The Missouri Valley Football Conference has announced its all-league teams for the 2023 season.  

2023 MVFC All-Conference Teams (PDF)








CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
QB Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State | 6-3, 225, Jr., Naperville, Ill. (Neuqua Valley High)
Leads FCS in passing efficiency (184.08) … completed 68.5 percent (159-of-232) of his passes for 2,359 yards and 23 touchdowns against only three interceptions … averaging 234.5 yards of total offense per game … rushed and passed for touchdowns in seven games this season … threw a TD pass in 10 of 11 games … first-team all-MVFC in 2020-21 spring season, second-team selection in 2022 … two-time team captain (2022, 2023)



CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
RB Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State | 6-1, 220, Sr., Joplin, Mo. (Joplin High)
Leads league in rushing with 1,075 yards (second with 97.7 ypg) … lone back in the MVFC to top 1,000 yards during the regular season… averaging 6.6 yards per carry and leads the league in all-purpose yards (112.2 ypg) … topped the 100-yard mark five times this season … scored 11 rushing TDs, including three in league opener against North Dakota … named MVFC Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for season-high 197 yards Oct. 7 at Illinois State … added 18 receptions for 159 yards (8.8 ypr) with a TD … crossed the 4,000-yard mark for career rushing in regular season finale … all-MVFC First Team in 2022 … team captain



DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
LB Brock Mogensen, South Dakota | 6-2, 235, Sr., Farmington, Minn. (Farmington High)
Two-time all-Valley honoree … preseason all-American … led the Valley with 85 tackles in conference play … has 103 tackles on the season which ranks 20th nationally … 389 career tackles ranks fourth in program history and are third-most among active FCS players … leader of a defense that held seven of 10 FCS opposing offenses to seven points or fewer … had one sack, one interception and 2.5 tackles-for-loss.



NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
RB Mason Blakemore, Illinois State | 6-1, 215, Jr., Centralia, Ill. (Centralia HS/Northern Illinois)
Played in 10 games for the Redbirds, leading the team with 983 and 14 rushing touchdowns on 150 carries … led the MVFC with 14 touchdown and 98.3 yards per game … averaged 6.6 yards per carry which ranked him in the top 10 in the FCS … tallied 5 games with over 100 yards rushing, including a season-high 170 with three touchdowns in a win over Western Illinois … also ran for 169 yards and three scores in a win over Murray State … led the team in scoring with 84 points … earned MVFC weekly honors twice, once as offensive player of the week and once as newcomer of the week.



FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
LB Tye Niekamp, Illinois State | 6-3, 230, R-Fr., Normal, Ill. (Normal Community High)
Started all 11 games at middle linebacker as a redshirt freshman, tying for second on the team with 74 tackles (42 solo) … only league player to be named to the Jerry Rice Award watch list … was fourth on the team with 9.0 TFLs on the season and was also credited with 1.5 sacks, seven pass breakups and seven quarterback hurries … had nine tackles, a half sack and 2.0 TFLs in first career start vs. Dayton … posted a career-high 11 tackles with two pass breakups at Eastern Illinois … tallied a sack and six tackles in a win over Lindenwood … recorded 10 tackles and 1.5 TFLs against UNI.



‘BRUCE CRADDOCK’ COACH OF THE YEAR
Bob Nielson, South Dakota
Nielson has orchestrated the best turnaround in FCS football this season. He took a Coyote team picked to finish ninth in the MVFC to the No. 3 overall seed in the FCS playoffs. The Coyotes' No. 3 ranking in this week's polls are their highest at the FCS level. South Dakota has won a program-record nine FCS games (+6 from last year). Included in the wins are three against top-10 teams and four against nationally ranked foes. A three-time national coach of the year (1998--Wisconsin-Eau Claire; 2008 & 2010--Minnesota Duluth), Nielson is the 14th coach to win MVFC Coach of the Year multiple times, and is the first to do so at South Dakota. He's also the first to be named Coach of the Year at two different league schools (2015--WIU, 2023--USD).
 

