The Jackrabbits (4-1, 1-0) hit the road for just the second time this season as they get back into MVFC play by heading to Normal, Illinois to face the Illinois State Redbirds (4-1, 0-1).  I have a ton of respect for what Brock Spack has built and the year to year consistency and quality they have.  However, Illinois State is coming off of a bad loss at UNI in their MVFC opener, when they were maybe looking ahead to this matchup with SDSU.  It looks like most voters have dropped them out of their top-1o already.  I expect them to come out angry and ready to prove to everyone that they are not as bad as they showed last week.  I do have some questions about this years Illinois State team though.  Some of the players I expected to step up have pretty poor statistical production this year, even against a soft non-conference schedule.  They did beat FBS, Northern Illinois.  But I the top half of the MVFC would do that also this year.

Offense

Illinois State offense been solid this season as expected.  They are averaging 43 points per game via a balanced ground and air attack.  On the ground they are going for 207.6 yards per game and 240.8 through the air.  They have playmakers all over the offense and really good experience returns from the team that played in the National Championship game in January.  They are good on 3rd down converting on 61.5% of their opportunities and are converting on 4th down 71% of the time.  In the redzone, they struggled last week scoring on just 2 of their 5 opportunities but prior to that were 22 of 24.  They’ve allowed 7 sacks on the season and tossed just 3 interceptions (1 by a wide receiver).

Illinois State is making the curious decision to utilize not 1, not 2, but 3 quarterbacks in their offense.  #12 Gage Roy (6-2, 210) transferred in from USC this offseason and is the primary guy so far.  He did not play much for the Trojans but has had a solid season so far this year completing 72% of his passes for 721 yards, 10 TDs, and 0 interceptions..  Part of the reason the Red Birds are using multiple QBs is because Gage just doesn’t offer much in the ground game.  On the year he has 14 carries for 8 total yards.  However, he did have a 37 yard scamper against EIU.  #8 Beckham Pellant (6-0, 195) has seen the second most snaps at the position and he too has performed pretty well.  He’s completing 59% of his passes for 397 yards and 4 TDs to 2 INTs.  He has rushed for just 12 yards on 8 carries with a long of 7.  The final guy in the mix is the guy that they like to run with.  #15 Chase Kwiatkowski (6-2, 215) has been an efficient passer, completing 9 of his 11 attempts for 86 yards and a TD but it is his legs that are doing a bulk of the damage.  He’s rushed for 221 yards and a TD on just 21 attempts.  He’s actually the Redbirds second leading rusher in terms of yards.  They don’t use him a lot, his most carries in a game is 6 vs EIU but it gives opposing defenses something else to prepare for.

The running back room for Illinois State is a bit of an unknown right now.  The top two backs on the depth chart are #5 Victor Dawson (5-11, 225) and #2 Seth Glatz (5-11, 205).  Both are physical, powerful running backs but they have yet to get really going this year.  Dawson barely played against UNI and Glatz didn’t play at all.  On the year Dawson has 45 carries for 207 yards (4.6 ypc) and 4 TDs.  Glatz has 23 carries for 142 yards (6.17 ypc) and 2 TDs but has not played the last two weeks.   The leading rusher for the Redbirds is actually #27 Tyler Lofton (5-10, 225). The sophomore is another Brother Rice graduate and he has 287 yards off of 42 carries (6.12 ypc) and 4 TDs.  He has also been effective in the passing game with 8 receptions for 62 yards and 1 TD.  With Glatz and Dawson basically out the past two weeks, #32 Anthony Hall (6-1, 235) has seen more action and has 16 carries for 94 yards (5.88 ypc) and a TD.  This is a good room but I think a healthy Dawson raises the ceiling quite a bit.

