The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) announced 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.) |
More information on Burgess and Murray can be found below:
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.
