Every year I put together my list of how I would select the pre-season MVFC squad if I had a vote (I don’t have a vote).  I tried to strike a balance between past production and expectations for this season but I will always lean on the side of past production when it is close.

*Unfortunately, Indiana States roster has not been updated yet and the website is not working.  In the portal era, it’s impossible to go by the 2025 roster.

Offense

QB: Beau Brungard, YSU
QB: Chase Mason, SDSU

Honestly, this is the toughest position of all of these.  Brungard,  Mason, DJ Williams (SIU) , and Jerry Kaminski (UND) all could make the case to be in these spots.  I went with Brungard and Mason for differing reasons.  Brungard is here because of his career production.  He has been the man for YSU and he has done more with less.  Mason is on this list because of his sheer talent and the flashes he had when healthy last season.  He may be the best NFL prospect and I’m excited to see what he can do in a full season of work.  I was also tempted to put Williams in at QB and move Brungard to All-Purpose.

RB: Charles Pierre Jr., USD
RB: Victor Dawson, USD
FB: Andrew Gustad, SDSU

Pierre Jr. and Dawson feel like obvious selections.  Pierre Jr. had a prolific 2024 season and the only thing that stopped him in 2025 was an injury.  I’m honestly surprised the portal didn’t pull him away from USD this offseason.  Dawson had a monster year (1,377 yards) for Illinois State after transferring in from Cincinnati.  Gustad may be the only fullback still in use in the MVFC.  He was a useful weapon in 2025 and I hope he continues to be in 2026.

WR: Lofton O’Groske, SDSU
WR: Dylan Lord, Illinois State
WR: Grahm Goering, SDSU

What a difference a year makes?  The group of pass catchers in the MVFC was absolutely loaded in 2025.  2025 first teamers Bryce Lance, Daniel Sobkowicz, and Max Tomczak have graduated.  Second teamers Rashad Rochelle, Larenzo Fenner, and BJ Fleming have moved on.  Even honorable mention players like Lucas Desjardins, Alex Bullock, Vinson Davis III, and Flash Wilson are gone.  Because of all that attrition, O’Groske, Lord and Goering rise to the top pretty easily.  Luke Mailander was right there to make this list but I went with the career production of Goering.  The only other name truly considered was JC Roque Jr. who had a nice season for UNI in 2025.  I briefly considered Deng Deng from UND because I think he is in line for a terrific season but there is still too much unknown about him.  With more consistent targets, Jack Smith from SDSU will also be pushing to make this list.  I think Tysen Boze (USD) will also be pushing to make this list by seasons end if USD can find quality QB play.

TE: Greyton Gannon, SDSU
TE: Coleman Kuntz, SDSU

SDSU has the best tight end room in the MVFC and its not even close.  Gannon and/or Kuntz could be All-Americans this season.  The thing that hurts their production is the other passing game options for SDSU.  I did consider USD’s Jesse Miller and YSU’s Alex McDonald.

OL: Quinton Christensen, SDSU
OL: Desmeal Leigh, YSU
OL: Liam Becher, UND
OL: Landon Woodard, Illinois State
OL: Shane Willenbring, SDSU

This almost feels too easy and very unusual for the MVFC, especially in the era of the portal.  Christensen, Becher, and Woodard were all first team selections at the end of last season and Leigh was second team.  After moving from center to guard, Willenbring was one of the top graded guards in the country last fall according to PFF data.  This is a solid starting 5.

All-Purpose: Keyondray Jones-Logan, USD

Missed most of last season due to injury but he is absolutely a weapon and will require the focus of all members of a special teams unit and on defense.  He’s a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball.

Defense

DL: Logan Green, SDSU
DL: Lance Rucker, UND
DL: Chris Dixon, USD
DL: Dawson Ripperda, SDSU

This is a very experienced group that has experienced both great production and longevity.  Rucker exploded last year and racked up 11.5 sacks and 64 total tackles.  Green and Dixon plug things up on the interior but are still productive with Green finishing with 5.5 sacks last season and Dixon with 69 total tackles.  Ripperda had 43 total tackles and 5 sacks.

LB: Tye Niekamp, Illinois State
LB: Cullen McShane, SDSU 
LB: Joe Ollman, SDSU
LB: Gabriel Hardman, USD

Niekamp is maybe the best linebacker in the FCS and has 346 career tackles.  McShane and Ollman are the definition of solid and consistent, racking up 94 and 88 tackles.  Ollman also had 3 sacks, 1 INT, 3 PBUT, and 5 QBH.   Hardman had a big year for the Yotes, racking up 90 tackles.

DB: La’Shavion Brown, Illinois State
DB: Jonnie Wiltshire, UND
DB: Vinny Pierre Jr., SIU
DB: RJ Stewart, USD

Brown was a second team All-MVFC selection in 2025 and Wiltshire was honorable mention. Brown is a really good player but I think I was most impressed by Wiltshire last season. The guy just makes plays!  Pierre Jr. totaled 71 total tackles for SIU while also snagging 2 INTs.  Stewart is going to be another good one for USD.  He had 58 total tackles and 3 INTs.  Bryan Pulley from Murray State is another player to watch.  35 total tackles, 1 interception and a whopping 12 PBU.

Special Teams

P: Max Pelham, SDSU
K: Andrew Lastovka, YSU
LS: Duncan Viscum, USD
RS: Keondray Jones-Logan, USD

Really solid group!  Pelham is an All-American candidate as is Jones-Logan.