FIRST TEAM
QB Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State	Jr.	Naperville, Ill. / Neuqua Valley High
RB Mason Blakemore, Illinois State	Jr.	Centralia, Ill. / Centralia High [Northern Illinois]
RB Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State	Sr.	Joplin, Mo. / Joplin High
FB Hunter Brozio, North Dakota State	Sr.	Lakeland, Fla. / Lake Gibson High
TE Cam Grandy, Illinois State	Sr.	Benson, Ill. / Fieldcrest [Missouri Western]
WR Jadon Janke, South Dakota State	Sr.	Madison, S.D. / Madison High
WR Sam Schnee, Northern Iowa	R-Sr.	Dubuque, Iowa / Senior High
WR Raylen Sharpe, Missouri State	Jr.	Allen, Texas / Allen High [Houston]
OL Garret Greenfield, South Dakota State	Sr.	Rock Valley, Iowa / Rock Valley High
OL Jake Kubas, North Dakota State	Sr.	Dickinson, N.D. / Trinity High
OL Mason McCormick, South Dakota State	Sr.	Sioux Falls, S.D. / Roosevelt High
OL Jared Penning, Northern Iowa	R-Jr.	Clear Lake, Iowa / Clear Lake High
OL Jalen Sundell, North Dakota State	Sr.	Maryville, Mo. / Maryville High
DL Khristian Boyd, Northern Iowa	R-Sr.	Kansas City, Mo. / Blue Springs High
DL Dylan Hendricks, North Dakota State	Sr.	Pulaski, Wis. / Pulaski High
DL Cade Terveer, South Dakota State	Sr.	Brandon, S.D. / Brandon Valley High
DL Brendan Webb, South Dakota	Sr.	Buhler, Kan. / Buhler High
LB Amir Abdullah, Illinois State	Jr.	Chicago, Ill. / Whitney Young [Neb.-Kearney]
LB Jason Freeman, South Dakota State	Sr.	Zion, Ill. / Olivet Nazarene
LB Logan Kopp, North Dakota State	So.	St. Louis, Mo. / Lindbergh High
LB Brock Mogensen, South Dakota	Sr.	Farmington, Minn. / Farmington High
DB Woo Governor, Northern Iowa	Sr.	Plant City, Fla. / Durant High
DB PJ Jules, Southern Illinois	Sr.	Orlando, Fla. / Jones High
DB Myles Harden, South Dakota	Jr.	Miami Gardens, Fla. / Miramar High
DB Tucker Large, South Dakota State	So.	Sioux Falls, S.D. / Roosevelt High
DB Cole Wisniewski, North Dakota State	Sr.	Sparta, Wis. / Sparta High
PK Matthew Cook, Northern Iowa	Sr.	Cedar Falls, Iowa / Cedar Falls High
P Grant Burkett, Missouri State	Jr.	Joplin, Mo. / Webb City High
LS Hunter Brozio, North Dakota State	Sr.	Lakeland, Fla. / Lake Gibson High
RS Luke Skokna, North Dakota	Sr.	Hinsdale, Ill. / Hinsdale Central High
AP Amar Johnson, South Dakota State	Jr.	O'Fallon, Mo. / Chaminade College Prep
SECOND TEAM
QB Cam Miller, North Dakota State	Sr.	Solon, Iowa / Solon High
RB Tyshon King, Youngstown State	Sr.	Kankakee, Ill. / Bishop McNamara [N. Michigan]
RB Jacardia Wright, Missouri State	Jr.	Decatur, Ill. / St. Teresa High [Kansas State]
FB Mike Morgan, South Dakota State	Sr.	New Lenox, Ill. / Lincoln-Way Central High
FB Travis Theis, South Dakota	Jr.	Pratt, Kan. / Pratt High
TE Zach Heins, South Dakota State	Sr.	Sioux Falls, S.D. / Washington High
WR Bo Belquist, North Dakota	Sr.	New Rockford, N.D. / New Rockford-Sheyenne
