ST. LOUIS – After the announcement of 10 players named to the 2019 All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Team Monday, a total of five standouts were named to the league's All-Newcomer Team on Tuesday in the annual vote of league head coaches, sports information directors and media.
A total of 24 student-athletes were named to the 2019 MVFC All-Newcomer Team. Nine of the league's 10 schools had at least one honoree, while Illinois State and South Dakota State tied for the most selections with five apiece. Of the 24 total honorees, 14 are freshmen or redshirt freshmen.
Fifth-year transfers Adam Solomon and Aaron Mends had great final collegiate seasons and were named to the league's newcomer squad, as was junior transfer running back Jeff Proctor. Redshirt freshman safety Clayton Isbell and true freshman wideout Kacper Rutkiewicz rounded out the group.
MVFC ALL-NEWCOMER TEAM SELECTIONS (Bios complete through regular season):
Clayton Isbell, 6-3, 220, DB, RFr., St. Charles (Ill.) East HS
Played in all 12 games for the Redbirds, serving as the team's primary nickleback in the defensive secondary … finished the season with 19 total tackles, two sacks, three TFLs and an interception … also credited with a fumble recovery, pass breakup and two quarterback hurries … recorded a career-high nine tackles and a sack in a win over Northern Arizona … tallied first career interception and had two tackles in a win over Morehead State … had a sack and three tackles in a victory at Southern Illinois … credited with a TFL and a fumble recovery in a win over Indiana State.
Aaron Mends, 6-0, 235, LB, Sr., Kansas City (Mo.) / Iowa
Saw action in all 12 games for the Redbirds at linebacker and on special teams in first season … finished the season with 40 total tackles, including 23 solo stops … credited with two sacks on the year and a pair of force fumbles … recorded first ISU sack and had six tackles in a win at Eastern Illinois … had a season-high eight stops against No. 1 North Dakota State … tallied a sack in the road win at No. 4 South Dakota State … finished with seven tackles in the regular-season finale at Youngstown State.
Jeff Proctor, 5-8, 185, RB, Jr., Munster (Ind.) / San Bernardino Valley (Calif.) CC
Played in 11 contests for the Redbirds, before suffering a season ending knee injury … was the team's second-leading rusher with 476 yards on 112 attempts … averaged 4.2 yards per carry and scored a pair of touchdowns … also caught five passes for 61 yards out of the backfield … had three games with over 70 yards rushing, including a season-best 85-yard effort in a win over Indiana State … scored touchdowns in back-to back wins over Western Illinois and the Sycamores … also averaged 17.7 yards per kick return on 11 attempts for the Redbirds, with a long of 26 yards.
Kacper Rutkiewicz, 5-8, 165, WR, Fr., Mount Prospect (Ill.) Hersey HS
Saw action in all 12 games for the Redbirds as a true freshman wideout … led the team with 22 receptions for 418 yards and scored one touchdown … averaged 19.0 yards per catch, with a long of 64 yards against No. 1 North Dakota State … tallied a career-high four catches for 105 yards in a win over Northern Arizona … recorded back-to-back 80-plus yard efforts against NDSU and in a win at Southern Illinois … scored his first career touchdown in a win over Missouri State.
Adam Solomon, 6-6, 325, OL, Sr., Indianapolis (Ind.) / Illinois
Started all 12 games for the Redbirds, splitting time at three different positions in his first season after transferring from Illinois … graded out at over 90 percent for the season … helped lead the way for the league's leading rusher in James Robinson, who recorded 1,316 yards and 15 touchdowns on the ground.
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