Junior transfer Daniel Santacaterina was announced as Southeast football starting quarterback going into the week one matchup with Arkansas State.

The junior transfer from Northern Illinois won a three-man competition with senior Anthony Cooper and junior Joe Pyle during fall camp.

“It felt like there was a weight lifted off my shoulders,” Santacaterina said, who is from Geneva, Illinois. “But it’s just go time now and time to move on to Arkansas State.”

Santacaterina signed with the Redhawks after passing for 712 yards and seven touchdowns on 62-of-97 passing during the 2017 season. His most notable game came against Nebraska of the Big Ten Conference, where he completed 15-of-22 passing for 128 yards in a stunning upset of the Cornhuskers.

Although Santacaterina has been with the Southeast football team since spring, he has been at limited capacity due to a shoulder injury. He was not cleared for football activities until fall camp. In addition to the injury, he’s had to learn a new offensive system with a new group of players. He did not receive any reps with his receivers until fall camp, which put him at a disadvantage in the quarterback competition.

Santacaterina credited the staff for his recovery that allowed him to rise to the starting position.

“I wouldn’t have been is this position if it was not for Select P.T. [Personal Therapy], Coach [Ryan] Napoli in the strength room, and [head athletic trainer] Ben Fox in the athletic training room,” Santacaterina said. “They were all really key pieces.”

His delayed start has not diminished his expectations for the season.

“[We expect] to be successful, and for me to do my job every play,” Santacaterina said. “It’s a team effort to keep everyone accountable. All the receivers have to do their jobs, the running backs, tight ends, offensive line. And that just makes everyone else’s job easier.”

Santacaterina is looking to lead the Redhawks to their first winning season since 2010. Southeast opens its season Sept. 1 against Arkansas State. The Redhawks will play their home opener the following week, on Sept. 8 against Dayton.