OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

RB Marshaun Coprich, Illinois State, Sr.
Led the MVFC in rushing yards (1,720), touchdowns (20), yards per game (156.4), all-purpose yards per game (169.0) and scoring (11.1) … rushed for over 100 yards in nine of 11 games and posted three games with over 200 yards rushing … posted seven multiple TD games and six games with over 150 yards rushing … rushed for season-high 254 yards and three TDs at SIU (Nov. 14) … followed that with 251 yards and tied career-high with four TDs vs. South Dakota (Nov. 21) … three-time MVFC Offensive Player of the Week.

The TOP 3 (Total Points)
RB Marshaun Coprich, Illinois State (60)
QB Mark Iannotti, Southern Illinois (37)
WR Jake Wieneke, South Dakota State (13)


DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

CB Deiondre' Hall, UNI, Sr.
Started all 11 games (at CB and FS) … led UNI and the MVFC with 6 interceptions, returning two for TDs … No. 5 in the FCS in interceptions per game … broke UNI’s record for career INT returns for TDs (4) and is fifth all-time at UNI in career INTs (13) … STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year Award Watch List Nominee ... Has 69 total tackles, including 48 solo and six for loss … two forced fumbles and three PBUs.

The TOP 4 (Total Points)
DB Deiondre' Hall, UNI (47)
LB Nick DeLuca, North Dakota State (23)
LB Brett Taylor, Western Illinois (18)
DE Derek Rivers, Youngstown State (16)


NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR

QB Aaron Bailey, UNI, Jr. (transfer from Illinois)
Started nine games and had a team-high 1,029 rush yards, tying him for third all-time in MVFC history in season rushing yards by a QB … fourth in the FCS in rushing TDs and added 1,362 pass yards with nine passing TDs … his 17 rushing TDs is a UNI season record by a QB and ties DeAndre Smith from Missouri State (1990) for the MVFC record … had five 100-plus rushing yard games, including back-to-back to end the year … career-high 169 rush yards in win over No. 6 ranked SDSU … career-high 231 pass yards vs. USD.

The TOP 3 (Total Points)
QB Aaron Bailey, UNI (58)
DE Andrew Van Ginkel, South Dakota (28)
QB Easton Stick, North Dakota State (21)


FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

DE Andrew Van Ginkel, South Dakota, R-Fr.
Started all 11 games at defensive end … finished second in the MVFC in both sacks (9.0) and tackles-for-loss (18.0) … ranks 12th and 14th, respectively, nationally … only defensive player on the CFPA Watch List for Freshman Performer of the Year … also on CFPA Watch List for DE/DT of the Year … finished as the team’s fifth-leading tackler with 56 … ranks second nationally with three fumble recoveries … also forced two fumbles, blocked a kick, had two breakups and six hurries … MVFC Defensive POW on Oct. 19

The TOP 3 (Total Points)
DE Andrew Van Ginkel, South Dakota (53)
QB Easton Stick, North Dakota State (42)
QB Taryn Christion, South Dakota State (17)


‘BRUCE CRADDOCK’ COACH OF THE YEAR

Bob Nielson, Western Illinois
Western was picked to finish eighth in the MVFC preseason poll and tied for third, despite having the nation’s toughest schedule. That improvement of 5 spots from the preseason poll is the second-biggest jump for the Leathernecks dating back to the inaugural preseason poll in 1986. Nielson has now taken a team at the Division III, II and I FCS to the NCAA playoffs. He coached Wartburg (2x) and Wisconsin-Eau Claire (1x) to the Division III postseason, and won two Division II National titles at Minnesota-Duluth, with six appearances in all. This year’s post-season appearance for Nielson is his 10th in 23 years.

The TOP 4 (Total Points)
Bob Nielson, Western Illinois (31)
Brock Spack, Illinois State (28)
Joe Glenn, South Dakota (25)
Chris Klieman, North Dakota State(24)

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