Celebrating 35 years of MVFC: Top offensive linemen

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In 2019, The Missouri Valley Football Conference is recognizing some of its all-time greats in accordance with the league’s 35th anniversary and College Football’s 150th anniversary.  Following a month-long on-line voting campaign, the Conference is revealing its five best players at 10 different positions.   Today we recognize our top all-time Offensive Linemen.  Honorees are listed alphabetically.

Offensive Linemen

Chris Elkins, Youngstown State, 2010-13 T

Three-time all-MVFC, including first-team honors in 2012 & 2013 .. two-time All-American .. started final 38 games of his career including every game as a sophomore, junior and senior

    

Joe Haeg, North Dakota State, 2012-15 

Two-time first-team all-MVFC (2014, 2015) .. two-time first-team All-American in 2014 and 2015.  He’s in his fourth season with the Indianapolis Colts, where he has started 35 career games for the Colts at four different positions.

    

Zack Johnson, North Dakota State, 2012-16

Three-time all-MVFC, including two-time first-team honors .. first-team All-American in 2016 and also received All-America recognition in 2015.  He played in the 2017 East-West Shrine Game.

    

Brad Meester, UNI, 1996-99

Four-time all-league, including first-team honors in 1998 and 1999.  All-American in 1998 and 1999.  He’s the highest draft pick of any offensive lineman in league history, going in  the 2nd round of the 2000 NFL Draft.  He played 13 seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, playing in 209 games and starting every one of them.

    

Billy Turner, North Dakota State, 2010-13 

Started in 56 of 57 games played in career ... Two-time consensus All-American and part of three straight NCAA Division I FCS national championship teams ... Invited to the 2014 Reese’s Senior Bowl and 2014 NFL Combine ... Selected by the Miami Dolphins 67th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft with the third pick in the third round

    

Frank Winters, Western Illinois, 1985-86 

First-team all-league in 1986.  First-team All-American in 1986 .. NFL Pro Bowl selection with the Green Bay Packers in 1996 and Super Bowl XXXI champion.  He is in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED POSITIONS:

Quarterback

Taryn Christion, South Dakota State, 2015-18 

All-time MVFC record holder for career passing yards (11,535) and career TD passes (104).  Led SDSU to back-to-back FCS Championship semifinal appearances.

    

Brock Jensen, North Dakota State, 2010-13 

Totaled 48 career wins at North Dakota State and won three-straight FCS titles.   Closed his career with 24-straight wins, including three against FBS schools.

    

Easton Stick, North Dakota State, 2015-18 

The all-time winningest QB in FCS history with a 49-3 record as a four-year starter at NDSU.  Holds the MVFC record with 2,523 rushing yards by a QB.

Kurt Warner, UNI, 1990-93 

NFL Hall of Fame inductee and 1999 Super Bowl Champion with the St. Louis Rams; four-time NFL Pro Bowl selection and league Offensive MVP in 1993.

    

Carson Wentz, North Dakota State, 2012-15 

Highest drafted player in Valley Football history, going No. 2 in the 2016 NFL draft.  Was part of 5-straight NDSU national championship teams.

Running back

Shakir Bell, Indiana State, 2010-13 

Runner-up finisher in the Walter Payton Award voting in 2011, two-time All-American, holds league single-game rushing mark (349 yards vs. Drake in 2012).  Had 4,214 career rushing yards.

    

Marshaun Coprich, Illinois State, 2012-15 

Third in the Walter Payton Award voting in 2015, ranks second in MVFC history with 5,195 career rushing yards and second with 59 career rushing TDs.  Helped ISU to the 2014 FCS title game.

    

Herb Donaldson, Western Illinois, 2005-08 

Ranks third in MVFC history with 4,746 career rushing yards.  Scored 50 rushing TDs and twice eclipsed 300 yards in a game (328 vs. Indiana State in 2006 and 314 vs. Missouri State in 2007).

    

David Johnson, UNI, 2010-14 

Ranks 5th in MVFC history with 4,650 career rushing yards and is second in league history with 64 total touchdowns.  Highest drafted RB in league history (3rd round by the Arizona Cardinals).

    

Zach Zenner, South Dakota State, 2011-14 

Holds league all-time records with 69 total touchdowns, 1,095 rushing attempts, 6,548 rushing yards and 61 rushing touchdowns.  Eclipsed 100 yards in a game 33 times, also a league record.

Wide Reciever

Lance Lenoir Jr., Western Illinois, 2013-16 

Ranks 3rd on the MVFC list with 3,796 career receiving yards and is second with 273 receptions.  Was a two-time first-team all-MVFC selection at wide receiver.

    

Laurent Robinson, Illinois State, 2003-06

Had 3,007 receiving yards for the Redbirds and 29 TD receptions.  One of only three MVFC receivers to earn league Offensive Player of the Year honors, doing so in 2005.

    

Darrius Shepherd, North Dakota State, 2015-18

Had 2,841 receiving yards and 188 receptions, and both rank 2nd all-time at NDSU … Most Outstanding Player of the 2019 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game win over Eastern Washington.

    

Dedric Ward, UNI, 1993-96 

Two-time MVFC Offensive Player of the Year .. ranks second all-time in MVFC history with 3,876 receiving yards on just 176 catches (22.0 yards per catch average for his career) … second all-time in MVFC history with 41 career TD receptions.

  

Jake Wieneke, South Dakota State, 2014-17

Holds MVFC career records with 288 receptions, 5,157 receiving yards and 59 receiving TDs.  One of just two players in league history (DB Ty Talton of UNI is the other) to earn first-team all-league honors four times.

Tight End

Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State, 2014-17

The MVFC career record holder (for a tight end) with 2,988 receiving yards, also holds the single-season record for a TE with 1,293 receiving yards in 2016.  He currently plays for the Philadelphia Eagles.

    

Clay Harbor, Missouri State, 2006-09 

Was a three-time first-team all-MVFC selection for the Bears.  He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the fourth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He has also been a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints.

    

James O’Shaugnessy, Illinois State, 2010-14 

He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL Draft and has been a member of the Chiefs, Patriots and Jaguars.

   

MyCole Pruitt, Southern Illinois, 2011-14

Holds the MVFC career record (for a tight end) with 221 career catches.  Ranks second all-time in MVFC history with 2,601 receiving yards by a tight end.  He is currently with the Tennessee Titans.

Brad St. Louis, Missouri State, 1996-99 – was a three-time first-team all-MVFC selection for the Bears.   He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 2000 NFL Draft and played there from 2000-09.