The Redbird wide receiver room has plenty of talent as well.  #4 Dylan Lord (5-9, 190) blew up in the playoffs and that run of success has continued this fall. He already has 34 receptions for 368 yards and 5 TDs.  He may be small but he is electric with the ball in his hands.  This is certainly a matchup worth watching this week and I would expect Noah St-Juste to draw this assignment as he has done a solid job in the past working against smaller, shifty wide receivers.  A player I expected to be more productive this season based on his 2025 production is #84 Luke Mailander (5-11, 180) but he has just 120 yards off of 6 receptions.  He didn’t play against UNI either.  I’m not sure what is up with Luke but I’m hoping his struggles continue for another week.  In 2025 he had 44 receptions for 671 yards and 4 TDs.  The other listed starter at wide receiver is #24 Andrew Rockford (6-3, 205) but he has just 4 receptions for 38 yards on the season.  #3 Mar’Quan Gary (6-0, 10) was a big time local commit a few seasons ago and he has 8 receptions for 104 yards and a TD so far this season. #18 Stevan Gavric (6-3, 195) has 11 receptions for 157 yards and 2 TDs in his first real action as a Redbird.  Butler transfer #19 Ethan Loss (6-0, 200) made his season debut for the Redbirds last week and had 4 receptions for 28 yards in the loss. #1 Ian Willis (5-9, 180) is also seeing his first action for Illinois State and has 7 receptions for 66 yards.

Illinois State uses multiple tight ends and while some years they feature prominently in the passing attack, they really haven’t so far this season. #11 Max Ziebarth (6-5, 250) seems like someone who has been in Normal for forever.  He won’t give you a ton in the passing game but he functions as an extra offensive lineman.  He has just 4 receptions for 8 yards and a TD this season.  #7 Nick True (6-5, 240) also serves as a very good blocker.  He has just 1 catch for 12 yards this year.  EIU transfer #13 Alex Herrera (6-2, 240) has been involved in the passing attack with 10 receptions for 119 yards and 4 TDs.

As usual, the offensive line for ISU is huge and pretty experienced.  However, this group has surrendered 7 sacks on the season.  From left to right they go:

• LT: #57 Jaden Wedderburn (6-4, 330, 5th year): Saw action in 23 games at Princeton.
• LG: #68 Landon Woodard (6-5, 335, 5th year): One of the best in the MVFC, earning All Conference and All American honors in 2025.  Now in his third year of starting and has spent time at center and guard.
• C: #66 Brayden Jellison (6-4, 310, Senior): Started 9 games prior to this season and has spent time at center and guard.
• RG: #78 Ben Wallace (6-5, 325, Senior): Started 7 games prior to this season.
• RT: #70 Logan Brasfield (6-3, 320, Junior): Started 13 games last season after transferring in from Coastal Carolina.

Defense

The Red Birds play an aggressive 3-4 defense that loves to create disruption.   They have surrendered 15 points per game and opponents have not had much success either through the air or on the ground.  On the year they allow just 88.6 yards per game on the ground but last week they gave up 199 to UNI. Was this just a one week aberration or is a sign of better competition?  Through the air they give up 186.4 yards per game.  They are allowing conversions on 32.3% of their 3rd down opportunities and holding opponents to less than 50% on 4th down.  In the redzone they are good allowing opponents to score on just 8 of 13 opportunities.  SDSU will need to better on 3rd down and in the redzone than they have been all season.  Illinois State has 6 sacks this season with 4 interceptions.

Illinois State will align with 3 down lineman most of the time.  However, the “Jack” linebacker does move around quite a bit.  Their starting 3 man front is #92 Travis Jones (6-3, 295), #51 Wyatt Boals (6-3, 300), and #91 Ben Harman (6-6, 275).  It sounds like this group was really pushed around by the UNI offensive line last week.  I’m sure they are looking for a better performance against SDSU.  Jones has 8 total tackles, 1.5 TFL, 2 QBHs, and 3 pass breakups.  Boals has 6 total tackles.  Harman has 17 tackles, 3 TFL, a sack, and 1 QBH from his end position. Reserve end #98 Logan Jellison (6-5, 275) has 8 total tackles and a QBH.  #76 Valentino Garcia (6-3, 340) is the backup nose and he has 8 stops and a TFL and PBU.

