SEMO finds itself at the center of controversy after a concerning video from college football practice revealed a reckless drill that puts the players at risk of an injury. Former Redhawks punter Adam Heston wants the world to know this is not a one-off occurrence.
His career came to an end during a practice at Southeast Missouri State!
Injuries are going to happen during college football. It is a violent game. However, the coaches are responsible for their players. They should not be putting them in harm’s way during practice.
Southeast Missouri State ran a dangerous drill at football practice.
The Redhawks got their spring practice period underway on March 16. They will continue to practice three times per week over the next few weeks with the spring game scheduled for April 18.
A team that finished at 4-8 last season will try to return to the FCS playoffs this fall with 52 new players. That includes 23 summer signees and 29 mid-year signees.
Head coach Tom Matukewicz wanted to set the tone for the new season with what he calls an “identity scrimmage” earlier this week. He wants to teach his players what the standard looks like when you wear the SEMO jersey and helmet.
To do so, Southeast Missouri State ran one of the most dangerous drills I have ever seen.
Three defensive players line up in the end zone while one offensive player runs toward the end zone from the 10-yard-line. The three defensive players are tasked with tackling the ball-carrier before he crosses the goal line. The ball-carrier has to score. It is a three-on-one (!!) situation.
Matukewicz is getting crushed for this drill. College and NFL players both past and present question why a coach would ever put his players in such a vulnerable situation. Analysts and pundits agree.
Only Jason Brown of Last Chance U fame (infamy?) thinks it is a good idea.
🚨🏈💯Fact not Fiction! @TheCoachJBShow @Darnell_Smith95 pic.twitter.com/smcT8iHyVi
— Coach Jason Brown (@TheRealCoach_JB) March 31, 2026
Most everybody else considers Matukewicz’s drill to be problematic. It is an injury waiting to happen.
Former SEMO punter Adam Heston broke his leg during a walkthrough.
A number of current and former Redhawks spoke about their experience during college football practice. Some of them were in defense of Matukewicz, like starting running back Brandon Epton Jr.
“it’s football.. and this exact situation happens in every single football game,” he said.
Former SEMO running back Geno Hess disagrees. He was the team’s leading rusher in 2022 and he is glad “the world is finally seeing what he went through.” The video from practice earlier this month obviously brought up some old feelings. This is not a new thing.
Adam Heston was the most vocal advocate for change. The former Southeast Missouri State punter actually suffered a career-ending injury during practice. He found the video “tough to watch.”
“Had my career ended, leg broken during a walkthrough punt drill at SEMO. Hoped it would be a learning moment so coaches would never put players at risk like that in practice again. Clearly things haven’t changed….”
It was the Thursday punt walkthrough before the Saturday game. It was “helmets and spiders, thud tempo at most.” A coach told the player with whom he eventually collided that he was lazy and did not show enough effort right before the rep that broke his leg. The player went way too hard on the next play.
https://t.co/uOHbEEeB73 pic.twitter.com/gpf0ObkxqB
— Adam Heston (@adamheston_) March 31, 2026
Heston does not have any resentment toward the teammate who ended his career because it was not his fault. He just never wants to see this happen again. To see the video from spring practice was triggering. Deja Vu.