Aaron Stanton gives Southern Illinois a veteran, tackle-breaking spark in the Saluki backfield
In the 2026 season, Aaron Stanton is a seasoned Southern Illinois back with proven production and a compact, low-center-of-gravity style that fits a committee role well; he’s listed as a senior and has shown he can contribute as both a rusher and receiver, including 57 carries for 193 yards and a touchdown in a prior SIU season. His biggest appeal is reliability, football IQ, and toughness rather than pure size or breakaway flash, so he looks like the kind of back who can steady an offense and punish defenses between the tackles.
