Jeremy Chinn of the Las Vegas Raiders and former Saluki football standout will be the 2025 homecoming grand marshal. (Photo of Jeremy Chinn provided by Las Vegas Raiders)
October 21, 2025
Former SIU football standout to serve as grand marshal for 2025 homecoming parade
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Outstanding Salukis past and present will ensure Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s 2025 Saluki Spooktacular homecoming celebration is one of the best.
NFL safety Jeremy Chinn, currently playing for the Las Vegas Raiders, will return to his alma mater as the grand marshal for the homecoming parade, set for 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. Chinn left his mark in SIU’s football program amassing 243 tackles, 13 interceptions, 31 passes defended and six forced fumbles from 2016 to 2019. An exercise science major, Chinn earned consecutive All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors three times, in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and was the Salukis’ 7th Consensus All-American as a senior, earning finalist honors for the Buck Buchanan Award. He won academic accolades as well.
After earning the highest relative athletic score (RAS) by a safety in NFL Scouting Combine history, Chinn was a 64th overall 2020 NFL draft selection by the Carolina Panthers. He earned honors as Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up and All-Rookie honors with the Panthers, one of just three NFL players in history and the first since 1948 to return two fumbles for touchdowns in a single game. He subsequently played for the Washington Commanders before joining the Raiders this season. A versatile defensive player, Chinn has amassed more than 480 tackles, 6 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 5 fumble recoveries, 24 passes defended and 3 interceptions in his NFL career.
Chinn will also be honored during the 2 p.m. game on Oct. 25 between the Salukis and University of Northern Iowa Panthers.
Joining Chinn for the festivities will be the eight Salukis chosen for the homecoming court. The two students who receive the highest number of votes will win top honors as Homecoming Royalty with the coronation set for halftime. Online student voting is Oct. 21-24.
Candidates vying for crowns
The 2025 royalty candidates, listed with hometowns, include:
Iyanuoluwa Alabi, a senior industrial management and applied engineering major from West Ridge/Chicago. He is a founder of the Black Men Coalition on campus and has served as a leader for the National Society of Black Engineers, working to create spaces where all students grow, connect and find purpose. He has a passion for service, and guided by his faith, he’s worked to become a campus leader dedicated to integrity, diversity, building community, service and unity.
Sydney Bailey, a senior business management major with a specialization in entrepreneurship and a public administration minor from Woodlawn, Illinois. Bailey is president of the Student Alumni Council and works as a Saluki market intern for the SIU Alumni Association. She has a strong passion for connecting students, alumni and the surrounding community and a strong focus on service and school pride, striving to give back to SIU as it has helped her grow and become a leader.
Makenzie Gaines, a senior communication studies major from Champaign, Illinois. Gaines is president of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and has held executive positions in other organizations, including the Black Affairs Council and the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs Inc. Her Saluki pride and purpose have led her to get involved with New Student Programs, the Student Multicultural Resource Center and more than 20 campus and community organizations.
Alberto Juarez, a junior accounting major from Skokie, Illinois. He is the first in his family to attend a four-year institution of higher learning. He has been involved in numerous organizations at SIU, especially the Hispanic-Latino Student Council and other cultural student organizations and groups affiliated with his major. He said they’ve helped him prepare for his career and better understand and celebrate his culture, embrace his roots and teach others the importance of connecting with their heritage.
Kaitlyn Komperda, a business management major specializing in human resources from Chicago. She credits SIU with giving her countless opportunities to grow as a leader, friend and proud Saluki. Being a member of the court allows her to represent the pride, spirit and sense of community that define the university and community, and her goal is to leave her mark by uniting students across campus, creating a sense of belonging while also celebrating individuality, inclusion and connections.
Gaige Lage, a senior musical theater major from Ava, Illinois. As a native of the region, he said SIU has always felt like home. The connection was strengthened by his involvement in the theater program, and this connection, school spirit and creative environment have helped him grow as an artist and a Saluki. So, he’s excited and proud to represent the arts and vibrant Saluki community that have helped shape him on the court.
Cordelia Lemons, a junior civil engineering major from Sesser, Illinois, with an environmental specialization and minors in environmental studies and sustainability. She is president and symposium host lead for the American Society of Civil Engineers, president and co-founder of the Student Women’s Leadership Council, treasurer for the Society of Women Engineers and outreach leader for the College of Engineering, Computing, Technology, and Mathematics Ambassadors. She is also active in the Steele Bridge, Concrete Canoe and women’s rugby groups.
Demetrius Lovejoy, a senior psychology major with minors in political science and legal studies from the south side of Chicago and a graduate of De La Salle Institute. A 2024 inductee in Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., he has been active in numerous student organizations, including the National Association of Black Psychologists, the Black Affairs Council and the Student Programming Council, and he is one of five founders of the Black Men Coalition.
Learn more
SIU’s Saluki Spooktacular Homecoming 2025 celebration also features a Mariah the Scientist concert, the Carbondale Halloween Homecoming Music Street Festival, alumni gatherings and much more, with activities appealing to all ages and interests. Find the complete schedule of events and additional information on the SIU website.