ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Valley Football Conference announced on Monday a total of eight Illinois State Redbird selections to the Preseason All-Conference team and Illinois State was picked seventh in the preseason poll voted on by league coaches, media, and sports information directors.
Offensive tackle Hunter Zambrano, safety Dillon Gearhart and wide receiver/kick returner Jalen Carr were selected as MVFC preseason second-team picks, while running back Cole Mueller, safety Keondre Jackson, defensive tackle Josh Dinga, cornerback Jeff Bowens and Carr (as a return specialist) were named honorable mention selections.
Defending FCS national champion South Dakota State was the near unanimous choice for the top spot in the annual preseason poll, receiving 44 of 45 first-place votes and total of 539 points. Perennial league power North Dakota State was picked second with 492 points and received the other first-place vote. Northern Iowa (409) and North Dakota (399) were separated by just 10 points in third and fourth places, respectively, while Southern Illinois (337) and Youngstown State (323) rounded out the top half of the poll. The Redbirds came in seventh (269), ahead of Missouri State (229), South Dakota (226) and Indiana State (148) to wrap up the top 10 while Murray State (74) and Western Illinois (65) rounded out the poll.
The Redbirds are set to open the 2023 fall season on Saturday, Sept. 2, at home against Dayton, with kickoff set for Noon CT at Hancock Stadium. Redbird Football season and single-game tickets, as well as mini-plans, are available for purchase now online at GoRedbirds.com/Tickets or by contacting the ISU Athletics Ticket Office at (309) 438-8000.
GoRedbirds.com and the Illinois State Redbirds App: Your sources for Illinois State tickets, Weisbecker Athletic Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
