SAN ANTONIO – Sitting at No. 14 in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 preseason poll, the University of the Incarnate Word football team is set to host No. 9 Southern Illinois in the 2022 home opener at Gayle and Tom Benson Stadium at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3. 
 
UIW

• Last season's Southland Conference Champions, the Cardinals are set to play the first game under head coach G.J. Kinne.
• UIW capped off the 2021 season rewriting the record books after making it to the NCAA FCS Second Round for the first time in program history.
• In the offseason, several UIW standouts received preseason awards. Taylor Grimes and Kelechi Anyalebechi earned Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Honors. Grimes claimed a spot on the Walter Payton Award Watch List, while Anyalebechi was named to the Buch Buchanan Award Preseason Watch List for the second season in a row.

 
 
SCOUTING THE SALUKIS

• Southern Illinois is slated to finish fourth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference Preseason Poll.
• Wide receiver Avante Cox and quarterback Nic Baker were named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List.
• Running back Javon Williams Jr. leads FCS in career rushing touchdowns (34) and was selected to the 2022 Senior Bowl Watch List

 
UIW PLAYERS TO WATCH

• Lindsey Scott Jr. will play his first season with the Cardinals after transferring from Nicholls State University in the spring. He was one of 11 quarterbacks to be named to the Walter Payton Award Watch List.
• Grimes returns to UIW for his senior season after being selected to the 2022 Senior Bowl Watch List.
• Nash Jones returns at center to anchor an offensive line that allowed UIW to average 487 yards per game in 2021.
• Cameron Preston helps hold down the defensive line with 13 solo and 13 assisted tackles last season.

 
FOLLOW ALONG
For the most up-to-date information on UIW Athletics, visit uiwcardinals.com, follow the Cardinals on, and like UIW Athletics on Facebook. 
Follow the team on Twitter @UIWFootball and Instagram @uiw_football.