ST. LOUIS – A total of 17 Illinois State football players were named to the All-Missouri Valley Football Conference teams Monday by the league office, highlighted by six MVFC First-Team selections that included MVFC Offensive Player of the Year Marshaun Coprich and MVFC Newcomer of the Year, Tre Roberson.
Coprich, who became the fourth player in school history to earn the MVFC Offensive Player of the Year Award, led the league in rushing yards (1,683), touchdowns (21) and yards per game (153.0) during the regular season with the Redbirds. The Victorville, California, native rushed for over 100 yards in every game this season, setting a school and league mark for consecutive 100-plus yard games, and an ISU single-season record with 21 rushing touchdowns. During the season, he was named the MVFC Offensive Player of the Week twice and had several breakout performances, including eight games with multiple touchdowns and six games with over 150 yards rushing.
Roberson, the first player in school history to be named the MVFC Newcomer of the Year, started all 11 games at quarterback and led the Redbirds to a 10-1 record during the regular season, in his first with ISU after transferring from Indiana. The Indianapolis, Indiana, native led the MVFC in total offense (261.1 ypg) and with a pass efficiency rating of 150.8. He accounted for 29 total touchdowns (21 pass, 8 run) and finished the season with 2,198 passing yards. A three-time MVFC Newcomer of the Week selection, Roberson also rushed for 674 yards and eight scores on the ground to lead the way for a dangerous ISU offensive attack that led the conference in total offense (451.5 ypg), rushing offense (241.4 ypg) and scoring offense (38.7 ppg).
The six first-team selections are the most since 2012, when the Redbirds set a school record with eight players selected to the All-MVFC First Team. Joining Coprich and Roberson on the first team were senior offensive tackle Jermaine Barton, senior long snapper Chris Highland, junior defensive end Teddy Corwin and junior middle linebacker Pat Meehan.
Six seniors were among the seven players selected to the All-MVFC Second Team. Wide receiver Lechein Neblett, tight end James O'Shaughnessy, offensive lineman Rocco Ammons, defensive tackle Bradon Prate, defensive back Mike Banks and punter CJ Laros all earned Valley Football plaudits in their final seasons, and were joined by freshman fullback Bryce Holm.
Senior offensive tackle Michael Liedtke, safety Dontae McCoy and return specialist Tevin Allen were also named All-MVFC Honorable Mention selections in the annual vote, along with junior defensive end David Perkins.
The Redbirds earned a first-round bye in the FCS playoffs, and will host fellow Missouri Valley Conference member Northern Iowa at Hancock Stadium on Dec. 6, at 1 p.m., in the second round of the playoffs.
MVFC All-Conference Selections
FIRST TEAM
#25 RB Marshaun Coprich, ILS, 5-9, 205, Jr., Victorville (Calif.) Oak Hills HS
Led the MVFC in rushing yards (1,683), touchdowns (21) and yards per game (153.0) … rushed for over 100 yards in every game of the season, setting a school and league mark for consecutive 100-plus yard games to start a season … set ISU single-season record with 21 rushing touchdowns … eight multiple touchdown games … six games with over 150 yards rushing … career-high 221 yards at USD (Nov. 15) … career-high four touchdowns vs. SDSU (Oct. 4) … two-time MVFC Offensive Player of the Week.
#5 QB Tre Roberson, ILS, 6-0, 205, Jr., Indianapolis (Ind.) / Indiana
Started all 11 games at quarterback … led the MVFC in total offense (261.1 ypg) and with a pass efficiency rating of 150.8 … accounted for 29 total touchdowns (21 pass, 8 pass) ... finished the season with 2,198 yards and 21 touchdowns through the air … rushed for 674 yards and eight scores on the ground … threw a career-high four touchdown passes vs. Austin Peay (Sept. 27) … threw for a career-high 319 yards and three touchdowns vs. SIU (Nov. 22) … rushed for career-high 151 yards vs. South Dakota State … two-time MVFC Newcomer of the Week.
