ST. LOUIS — QB Jason Shelley of Missouri State has been named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Newcomer of the Year, and QB Demeatric Crenshaw has been tabbed the league's Freshman of the Year.  They head a list of 24 student-athletes named to the 2021 Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team.  League coaches, sports information directors and a media panel selected the team.

2021 MVFC All-Newcomer Team (PDF)

All 11 league schools had at least one honoree, while Missouri State had the most of any team, with five selections.  Ten of the 24 honorees are freshmen, and this year's team is highlighted by five quarterbacks.

Shelley was the Missouri Valley Football Conference leader in total offense (315.8) and points responsible for (194).  This season, he shattered Missouri State's single-season passing yardage (3,347) and total offense (3,789) records.  He's the only Missouri State quarterback in program history to throw for 200 yards or more in his first 12 career games.  A transfer from Utah State, Shelley engineered four game-winning drives in the fourth quarter.




Crenshaw started nine games for the Penguins as a redshirt freshman, and he completed 97-of-156 passes for 791 yards and six touchdowns while rushing for 599 yards on 132 carries and scored seven times.  In MVFC games, Crenshaw was 78-of-121 (64.5 percent) for 598 yards and five TDs and rushed for 449 yards on 94 attempts and had four scores.  He had 195 yards rushing against Missouri State and 134 against Western Illinois, and was named a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award.

 

OFFENSE	Yr.	Hometown (Previous Schools)
QB Demeatric Crenshaw, YSU	RFr.	Pickerington, Ohio / Pickerington Central High
QB Theo Day, UNI	RSo.	Canton, Mich. / Divine Child High (Michigan St.)
TE Bryson Deming, Illinois State	Jr.	Billings, Mont. / Billings West High (Montana)
WR Xavier Lane, Missouri State	RSr.	Montgomery, Ala. / Carter High (W. Kentucky)
RB Cole Mueller, Illinois State	RFr.	Wentzville, Mo. / Holt High
QB Chris Oladokun, SDSU	Gr.	Tampa, Fla. / Sickles High (Samford)
QB Quincy Patterson, NDSU	Jr.	Chicago, Ill. / Solorio Academy (Virginia Tech)
WR Tyrone Scott, Missouri State	RSo.	Estill, S.C. / Jenkins High (Central Michigan)
QB Jason Shelley, Missouri State	RJr.	Frisco, Texas / Lone Star High (Utah State)
RB Isaiah Smith, North Dakota	RFr.	Minneapolis, Minn. / Benilde-St. Margaret's
RB Nate Thomas, South Dakota	Fr.	South Holland, Ill. / Thornwood High
RB Tamerik Williams, NDSU	Jr.	Angleton, Texas / Angleton High (SMU)
DEFENSE	Yr.	Hometown (Previous Schools)
LB Geoffrey Brown, Indiana St.	Fr.	Fishers, Ind. / Fishers High
DL Braydon Deming, Illinois St.	Jr.	Billings, Mont. / Billings West High (Montana)
DT Nick Gaes, South Dakota	RFr.	Alta, Iowa / Alta-Aurelia High
DB Josiah Ganues, South Dakota	Fr.	Miramar, Fla. / Miramar High
DB JJ Henderson, Indiana State	Gr.	Tampa, Fla. / T.R. Robinson High (Stetson)
DB Darius Joiner, Western Illinois	Sr.	Roanoke, Ala. / Handley High (Jacksonville St.)
DL Allen Love, Missouri State	RSo.	Birmingham, Ala. / Huffman (Mississippi St.)
DL Ben McNaboe, North Dakota	So.	Rogers, Minn. / Rogers High (Minnesota)
CB David Miller, Southern Illinois	Fr.	Columbus, Ohio / Gahanna Lincoln (Navy)
DE Loshiaka Roques, NDSU	RFr.	Maple Grove, Minn. / Wayzata High
CB Marques Sigle, NDSU	RFr.	Omaha, Neb. / Omaha North High
DL Siale Suliafu, Missouri State	Fr.	Ontario, Calif. / St. Bernard High