Over 70 Redbird Football Student-Athletes Named to MVFC Honor Roll

ST. LOUIS – A total of 71 current and former Illinois State football players were among the student-athletes highlighted on the 2015-16 Missouri Valley Football Conference Honor Roll, as announced by the league office Monday. Redbird senior Mark Spelman and former Redbird CJ Irvin earned the league's highest academic achievement by capturing the Missouri Valley Football Conference President's Council Academic Excellence Award.

The President's Council Academic Excellence Award requires a minimum 3.5 cumulative grade point average (through Fall 2015 semester) and participation in athletics a minimum of two years. The student-athlete must be within 18 hours of graduation. Also, 21 Redbirds were among the 148 student-athletes who received the league's Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award, which requires a minimum GPA of 3.2 for the previous two semesters (freshmen are not eligible.)

In addition to being named to the MVFC All-Academic Team following the 2015 season, Spelman was selected as one of 52 players on the 18th annual Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) Academic All-Star Team. A 2015 All-MVFC First-Team selection at center, Spelman holds a 3.70 cumulative grade point-average (GPA) in accounting at Illinois State. 

The Brookfield, Wisconsin, native started all 13 games at center for the Redbirds, who advanced to the FCS quarterfinals for the third time in the last four seasons. Spelman was also a key member of the offensive line unit which led the way for First-Team All-American and two-time MVFC Offensive Player of the Year Marshaun Coprich, who led the MVFC in rushing yards (1,967), touchdowns (23), yards per game (151.3), all-purpose yards per game (166.4) and scoring (11.2).

Irvin was a reserve offensive lineman for the Redbirds for two seasons, but injuries limited his playing time and ultimately brought his playing career to an early end.  He joined the coaching staff as a student-assistant coach for the past two seasons and currently is on the football staff at Houston.  

In addition, the Missouri Valley Football Conference has announced its 2015-16 Honor Roll, which recognizes academic achievement of student-athletes. To qualify for the Honor Roll, a student-athlete must have recorded a minimum 3.0 grade point average for a specified term (Fall 2015), must have been a member of the football team, and must have a minimum of 12 hours of enrollment during the fall. Nearly 500 student-athletes earned Honor Roll recognition.

ILLINOIS STATE MVFC HONOR ROLL RECIPIENTS

PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ACADEMIC AWARD - CJ Irvin, Mark Spelman

COMMISSIONER'S ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARD - Mike Banks, Zach Breen, Tyler Brown, Cole Bumpas, Camden Cooper,
Soniel Estime, Michael Ganzer, Ryan Gelber, Nick Griffith, Dean Helt, Bryce Holm, CJ Irvin, Jake Kolbe, Cameron Lee, Matt
McCown, Andrew Mills, Donavin O'Day, Mark Spelman, Dakota Thelan, Brady Tibbits, Prestin Van Mieghem

HONOR ROLL - Tevin Allen, Rocco Ammons, Reece Attard, Mike Banks, Brannon Barry, Gage Beekman, Matt Biegalski, Jeremy
Bivens, Nathan Bond, Stanley Branch, Zach Breen, Mitchell Brees, Tyler Brown, Wes Brown, Cole Bumpus, Michael Clements,
Seth Combs, Adam Conley, Camden Cooper, Teddy Corwin, Andrew David, William Davis, Alec Diab, Alex Donnelly, Jacob
Donohoe, Soniel Estime, Joe Farmer, Michael Ganzer, Ryan Gelber, Christian Gibbs, James Graham, Nick Griffith, Samuel
Halm, Kyle Harbour, Dean Helt, Bryce Holm, Blake Hooper, George Hoselton, Cameron Hunt, CJ Irvin, Nick Kielbasa, Bryce
Kiser, Alec Kocour, Jake Kolbe, David Kornack, CJ Laros, Cameron Lee, Tyler Lovgren, Matt McCown, Dontae McCoy, Pat
Meehan, Marc Miller, Andrew Mills, John Nicholson, Donavin O'Day, Tylor Petkovich, Adam Pittser, Roderick Polk, Paris Ratliff,
Jared Rients, Alejandro Rivera, Sean Slattery, Brent Spack, Mark Spelman, Jeruel Taylor, Dakota Thelan, Brady Tibbits, Prestin
Van Mieghem, Anthony Warrum, Kyle Williams, Blake Winkler

GoRedbirds.com:  Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.