One of the best players in the FCS is middle linebacker #46 Tye Niekamp (6-3, 245).  In my opinion, Niekamp belongs in the Christian Rozeboom and Adam Bock sphere of top MVFC linebackers.  He’s so good at everything and just covers-up the flaws of those around him.  He leads the team with 35 stops, 6.5 TFL, 3 sacks, and another QBH.  He’s the player the Jacks need to identify and no where he is at all the time.  His brother #44 Dexter Niekamp (6-3, 250) serves the “Jack” linebacker which is kind of the wildcard position for this defense.  He has 20 tackles, 2.5 TFL, 2 INT, and 3 QBHs.   The Sam backer is #6 Solomon Oduma (6-3, 225) who has also appeared in 21 games for Illinois State.  He has 21 tackles, 1.5 TFL, and 1 QBH.  The Will linebacker is #14 Mason Kaplan (6-2, 235) who is in his 6th season.  He has 24 total tackles, 1.5 TFL, and 2 QBHs.  #22 Nio Espinoza (6-2, 235) is the reserve Sam and he has 24 tackles on the year.  #35 Anthony Corona (6-2, 230) is another reserve who has really produced with 18 tackles, 2 TFL, a sack, and 1 QBH.

The Illinois State secondary has a mix of veteran production and some exciting and talented youth.  The returning starter at cornerback is #8 Doreon Dubose (5-11, 170)  and he has 16 total tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 INT, and 3 PBUs.  Last year against SDSU he had 11 tackles (7 solo) and a TFL against SDSU.  Outside of him the cornerback group is young and inexperienced.  #13 Jack Oliver (6-3, 195) has started every game opposite Dubose but left last weeks game at halftime on crutches and did not return. Oliver has 12 tackles with an INT and 2 PBUs.   The reserves are listed as East Carolina transfer #10 Key Crowell (5-11, 170) and #16 Rico Clay (6-3, 195).  Crowell has 15 total tackles and 2 PBUs from his reserve role.  Clay has just 2 tackles and a PBU this season.   The Redbirds do have a really good safety in #4 La’Shavion Brown (6-2, 220) and he was recognized as a second team All-MVFC selection a season ago.  This season he has 16 total tackles.  Opposite him is Ball State transfer #3 Jordan Coleman (6-0, 195).  Coleman was productive at Ball State in 2023 and 2024 appearing in 24 games and totaling 63 tackles, 2 PBUs and an INT.  #9 Rylan Crawford (6-3, 205) and #18 Evan Sierra (6-0, 205) are a pair of experienced players that have appeared in a combined 91 games for Illinois State as reserves and each have 4 tackles this season.

Special Teams

The Redbird special teams unit is always solid.  This year it is paced by it’s punter #41 Hayden Futch.  He has been even better than our own Max Pelham and has 11 punts for a 55 yard average.  Last season he had a 43 yard average.  5 of his 11 punts have traveled 50+ yards.  Opponents do have a 10.5 yard average on the returns however.  The kick off duties belong to #39 Drew Drzonek and he has 29 kickoffs for a 654 yard average with 23 touchbacks.  When opponents have had the chance to return a kick, they have just a 16 yard average. #80 Michael Cosentino handles the field goal duties and has just two attempts on the season, making both.  He did miss an extra point in their season opener.

They have used #28 Chris Taylor as their primary kick returner and he has just 3 attempts for 75 yards with a long of 36.  #4 Dylan Lord has been their punt returner (seems risky to me) and he has 5 attempts for 160 yards and TD with a long of 79 yards.

Prediction

The Jackrabbits have been dominant on the ground this season.  Illinois State is coming off easily their worst performance in run defense against UNI.  Was that just a one game blip?  Maybe?  The Redbird secondary has yet to go against competent quarterback play.  Are there yards there? Maybe?

This will also be a big test for the Jackrabbit defense.  This is a big physical run first team that also has a ton of playmakers on the perimeter to account for.  This will be a real test again for this defense.

Illinois State will be fired up for this one but I think this Jackrabbit team is just too talented and balanced.

Jackrabbits 31- Redbirds 17

Go Jacks!

Matt