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.
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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.
Tight ends (honorees are listed alphabetically):
Nick DeLuca
North Dakota State, 2013-17
Was a two-time nominee for the Butkus Award. Two-time all-conference linebacker who earned All-America first-team honors as a fifth-year senior in 2017. Part of five MVFC championships and four FCS national titles as the Bison went 69-6 over his five years in the program. Finished eighth in NDSU history for total tackles (329) and was third in solo tackles (156).
Boomer Grigsby
Illinois State, 2001-04
Only player in history to earn Valley Defensive Player of the Year honor three times (2002, 2003, 2004). Three-time All-American and played in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins and Houston Texans. In 44 games (40 starts) at Illinois State, Grigsby recorded an FCS-record 580 tackles to go along with 41 1/2 tackles for a loss.
Edgerton Hartwell
Western Illinois, 1998-00
Three-time all-league choice, earning first-team honors in 1999 and 2000. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Baltimore Ravens in the 2001 NFL Draft and also played with the Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders. Was a two-time MVFC Defensive Player of the Year and won the Buck Buchanan Award in 2000.
Bryce Paup
Northern Iowa, 1986-89
A current assistant coach at UNI, Paup was a first-team all-league pick in 1989 and played in the NFL with the Packers, Bills, Jaguars and Vikings. He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection (1994-97), earning first-team All-Pro honors in 1995. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1996 and led the NFL in sacks that season.
Christian Rozeboom
South Dakota State, 2015-19
Last week Rozeboom became the SDSU leader in tackles with 446 in his career, surpassing the previous record of 435 (Greg Osmundson from 1986-89). He has registered double figures in tackles in 23 of 50 career games, including four times this season. He entered this season as a three-time first-team all-league choice.
Rozeboom now has 451 tackles, including 27 for loss (five sacks). He has 14 takeaways – eight interceptions and six fumble recoveries – and has forced eight fumbles. He has a pair of pick-sixes, one of which came this season.
Rozeboom has 16 passes defended, eight pass breakups and seven quarterback hurries. He’s also blocked a kick and recorded a safety.
Rozeboom has never missed a start in his career, with the Jackrabbits posting a 38-13 record over that stretch and appearing the FCS Playoffs semifinals each of the past two years.
