INDIANAPOLIS – The University of Indianapolis was voted in the preseason coaches’ poll as the unanimous choice to win the 2023 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) football title, the league office announced on Friday.
The preseason poll is selected by the league’s eight head coaches, who, per GLVC Bylaws, are not permitted to vote for their own team.
No. 1 Indianapolis
- Received all seven of the possible first-place votes and 49 total points.
- Head coach Chris Keevers enters his fifth season at the helm of the program, recording a 9-2 mark overall and 6-0 Conference record en route to winning his second Conference crown and GLVC Co-Coach of the Year in 2022.
- Defeated Truman 28-14 in final week of regular season to secure the title.
- Garnered NCAA Division II playoff bids in seven of last 10 seasons.
- The Greyhounds return eight starters on offense, led by a trio of All-GLVC First Team selections –Kednal Alexis (OL), Austin Keele (OL), and Alonzo Derrick (OL).
- UIndy brings back 23 letterwinners and seven starters on the defensive side of the ball, including All-GLVC First Team honorees Landry Mavungu (DB), Michael Brown (DB), Aaron Barnett (DL), and Dylan Shelton (DL).
No. 2 Truman State
- Received the other first-place vote and 43 total points.
- Have won one GLVC title when it shared the crown in 2016 with Southwest Baptist.
- Head coach Gregg Nesbitt enters his 14th season leading the program, recording a 9-2 mark overall and 5-1 GLVC record last season to finish second in the league and earn Co-Coach of the Year honors.
- Secured their third-straight America’s Crossroads Bowl victory last season with a thrilling 28-27 win over Tiffin.
- Truman returns 19 starters in 2023, including nine on both offense and defense.
- All-GLVC Honorable Mention signal caller Nolan Hair will have talented protection for his junior year, as All-GLVC First Team selections Dane Eggert and Justin Watson will anchor the Bulldog offensive line.
- The Truman defense will be headed by a plethora of All-GLVC performers, highlighted by four first-team honorees – Isaiah Estes (LB), Ben Miller (DL), Ben Thomas (DB), and Jake Closser (DB).
No. 3 Southwest Baptist
- Received 34 total points.
- Head coach Robert Clardy returns for his ninth season leading his alma mater, as the Bearcats are coming off a 6-5 overall record in 2022 with a 4-2 league clip to finish third.
- SBU has won one GLVC title when it shared the league crown with Truman in 2016.
- Among eight returning offensive starters is running back Abel Carter, who comes back after leading the GLVC in rushing yards (1,275) and rushing touchdowns (12) last season.
- First Team All-GLVC defensive back Brenden Smith heads the 20 returning defensive letterwinners for the Bearcat defense after posting 62 total tackles and seven pass breakups a year ago.
No. 4 Missouri S&T
- Received 27 total points.
- Andy Ball comes into his second season as the Miners’ head mentor, finishing fifth in league standings with a 2-4 Conference record while going 3-7 overall in his rookie campaign last year.
- S&T’s offense will be spearheaded by sophomore running back Cameren Smith, who won GLVC Freshman of the Year and made Second Team All-GLVC last season.
- All-GLVC Second Team selections Carson Prenger (DB) and Nick Mattli (LB) are among the 19 returning defensive players for the Miners.
- On special teams, the Miners will be led by the reigning GLVC Special Teams Player of the Year – Gideon Niboh – who averaged 26.6 yards per kick return in 2022.
No. 5 McKendree
- Received 24 total points.
- Head coach Mike Babcock enters his 11th year in Lebanon, going 5-6 overall and 2-4 in GLVC action to finish fourth a season ago.
- The Bearcats lost nine offensive starts from last season but bring back junior wideout Yogi Flager, Jr., who led the league in receiving yards (1,144) and receiving touchdowns (10) in 2022.
- McKendree returns 23 letterwinners on defense, highlighted by first-team defensive back Andrew Sherry who registered 69 tackles and two interceptions a year ago.
No. 6 Quincy
- Received 19 total points.
- Head coach Gary Bass returns for his seventh season at the helm after recording a 4-7 overall mark last year, going 1-5 in GLVC play for a sixth-place finish.
- The Hawks return plenty of experience with 76 letterwinners back this year – the most in the Conference.
- Junior wide receiver Jalen Lawrence expects to be a big part of the Quincy offense this upcoming year after tallying 818 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022.
- Losing just one defensive starter, the Hawks’ defense will have lots of familiar faces, including a trio of Second Team All-GLVC selections – David Tabakovic (DL), Peyton Plunkett (LB), and Joseph Webb (DB).
No. 7 Upper Iowa
- Received 17 total points.
- Head coach Jason Hoskins enters his fourth season in Fayette and first in the GLVC after going 1-10 overall in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
- The Peacocks returns a pair of experienced quarterbacks – sophomore Darryl Overstreet Jr. and junior Marcus Orr – who combined for 1,815 passing yards and 14 passing touchdowns last season.
- Five Upper Iowa defensive starters are back for 2022, including defensive back Zacarius Murray and linebacker Trevor Thompson who led the team in pass breakups (9) and total tackles (66), respectively, a year ago.
No. 8 William Jewell
- Received 11 total points.
- Interim head coach Neil Linhart will lead the Cardinals this season after being promoted to the position in April.
- Jewell finished seventh in the league last year with a 2-9 overall record and 1-5 GLVC mark.
- Senior wideout Deldrionn Amos comes back to Liberty after posting 502 yards and five touchdowns to earn Second Team All-GLVC recognition last season.
- The Cardinals’ defensive line will be anchored by second-team selection Edd Becton, while junior linebacker Adam Callahan returns after leading the team in tackles (97) in 2022.
The 2023 GLVC Champion will be determined by the results of the round-robin league schedule. Co-Champions will be named in the result of a tie, which has happened once since football became a Conference-sponsored sport in 2012 when Southwest Baptist and Truman shared the crown in 2016.
The complete poll and voting results can be found below.
2023 GLVC FOOTBALL PRESEASON POLL
| Place |
School |
Points (first-place votes) |
| 1. |
Indianapolis |
49 (7) |
| 2. |
Truman State |
43 (1) |
| 3. |
Southwest Baptist |
34 |
| 4. |
Missouri S&T |
27 |
| 5. |
McKendree |
24 |
| 6. |
Quincy |
19 |
| 7. |
Upper Iowa |
17 |
| 8. |
William Jewell |
11 |