Eight Salukis Named to All-MVFC Teams; Williams Finishes Third in OPOTY Voting
12/01/2025 | 10:00:00 | Football
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Eight members of the Southern Illinois University football team have received All-Missouri Valley Football Conference honors, as announced by the league on Monday.
The Salukis had one player on the All-MVFC First Team, three on the Second Team, and four honorable mentions. In terms of specialty awards, quarterback DJ Williams finished third in the MVFC Offensive Player of the Year voting with 31 points. Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard won the award with 102 points followed by North Dakota State's Cole Payton who had 69 points.
Cornerback Jeremiah McClendon was SIU's representative on the All-MVFC First Team. On the Second Team, Southern had offensive lineman Noah Fenske, linebacker Colin Bohanek, and kicker/punter Paul Geelen. Williams, wide receiver Vinson Davis III, offensive lineman Cameron Dye, and defensive lineman Donnie Wingate were all honorable mentions.
McClendon earned a spot on the All-MVFC First Team after leading the conference in pass breakups (14) and passes defended (16). McClendon's 14 pass breakups tied a single-season program record which was set in 2020 by James Ceasar. The senior corner also had two interceptions, one fumble forced, one fumble recovered, and 59 tackles in 2025.
Fenske led an offensive line that allowed just 13 sacks, which was tied for the fewest in the Valley and tied for 11th in the FCS. The veteran also helped lead the charge for a rushing offense that averaged 207.3 yards-per-game, ranking second in the conference and 11th in the nation. Fenske ended the season with a strong showing at Illinois State that led to the senior being named the MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week.
Bohanek paced the Salukis in tackles (87) and tackles for loss (7.5) while also registering three pass breakups and one fumble recovery. The linebacker from Chicago, Ill., had double-digit tackles in four games, including in each of the team's final two games of the season. Bohanek posted a season-high 13 tackles twice: on Sept. 13 at UT Martin and on Nov. 15 against South Dakota.
Geelen was voted to the All-MVFC Second Team as a kicker after going 15-of-17 on field goals in 2025. The senior was a perfect 14-of-14 on attempts from inside 50 yards and finished the year with a field-goal percentage of 88.2%. The percentage ranked second in the MVFC and was tied for seventh in the FCS. Geelen was also a two-time MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Nov. 24 and Sept. 15).
Williams finished third in the Offensive Player of the Year race and was an honorable mention after a historic 2025 campaign. The senior ended the year with 2846 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and five interceptions while also rushing for an SIU quarterback program-record 847 yards and 18 touchdowns. Williams' big year led to the Harvey, Ill., native being a finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the FCS Offensive Player of the Year. To read more about the quarterback's year, click here.
Davis had a career-high 785 receiving yards and five touchdowns in his senior season. The wide receiver's 55 receptions were also the second-most he has had in a campaign. Davis ranked fifth in the Valley in receiving yards, was tied for ninth in receiving touchdowns, and was also tied for fifth in receptions. The senior had two 100-yard games, including 185 at SEMO on Sept. 20. The 185 yards are tied for the eighth-most in a single game in program history.
Dye played and started in all 12 games for SIU as the team's right tackle. The senior provided a veteran presence for a line that ranked top 15 in the country in both sacks allowed and rushing offense. With Dye up front, the Salukis posted six 200-yard rushing games including a season-best 430 vs. Indiana State on Oct. 4.
Wingate was an honorable mention after posting 37 tackles, 6.0 TFL, and four sacks in his first year as a Saluki. The defensive end finished the year tied for eighth in the conference in sacks and tied for 22nd in TFL. Wingate had a season-high two sacks at SEMO on Sept. 20 and recorded 1.5 TFL or better in three games.
The full release from the MVFC can be read here.
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