#96 LS Chris Highland, ILS, 6-2, 230, Sr., Normal (Ill.) Bloomington Central Catholic HS
Team's primary long and short snapper … team captain … has not been credited with a bad snap in three seasons … recorded three tackles on punt coverage … pre-season All-America selection by The Sports Network … 2013 Second-Team FCS All-America Team selection by The Sports Network at long snapper.
#70 OL Jermaine Barton, ILS, 6-7, 315, Sr., Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) / Miami
Started all 11 games at right tackle … three-year starter on the offensive line … key member of the offensive line unit that led the way for Marshaun Coprich, who led the MVFC in rushing yards (1,683), touchdowns (21) and yards per game (153.0) and rushed for over 100 yards in every game of the season, setting a school and league mark for consecutive 100-plus yard games to start a season.
#33 LB Pat Meehan, ILS, 6-1, 220, Jr., Frankfort (Ill.) Lincoln-Way East HS
Started all 11 games at middle linebacker … led the team with 88 total tackles and tied for sixth in the MVFC with 8.8 tackles per game … added two sacks, 5.5 tackles-for-loss and three pass breakups … also recovered a fumble … posted four double-digit tackle efforts, including a season-high 13-tackle effort in the season finale vs. Southern Illinois (Nov. 22) … selected as a national player of the week by The Sports Network, named a College Sporting News All-Star and earned MVFC Defensive Player of the Week honors, after tallying 11 tackles and setting career-bests with two sacks and four tackles-for-loss in a win over Eastern Illinois (Sept. 13).
#87 DE Teddy Corwin, ILS, 6-5, 260, Jr., St. Louis (Mo.) DeSmet Jesuit HS
Played in all 11 games at defensive end … led the team with 10 tackles for loss and added 5.5 sacks … ranked in the top 10 of the MVFC in both of those categories … was second on the team with 68 total tackles, 32 of which were solos stops … tied for the team lead with two interceptions and added three pass breakups … also credited with eight quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a blocked kick … four games with multiple TFLs … recorded a career-high 12 tackles in a win over South Dakota State (Oct. 4) … career-best 2.5 TFLs in win at Indiana State (Oct. 11) … recorded a career-high two sacks in a win over Missouri State (Oct. 25).
SECOND TEAM
#31 FB Bryce Holm, ILS, 6-2, 225, Fr., Oswego (Ill.) HS
Played in all 11 games at fullback … scored a pair of touchdowns on five carries on the season … added six tackles on special teams … member of the protection team that led the way for Marshaun Coprich, who led the MVFC in rushing yards (1,683), touchdowns (21) and yards per game (153.0) and rushed for over 100 yards in every game of the season, setting a school and league mark for consecutive 100-plus yard games to start a season.
#85 WR Lechein Neblett, ILS, 6-0, 185, Sr., Madison (Wis.) James Madison Memorial HS
Played in 10 games … led ISU with seven touchdown receptions, which tied for third most in the MVFC … recorded 37 catches for 754 yards (20.4 ypc) … was fourth in the MVFC with 75.4 yards per game … three 100-plus yard receiving performances … three multiple-touchdown games ... nine catches of 30-yards or more and five touchdown catches of 35-yards or more … back-to-back 100-yard performances in wins over Eastern Illinois (Sept. 13) and Austin Peay (Sept. 27) … 155 yards against EIU was a career-best.
#80 TE James O'Shaughnessy, ILS, 6-4, 245, Sr., Naperville (Ill.) North HS
Played in all 11 games … ranked third on the team with 342 yards and five touchdowns … averaged 18.0 yards per catch, with a long of 51 yards … first career 100-yard performance in the season-opener against Mississippi Valley State (Sept. 6) with 106 yards … had 94 yards and tied a career best with two scores at Western Illinois (Oct. 18) … caught touchdown passes in four-straight games beginning at WIU … key member of the protection team that helped Marshaun Coprich rush for over 100 yards in every game this season and 1,683 yards and 21 touchdowns on the season.
