University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI Picked Second, Six Panthers Named All-MVFC
2/3/2021 4:59:00 PM | Football
ST. LOUIS – UNI was picked second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference Preseason Team and six Panthers were named to the MVFC Preseason Team.
Defending FCS National Champion North Dakota State was picked as the favorite for the preseason poll with 101 total points. The Panthers were picked second with 92 points edging South Dakota State who was picked third with 91 points.
Illinois State was picked third, Southern Illinois was picked fifth, South Dakota was picked sixth and North Dakota seventh. Youngstown State, Missouri State and Western Illinois rounded out the remainder of the poll. Indiana State will not play this spring.
Sophomore Will McElvain leads the way as the only quarterback on the preseason list. Went 203-382 for 2,778 yards and 20 touchdowns while throwing just seven interceptions in 15 games during the 2019 season. He set the conference freshman passing record before it was broken by NDSU's Trey Lance on his final completion of the national championship game. McElvain also rushed for 372 yards and another touchdown.
McElvain will have his biggest deep threat back in Isaiah Weston, who also earned preseason honors. Weston tallied 43 receptions for 1,053 years and 10 touchdowns. Weston tied the record for the consecutive games with a touchdown with seven. He was named a finalist for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Jared Brinkman was named to the preseason team after a stellar season in the interior defensive line for the Panthers. In 2019, he recorded 83 total tackles, fourth-most on the team with 14.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks. He also tallied five QB hurries, forced three fumbles and recovered another one.
The 2019 Phil Steele Freshman Defensive Player of the Year Omar Brown was tallied 77 tackles, including four tackles for loss. He recovered three fumbles and forced a team-high six interceptions. He led the MVFC in interceptions during the regular season.
Bryce Flater earned preseason team honors after leading the league in total tackles with 143. He recorded 8.0 tackles for loss, tallied four pass breakups, an interception, forced a fumble and recovered another. He finished third in the FCS in tackles.
Sophomore kicker Matthew Cook was 19-24 in field foals with a long of 50 yards and was 36-36 on PATs. He earned first-team All-MVFC honors at the end of 2019.
The Panthers are scheduled to open the season on Feb. 19 at home against South Dakota State.
Defending FCS National Champion North Dakota State was picked as the favorite for the preseason poll with 101 total points. The Panthers were picked second with 92 points edging South Dakota State who was picked third with 91 points.
Illinois State was picked third, Southern Illinois was picked fifth, South Dakota was picked sixth and North Dakota seventh. Youngstown State, Missouri State and Western Illinois rounded out the remainder of the poll. Indiana State will not play this spring.
Sophomore Will McElvain leads the way as the only quarterback on the preseason list. Went 203-382 for 2,778 yards and 20 touchdowns while throwing just seven interceptions in 15 games during the 2019 season. He set the conference freshman passing record before it was broken by NDSU's Trey Lance on his final completion of the national championship game. McElvain also rushed for 372 yards and another touchdown.
McElvain will have his biggest deep threat back in Isaiah Weston, who also earned preseason honors. Weston tallied 43 receptions for 1,053 years and 10 touchdowns. Weston tied the record for the consecutive games with a touchdown with seven. He was named a finalist for the Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Jared Brinkman was named to the preseason team after a stellar season in the interior defensive line for the Panthers. In 2019, he recorded 83 total tackles, fourth-most on the team with 14.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks. He also tallied five QB hurries, forced three fumbles and recovered another one.
The 2019 Phil Steele Freshman Defensive Player of the Year Omar Brown was tallied 77 tackles, including four tackles for loss. He recovered three fumbles and forced a team-high six interceptions. He led the MVFC in interceptions during the regular season.
Bryce Flater earned preseason team honors after leading the league in total tackles with 143. He recorded 8.0 tackles for loss, tallied four pass breakups, an interception, forced a fumble and recovered another. He finished third in the FCS in tackles.
Sophomore kicker Matthew Cook was 19-24 in field foals with a long of 50 yards and was 36-36 on PATs. He earned first-team All-MVFC honors at the end of 2019.
The Panthers are scheduled to open the season on Feb. 19 at home against South Dakota State.
Players Mentioned
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