WR Bryce Oliver, Youngstown State	Sr.	Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / Dillard High [Kentucky]
WR Daniel Sobkowicz, Illinois State	So.	Arlington Heights, Ill. / Rolling Meadows High
OL Joey Lombard, South Dakota	Jr.	Anoka, Minn. / Anoka High
OL Gus Miller, South Dakota State	Jr.	Brookings, S.D. / Brookings High
OL Donny Ventrelli, North Dakota	5th	St. Paul, Minn. / Como Park High
OL Jaison Williams, Youngstown State	Jr.	Trotwood, Ohio / Trotwood-Madison High
OL Hunter Zambrano, Illinois State	Jr.	Weston, Fla. / University High
DL Josh Dinga, Illinois State	R-Sr.	Sun Prairie, Wis. / Sun Prairie High
DL Eli Mostaert, North Dakota State	Sr.	Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville North High
DL Ryan Van Marel, South Dakota State	Sr.	Sheldon, Iowa / Sheldon High
DL Dylan Wudke, Youngstown State	Sr.	Miamisburg, Ohio / Miamisburg High
LB Branson Combs, Southern Illinois	Jr.	Evansville, Ind. / Reitz Memorial High
LB Garret Ollendieck, Indiana State	Jr.	Cresco, Iowa / Crestwood [Iowa Central CC]
LB Wyatt Pedigo, North Dakota	Jr.	Hoisington, Kan. / Hoisington High
LB Isaiah Stalbird, South Dakota State	Sr.	Kearney, Neb. / Nebraska
DB Maddix Blackwell, Indiana State	R-So.	Bloomington, Ind. / Bloomington South High
DB Dyshawn Gales, South Dakota State	Sr.	North Chicago, Ill. / North Chicago Community
DB Troy Jakubec, Youngstown State	Jr.	Warren, Ohio / Warren Harding High
DB Todric McGee, Missouri State	So.	Wichita, Kan. / Wichita Northwest High
DB C.J. Siegel, North Dakota	5th	La Crosse, Wis. / Logan High
PK Will Leyland, South Dakota	So.	Souderton, Pa. / Souderton High
P Hunter Dustman, South Dakota State	Sr.	East Bethel, Minn. / St. Francis High
LS Kaydon Olivia, South Dakota State	So.	Schertz, Texas / Texas State
RS Tucker Large, South Dakota State	So.	Sioux Falls, S.D. / Roosevelt High
AP Carter Bell, South Dakota	Jr.	Bettendorf, Iowa / Bettendorf High
Honorable Mention
Illinois State:  QB Zack Annexstad; LB Tye Niekamp; DB Keondre Jackson.  Indiana State:  WR Harry Van Dyne; OL Jose Vazquez IV; DL Lucas  Hunter.  Missouri State: LS Caden Bolz; DL Devin Goree; OL Hutson Lillibridge.  Murray State: P Orion Phillips; OL Jacob Frye; TE Cole Rusk.  North Dakota: OL Easton Kilty; LB Ted Mullin; AP Luke Skokna.  North Dakota State: TE Joe Stoffel; PK Griffin Crosa; RS Jayden Price; AP Raja Nelson.  Northern Iowa: TE Layne Pryor; DL Cordarrius Bailey; P Noah Pettinger.  South Dakota:  RB Travis Theis; TE J.J. Galbreath; WR Carter Bell; OL Isaac Erbes; DL Nick Gaes; LB Stephen Hillis; DB Dennis Shorter.  South Dakota State:  WR Jaxon Janke; OL Evan Beerntsen; DB Dalys Beanum.  Southern Illinois:  DL Kam Bowdry; DB Mark Davis; DB DJ Johnson; AP Vinson Davis III.  Western Illinois:  QB Matt Morrissey; LB Juan Delacruz; RS Jay Parker.  Youngstown State: QB Mitch Davidson; FB Jake Benio; OL Ryan Johnson; LB Alex Howard; LS Sam Merryman.