#71 OL Rocco Ammons, ILS, 6-5, 330, Sr., Warrenville (Ill.) Wheaton Warrenville South High School
Started all 11 games at right guard … four-year starter on the offensive line … MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week (Sept. 27), after Marshaun Coprich rushed for 156 yards and two touchdowns against Austin Peay … key member of the offensive line unit that led the way for Coprich, who led the MVFC in rushing yards (1,683), touchdowns (21) and yards per game (153.0) and rushed for over 100 yards in every game of the season, setting a school and league mark for consecutive 100-plus yard games to start a season.
#24 DB Mike Banks, ILS, 5-7, 195, Sr., University Park (Ill.) Mount Carmel HS
Started all 11 games at cornerback and every game of his career at ISU … led the team with 13 pass break ups and ranked second in the MVFC with 14 passes defended … ranked third on the team in tackles with 65 and led the team with 46 solo stops …added one interception and also recovered a fumble … recorded a career high 12 tackles, with 11 solo stops, in a win at Western Illinois (Oct. 18) … tallied 10 stops in the season finale vs. SIU (Nov. 22).
#99 DT Bradon Prate, ILS, 6-4, 285, Sr., Wauconda (Ill.) HS
Played in all 11 games at defensive tackle … finished with 45 tackles, 32 of which were solo stops … recorded five sacks and ranked third on the team with nine tackles for loss … also credited with a pass breakup and a blocked kick … recorded a career-best eight tackles, had 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss in a win at Indiana State … had seven tackles and two TFLs in a win over Missouri State (Oct. 25) … recorded a career-high three TFLs in a win at South Dakota (Nov. 15).
#36 P CJ Laros, ILS, 6-1, 215, Sr., Canberra (Australia) / Citrus College (Calif.)
Team's primary punter … ranked second in the MVFC with a 42.3 yard punting average … punted 51 times for 2,157 yards, with a long 72 yards … placed 15 punts inside the 20 yard line and booted nine punts over 50 yards … only six touchbacks in 51 attempts … induced 16 fair catches … averaged a season-best 46.8 yards per punt in a win at South Dakota, with two punts over 50 yards.
HONORABLE MENTION
#59 OL Michael Liedtke, ILS, 6-3, 305, Sr., Woodstock (Ill.) / Western Michigan
Started all 11 games at left tackle … three-year starter on the offensive line … named MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week (Nov. 15), after he graded out at 96 percent and helped the Redbirds rush for 293 yards and a season-best four touchdowns on the ground in a 45-26 win over at South Dakota … key member of the offensive line unit that led the way for Marshaun Coprich, who led the MVFC in rushing yards (1,683), touchdowns (21) and yards per game (153.0) and rushed for over 100 yards in every game of the season, setting a school and league mark for consecutive 100-plus yard games to start a season.
#3 S Dontae McCoy, ILS, 6-0, 210, Sr., Palos Heights (Ill.) Shepard HS
Started all 9 games played at strong safety … team captain … finished the season with 45 tackles, with a sack, two tackles-for-loss and two pass breakups …also forced a fumble … recorded a season-high 10 tackle and added a TFL in a win over Austin Peay (Sept. 27) …tallied nine stops with a sack and a forced fumble in a win over South Dakota State the following week (Oct. 4) … posted eight tackles in a win over Missouri State (Oct. 25) … 2013 All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Honorable Mention selection at safety.
#4 DE David Perkins, ILS, 6-2, 235, Jr., South Bend (Ind.) / Ohio State
Played in all 11 games at defensive end ... finished the season with 48 tackles, 25 of which were solo stops … was second on the team with 6.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss, which also ranked him in the top 10 in both categories in the MVFC … added five quarterback hurries, two pass breakups, a forced fumble, fumble recovery, and an interception, which set up the game-winning field goal at Western Illinois (Oct. 18) … had two sacks in a win at Indiana State (Oct. 11) … recorded at least a half TFL in eight of the team's 11 games.
#1 RS Tevin Allen, ILS, 5-9, 175, Sr., Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas HS
Ranked first in the FCS heading into the final week of the regular season with an average of 32.2 yards per kickoff return … returned 12 kickoffs for 386 yards … scored on a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in a win over South Dakota State (Oct. 4) … returned a kickoff 73 yards the following week in a win at Indiana State (Oct. 11) … also served as the team's starting free safety, recording 38 tackles and three pass breakups.
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