It takes Lance Clark two trips to collect all of the postcards located directly behind him at his desk. The third-year Marion head football coach spreads out more than 10 letters adorned with the Southeast Missouri State logo on the front. Though there were several postcards, the message was the same across the board: Thanks for helping us get Donnie. Donnie being Clark's record-setting all-state receiver Donnie Cheers, III, who signed a national letter of intent in December with the Cape Girardeau school. "They were stoked to land Donnie, because they see what we've seen the past couple of years," said Clark. "He's not just a great player, but he's a competitor who will do whatever it takes to win. He sets a great example. I couldn't be more excited for him." Southeast Missouri adds Cheers on the heels of a 9-3 season last fall that saw the Redhawks reach the College Football Championship Subdivision (D2) playoffs for the second time in four years. "They made me feel like I was at home every time I talked to the coaches or when I visited, pretty much all the time," said Cheers. "They made me feel comfortable, and I appreciated that." Cheers leaves behind quite the legacy in Marion. As a sophomore, Cheers gave a glimpse of what was to come, as he caught 12 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown as he helped the Patriots advance to the state semifinals for just the second time in school history. Following his sophomore season, Keith Houston left to take a head-coaching job in Texas, which paved the way for Clark's arrival in Marion. "I liked playing for Coach Clark and Coach Houston," said Cheers. "They were both really good to me, and I love both of them." If his sophomore year was the appetizer, his junior year proved to be a four-course meal. Cheers earned all-conference honors in 2021, when he topped the Marion receiving chart in receptions (41), receiving yards (948), and receiving touchdowns (11). He also averaged 24 yards per kick return, including another touchdown, and the Pats returned to the semifinals with back-to-back decisive victories over Russellville and Benton in the first two rounds of the playoffs. Cheers blistered Benton in the playoff quarterfinals with five receptions for 160 yards, including TD catches that covered 59 and 60 yards. "I will always remember Donnie's performance at Benton in the quarterfinals," said Clark. "The defense had come on at that point, and (quarterback) Ben Gerrard played great, but ultimately, we're able to win that ballgame because Benton was unable to do anything with Donnie Cheers. He singlehandedly put them away." Cheers entered 2022 bigger, faster, and stronger than ever, and his play proved it. As a senior, he landed on the prestigious Hooten's Arkansas Football SuperTeam, which honors the Top 22 players in each classification regardless of position. He was also named a Team Captain prior to the year. On the field, Cheers earned all-state honors after leading Marion in every relevant receiving category again, with 51 receptions for 894 yards, and 13 touchdowns. Cheers established the Marion all-time receiving touchdown record in November with his 25th scoring catch, a mark that he extended to 26 in the first round of the playoffs against Mountain Home. His 2,003 receiving yards are the second-most in school history. "The thing I'll always remember the most and appreciate the most, are my teammates," said Cheers. "Without my teammates, none of this would have been possible." Southeast Missouri boasted three receivers who logged more than 400 yards receiving last season, but it's possible that Cheers cracks the rotation as early as this fall. "Their coaches think he can contribute immediately at receiver," said Clark. "They've been very clear about that." "They really want me to play inside receiver, but they said they'll do whatever it takes to get the ball in my hands," said Cheers. "I don't really care which receiver it is, I just want to help the team win."