INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) announced Friday the 16 student-athletes who have been selected to attend the 2023 GLVC Football Kickoff, which will take place in Lebanon, Illinois on Friday, July 28. The GLVC contingent, highlighted by 13 All-Conference returners, will participate in the 11th annual event. The event will take place at The Hettenhausen Center for the Arts on the campus of McKendree University from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Central Time and will serve both the league’s media members and passionate fans through several social media outlets.
The coach and two student-athletes from each of the eight GLVC football institutions will be on hand to help promote the Conference’s 12th season.
Six of the eight offensive players attending the kickoff hail from skill positions for their respective teams. Running back
Abel Carter (SBU) will be the lone representative out of the backfield, coming off a career year in which he led the GLVC in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns and was voted to All-GLVC Second Team. Tight ends
Hans Wisnewski (QU) and
Eddie Burgess (UIU) had solid 2022 campaigns with Wisnewski earning All-GLVC Honorable Mention recognition and Burgess tying for the team lead in receiving touchdowns. A trio of wide receivers –
Yogi Flager Jr. (MCK),
Zach Zerwig (TSU), and
Deldrionn Amos (WJC) – will be in attendance, highlighted by Flager Jr. who led the Conference in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns en route to earning All-GLVC First Team laurels in 2022. Amos was selected to the Second Team after leading the Cardinals in every receiving category, while Zerwig was a steady offensive contributor for the Bulldogs with 30.7 yards per game.
Two All-GLVC offensive linemen will also be going to the kickoff at the end of the month. Two-time First Team All-GLVC honoree
Kednal Alexis (UINDY) enters the season with 25 consecutive starts at left guard and two Conference titles on his resume. Fellow interior lineman
Cole Littrell (S&T) was a second-team selection in 2022 and helped the Miners average 131.3 yards per game on the ground.
On the other side of the ball, five programs are sending defensive backs to Lebanon.
Landry Mavungu (UINDY),
Carson Prenger (S&T), and
Brenden Smith (SBU) highlight the group after earning All-GLVC First Team honors this past season.
Joseph Webb (QU) was a second-team honoree, while
Zacarius Murray (UIU) paced the Peacocks’ secondary with nine pass breakups.
A trio of All-GLVC defensive linemen round out the collection of kickoff attendees.
Ben Miller (TSU) was tabbed to the First Team after recording 36 tackles and 5.5 tackles for loss last season.
Edd Becton (WJC), a Second Team honoree, and
Jacob Stoneburner (MCK), an Honorable Mention, both posted impressive 2022 campaigns for their respective teams.
While attendance in person is for approved media only, fans are encouraged to participate in the event through a variety of social media platforms and follow along online with each GLVC school, as they rotate through stations over the course of the 90-minute event. A complete schedule, as well as the official 2023 GLVC Football Kickoff website, will be announced on Wednesday, July 26.
Media members interested in attending the 2023 GLVC Football Kickoff can apply for access by contacting GLVC Assistant Commissioner Lindsey Williams at
lindsey@glvc-sports.org by Tuesday, July 25 at 5 p.m. ET.
The complete list of the 2023 GLVC Football Kickoff player attendees is below.
| School |
Offensive Player |
Defensive Player |
| Indianapolis |
Kednal Alexis, Sr., OL, (Indianapolis, Ind.) |
Landry Mavungu, R-Sr., DB (Normal, Ill.) |
| McKendree |
Yogi Flager Jr., Jr., WR (Belleville, Ill.) |
Jacob Stoneburner, Jr., DL (Effingham, Ill.) |
| Missouri S&T |
Cole Littrell, Jr., OL (Jonesboro, Ark.) |
Carson Prenger, Jr., DB (Jefferson City, Mo.) |
| Quincy |
Hans Wisnewski, Jr., TE (Sterling Heights, Mich.) |
Joseph Webb, Sr., DB (Kansas City, Mo.) |
| Southwest Baptist |
Abel Carter, Sr., RB (Carson City, Nev.) |
Brenden Smith, Sr., DB (Warrenton, Mo.) |
| Truman State |
Zach Zerwig, Jr., WR (St. Louis, Mo.) |
Ben Miller, Jr., DL (Huntsville, Mo.) |
| Upper Iowa |
Eddie Burgess, So., TE (Montezuma, Iowa) |
Zacarius Murray, Jr., DB (Waco, Texas) |
| William Jewell |
Deldrionn Amos, Sr., WR (Magnolia, Miss.) |
Edd Becton, R-Jr., DL (Florissant, Mo.) |
INDIANAPOLIS
Kednal Alexis, Sr., Offensive Line (Indianapolis, Indiana)
- Enters 2023 with 25 consecutive starts for the Greyhounds at left guard.
- Voted All-GLVC First Team twice.
- Named All-America Honorable Mention by the Don Hansen Football Committee and All-Super Region 3 Second Team by the College Sports Communicators (CSC) in 2022.
- Starter on a pair of GLVC Champion and NCAA playoff teams (2019, 2022).
Landry Mavungu, R-Sr., Cornerback (Normal, Illinois)
- Returns for sixth collegiate season with 28 career starts under his belt.
- Voted All-GLVC First Team each of the past two seasons.
- Amassed eight pass breakups in 2022.
- Added an interception and 24-yard return at McKendree.
- Collected Academic All-GLVC honors four times.
- Member of a pair of GLVC Champion and NCAA playoff teams (2019, 2022).
