ST. LOUIS – A quartet of Illinois State offensive standouts were selected to the 2018 Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason teams Tuesday, as running back James Robinson, offensive tackle Drew Himmelman and wide receiver Spencer Schnell were named to the first team and tight end Tylor Petkovich was tabbed as a second-team selection in the annual vote conducted by league coaches, media and sports information directors.
Ten seniors, five juniors and a sophomore (Himmelman) highlight the first-team offensive squad, while all 10 league schools have representation on either the first- or second-team unit. The preseason plaudits are racking up for Robinson and Himmelman, as HERO Sports selected the duo for its 2018 FCS Preseason All-America Team with Robinson tabbed as a second-team selection and Himmelman named a third-team pick.Â
Robinson was tabbed as a sophomore All-American by HERO Sports following the 2017 season, after he ranked second in the MVFC and No. 11 in the FCS in rushing touchdowns (12) and third in the conference in rushing yards (933). The Rockford, Illinois, native was named an All-MVFC First Team selection and posted six games with 80 yards or more, while scoring multiple touchdowns in four contests for the Redbirds. Robinson was the team's leading rusher with 165 attempts, averaged 5.7 yards per carry (second-best in MVFC) and rushed for career-high 193 yards in a victory over nationally-ranked South Dakota.
Himmelman was selected as a freshman All-American by HERO Sports last season, after he started all nine games he played in at left tackle for the Redbirds as a redshirt freshman. The Geneseo, Illinois, native was an instrumental part of ISU's offensive front that had the fourth-best rushing attack in the MVFC and paved the way for Robinson's breakout season.
Schnell was selected as an All-MVFC Second Team pick in 2017, after he finished as the team's leading receiver with 51 receptions for 679 yards. The Elkhart, Indiana, native averaged 13.3 yards per reception and scored four touchdowns for the Redbirds. He totaled a career-best 191 yards versus South Dakota to earn MVFC Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Petkovich earned All-MVFC Honorable mention honors last season, after he set career-highs with 23 receptions for 244 yards, averaging 10.6 yards per reception with one touchdown. The St. John, Indiana, native caught his first career touchdown versus Western Illinois and recorded a career long reception of 30 yards versus Indiana State.
The MVFC will announce the preseason defense team tomorrow.
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