Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Seven Salukis earn All-MVFC honors
12/01/2014 | 12:00:00 | Football
MVFC Release | MVFC Release (PDF)
ST. LOUIS - Seven Southern Illinois football players have been named to the 2014 Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Conference teams, the league announced Monday. MyCole Pruitt (tight end) and Tay Willis (return specialist) earned first-team honors; Corey Boemer (offensive line) and Thor Hadfield (long snapper) earned second-team honors; and Hans Carmien (fullback), LaSteven McKinney (return specialist) and Tyler Williamson (linebacker) earned honorable mention honors.
SIU had at least two first-team All-MVFC selections for the 15th-straight year. SIU players have earned 24 first-team All-MVFC honors under head coach Dale Lennon.
MyCole Pruitt
MyCole Pruitt earned his fourth All-MVFC laurel as a tight end in as many seasons; Pruitt has been a first-team All-MVFC selection in each of the last three years and was an honorable mention selection in his freshman season in 2011. Pruitt led the MVFC and set an SIU season record with 81 receptions in 2014 and ranked sixth in the FCS with 13 touchdowns. He led all Division I (FBS and FCS) tight ends in receptions by 20, receiving yards by 141 and receiving touchdowns by four. He ranks in the top 10 in MVFC history in career receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns; and he leads tight ends in conference history in all those statistics.
Tay Willis
Tay Willis earned first-team All-MVFC honors as a return specialist. Willis led the conference and ranked 15th nationally in kick return average, and he set an SIU record for single-season kickoff return yardage. He had kick returns of 38, 43, 60, 75 and 86 yards. Willis also played wide receiver and ranked sixth in the MVFC in touchdown receptions. He led the league in all-purpose yardage among non-running backs, and his career kick return average ranks second in SIU history.
Corey Boemer
Corey Boemer earned second-team All-Conference honors on the offensive line. Boemer started all 12 games for the Salukis and led an offensive line that ranked third in the conference in fewest sacks allowed. He started at left guard, left tackle and right tackle during the season and blocked for four 200-yard rushing days for SIU. He was an Academic All-American and Academic All-MVFC in 2013.
Thor Hadfield
Thor Hadfield earned second-team All-MVFC laurels as a long snapper. Hadfield was a team captain in 2014 and did not have a bad snap while serving as the long snapper for all field goals, extra points and punts. He caught a two-point conversion pass at Missouri State and recorded one tackle on special teams.
Hans Carmien
Hans Carmien earned honorable mention All-Conference honors at fullback after his redshirt freshman campaign in 2014. Carmien played in all 12 games as Southern's primary fullback and helped pave the way for four 200-yard rushing games for the Salukis. He was also a threat out of the backfield, catching six passes and two touchdown passes, while also catching a two-point conversion pass vs. Southeast Missouri.
LaSteven McKinney
LaSteven McKinney earned honorable mention All-Conference honors as a punt returner, his third career honorable mention return specialist honor from the conference. McKinney led the conference and ranked eighth nationally in punt return average. McKinney, a departing senior, leaves SIU as one of the top punt returners and wide receivers in school history. He ranks fourth in school history in career punt return yards and seventh in career punt return average. He also ranks third in SIU history in career receptions and 12th in career receiving yardage.
Tyler Williamson
Tyler Williamson earned honorable mention All-MVFC recognition as a linebacker. Williamson, a two-year team captain, departs the program as SIU's career leader in forced fumbles with eight. He was second on the team with 76 tackles, and he added seven tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He earned MVFC Defensive Player of the Week twice in his career, including once this year after helping pitch a second-half shutout at then-No. 14 Eastern Illinois. He is also a two-time Academic All-District honoree.
The MVFC will announce its All-Newcomer team tomorrow and All-Academic team on Wednesday. CoSIDA will announce the Academic All-America team on Thursday; both Boemer and Williamson are eligible for Academic All-America recognition.
