ST. LOUIS – Illinois State standout linebacker Zeke Vandenburgh saved the best season for his last and turned it into an award-winning performance, as he was named the 2022 Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Year on Monday by the league office. In addition, he joined four of his teammates as All-Missouri Valley Conference selections in the annual vote conducted by the league's head coaches, media members and sports information directors.
Vandenburgh's selection as MVFC Defensive Player of the Year marks the eighth time a Redbird has earned the award, and the first since 2006 when All-American linebacker Cameron Siskowic took home the top honor. The Freeport, Illinois, native also earned All-MVFC First-Team honors at linebacker and was joined as a first-team all-conference selection by fellow senior Drew Bones. Bryson Deming, Tanner Taula and Deandre Lamont were also honored as All-MVFC Honorable Mention selections to round out the list of Redbird honorees.
In a season where he was named the league's defensive player of the week four times, Vandenburgh stood out in a league full of great defensive players. He started all 10 games he played in at outside linebacker and ranked No. 1 in the FCS in sacks per game and tackles-for-loss per game. The defensive captain led the MVFC in sacks (14.0), tackles-for-loss (21.0) and was third in the league in tackles (100) during the regular season and recorded three or more sacks in three different games, including in the final two games of the season. Vandenburgh also finished the final two games of the year with 4.0 tackles-for-loss and had three-plus tackles-for-loss in five contests. He posted six double-digit tackle efforts, including a career-high 17 in the finale against Western Illinois, when he also recorded a career-best 3.5 sacks.
Bones capped off his stellar career as a member of the Redbird offensive line with All-MVFC honors for the first time in his career. The Ottawa, Kansas, native started all 11 games at center for the Redbirds and led the offensive line with grades over 80 percent in eight of 11 contests. He graded out the highest of all Redbird lineman throughout the regular season and was named the MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week, after not allowing a sack at Northern Iowa and helping the Redbirds outgain the Panthers by a total of 409-366 overall.
A 2021 MVFC All-Newcomer Team selection, Deming ended his Redbird career earning honorable mention all-league honors. The Billings, Montana, native earned a spot on the list at his fullback/tight end combination position for the Redbirds and he ranked second on the team with two touchdown receptions. He ranked fourth on the team with 22 catches for 144 yards and was a key member of the protection unit that allowed the fifth-fewest sacks in the league.
Taula also saved his best season for his last, earning honorable mention honors in his sixth and final season in a Redbird uniform. The Independence, Missouri, native started nine games at tight end for ISU before missing the final two games of the season due to injury. He ranked third on the team with 26 receptions and 284 yards and averaged 10.9 yards per catch on the season. Taula recorded a career-high seven catches for 63 yards in a win over UNI and tallied a touchdown catch in a victory over South Dakota.
Rounding out the All-MVFC honors for the Redbirds was newcomer Deandre Lamont, who picked up all-league honors in his first season with the Redbirds after transferring from Central Arkansas. The Baytown, Texas, native ranked third on the team with 68 tackles and finished the year with two sacks and three tackles-for-loss. He also added an interception and three pass breakups in the Redbird secondary and posted a season-high 10 tackles against Southern Illinois. Lamont also recorded a sack and eight tackles in a win at UNI and was credited with five-plus tackles in 9-of-11 of the team's games.
The Missouri Valley Football Conference will continue to announce its yearly honors on Tuesday, when the league's Newcomer of the Year and All-Newcomer Team will be announced.
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