cow bruiser. The fit? A hard-working, versatile depth piece with sneaky value.