MCKENDREE
Yogi Flager Jr., Jr., Wide Receiver (Belleville, Illinois)
- Enters second season with the Bearcats after transferring from Butler University.
- Named All-GLVC First Team this past season.
- Led the GLVC in receiving yards (1,144) and receiving touchdowns (10).
- Holds McKendree’s single-season record for receiving yards.
- Sits third in receptions (75) and fifth in all-purpose yards, as well.
- Recorded team-best seven 100-yard receiving games.
- Majoring in computer science.
Jacob Stoneburner, Jr., Defensive Line (Effingham, Illinois)
- Returns to Lebanon for third season with the Bearcats.
- Named All-GLVC Honorable Mention last year.
- Tallied 24 total tackles and 12 solo stops.
- Recorded career-high six tackles vs Quincy.
- Registered 4.5 tackles for loss and one sack.
- Led team with three QB hurries.
MISSOURI S&T
Cole Littrell, Jr., Offensive Line (Jonesboro, Ark.)
- Earned All-GLVC Second Team recognition in 2022.
- Helped the Miner ground game average 131.3 yards per game.
- Highlighted by 359 rushing yards against McKendree for the eighth-most in a game in program history.
- Part of offensive line that helped running back Cameren Smith earn GLVC Freshman of the Year.
- Smith had the highest rushing yardage total of any freshman in S&T history (819).
- One of three returning starters on the offensive line for the 2023 campaign.
Carson Prenger, Jr., Defensive Back (Jefferson City, Missouri)
- Returns as starter at free safety for the Miners.
- Claimed All-GLVC Second Team honors last season.
- Finished in a tie for third on the team with 56 total tackles, including 43 solo stops.
- Recorded season-high eight tackles against Hillsdale.
- Added three tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, and three pass breakups.
- Saw significant playing time in the secondary during freshman season in 2021.
- Registered 27 tackles and two interceptions.
QUINCY
Hans Wisnewski, Jr., Tight End (Sterling Heights, Michigan)
- Enters third season with the Hawks.
- Named All-GLVC Honorable Mention in 2022.
- Grabbed 24 receptions for 301 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
- Highlighted by 92-yard, two-touchdown performance against UIndy.
Joseph Webb, Sr., Defensive Back (Kansas City, Missouri)
- Returns for second season with Quincy after transferring from Northwest Missouri State University.
- Named All-GLVC Second Team this past season.
- Tallied 59 total tackles, including 42 solo stops.
- Recorded season-best 12 tackles against Walsh.
- Added three pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and one interception.
SOUTHWEST BAPTIST
Abel Carter, Sr., Running Back (Carson City, Nevada)
- Returns to SBU after breakout season in 2022.
- Named All-GLVC Second Team and earned GLVC Offensive Player of the Week twice.
- Led the Conference in rushing yards (1275), rushing attempts (227), and touchdowns on the ground (12).
- Ranks fourth in SBU single-season rushing yards.
- Sits second in single-game rushing yards in program history after recording 243 against McKendree.
- Averaged over 100 rushing yards per game.
Brenden Smith, Sr., Defensive Back (Warrenton, Missouri)
- Comes back for sixth season with the Bearcats.
- Named All-GLVC First Team in 2022.
- Contributed to the Bearcat defense, achieving a 10-point decrease in opponent points per game compared to 2021.
- Led the team with seven pass breakups and added one interception.
- Collected 62 total tackles for the most out of any returning SBU defensive player.
TRUMAN STATE
Zach Zerwig, Jr., Wide Receiver (St. Louis, Missouri)
- Enters 2023 with 37 career games played, 69 receptions, 811 receiving yards, and three touchdowns.
- Was one of four Bulldog wideouts to catch over 20 passes (30) and reach 250 yards receiving (338) in 2022.
- Averaged 30.7 receiving yards per game and hauled in a pair of touchdowns.
Ben Miller, Jr., Defensive Line (Huntsville, Missouri)
- Contributed to Truman defense that led the GLVC in points allowed per game (18.6) and total yards allowed per game (297).
- Named All-GLVC First Team last season.
- Registered 36 total tackles with 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in 11 games.
- Landed on the Academic All-GLVC team.
UPPER IOWA
Eddie Burgess, So., Tight End (Montezuma, Iowa)
- Played in all 11 games during freshman campaign.
- Caught 12 passes for 115 yards, while tying for the team-high in receiving touchdowns with three.
- Recorded season-high five catches for 60 yards and two touchdowns against Minot State.
Zacarius Murray, Jr., Defensive Back (Waco, Texas)
- Tallied 77 total tackles (61 solo) in his two years with the Peacocks.
- Appeared in all 11 games last season.
- Led the team with nine pass breakups – tied for eighth in the NSIC – and added an interception.
- Recorded 45 total tackles (36 solo), including 2.5 tackles for loss and one sack.
- Registered season-high nine tackles against Northern State.
WILLIAM JEWELL
Deldrionn Amos, Sr., Wide Receiver (Magnolia, Mississippi)
- Named All-GLVC Second Team in 2022.
- Led team with 40 catches for 502 yards and five touchdowns.
- Averaged 45.6 yards per game, placing seventh in the GLVC.
- Recorded season-high 145 yards and two touchdowns against McKendree.
Edd Becton, R-Jr., Defensive Line (Florissant, Missouri)
- Voted All-GLVC Second Team this past season.
- Led team with 12.5 tackles for loss, tying for fifth in the Conference.
- Totaled 46 total tackles with 26 solo stops.
- Added one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
- Registered season-high seven tackles and two TFLs with a fumble recovery again