Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Seven Salukis Earn Phil Steele Preseason All-MVFC Honors
08/03/2026 | 11:04:00 | Football
CARBONDALE, Ill. – SIU football placed seven players on Phil Steele's 2026 Missouri Valley Football Conference Preseason All-Conference Teams, including two first-team selections and five second-team honorees.
First Team
· OL Derek Harden
· LS Ryan Algrim
Second Team
· QB DJ Williams
· RB Edward Robinson
· DL Amir Dwight
· LB Chris Presto
· DB Vinny Pierre Jr.
Harden earned first-team recognition on the offensive line after starting 11 games at right guard in 2025. The senior also garnered third-team Phil Steele Preseason FCS All-America honors, making him one of the league's top nationally recognized offensive linemen entering the season.
Algrim joined Harden on the first team after earning recognition as Phil Steele's top preseason long snapper in the MVFC.
Williams headlines the Salukis' second-team selections entering his senior season. The Harvey, Illinois, native finished eighth in Walter Payton Award voting in 2025 after passing for 2,846 yards and 22 touchdowns while rushing for a school-record 847 yards and 18 touchdowns. He ranked among the FCS leaders in total offense and points responsible for while helping lead the Saluki attack. He has already been named as a preseason third team All-American by Stats Perform FCS and added to the Walter Payton Award Watch List.
Robinson earned second-team honors after a breakout 2025 campaign. The sophomore running back rushed for 655 yards on 91 carries, averaged 7.2 yards per attempt and recorded three 100-yard rushing games while adding 19 receptions.
Defensively, Dwight, Presto and Pierre Jr. helped SIU place three players on the second team. Dwight earned recognition along the defensive front, while Presto was honored at linebacker and Pierre Jr. represented the Salukis in the secondary.
Pierre Jr. started all 12 games last season and totaled 71 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble. He recorded at least eight tackles in four games and finished among the team's defensive leaders.
Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard was named Phil Steele's MVFC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Illinois State linebacker Tye Niekamp earned Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors.
First Team
· OL Derek Harden
· LS Ryan Algrim
Second Team
· QB DJ Williams
· RB Edward Robinson
· DL Amir Dwight
· LB Chris Presto
· DB Vinny Pierre Jr.
Harden earned first-team recognition on the offensive line after starting 11 games at right guard in 2025. The senior also garnered third-team Phil Steele Preseason FCS All-America honors, making him one of the league's top nationally recognized offensive linemen entering the season.
Algrim joined Harden on the first team after earning recognition as Phil Steele's top preseason long snapper in the MVFC.
Williams headlines the Salukis' second-team selections entering his senior season. The Harvey, Illinois, native finished eighth in Walter Payton Award voting in 2025 after passing for 2,846 yards and 22 touchdowns while rushing for a school-record 847 yards and 18 touchdowns. He ranked among the FCS leaders in total offense and points responsible for while helping lead the Saluki attack. He has already been named as a preseason third team All-American by Stats Perform FCS and added to the Walter Payton Award Watch List.
Robinson earned second-team honors after a breakout 2025 campaign. The sophomore running back rushed for 655 yards on 91 carries, averaged 7.2 yards per attempt and recorded three 100-yard rushing games while adding 19 receptions.
Defensively, Dwight, Presto and Pierre Jr. helped SIU place three players on the second team. Dwight earned recognition along the defensive front, while Presto was honored at linebacker and Pierre Jr. represented the Salukis in the secondary.
Pierre Jr. started all 12 games last season and totaled 71 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble. He recorded at least eight tackles in four games and finished among the team's defensive leaders.
Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard was named Phil Steele's MVFC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Illinois State linebacker Tye Niekamp earned Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
LS
/ Football
DT
/ Football
S
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ FootballMonday, August 03
Monday, August 03
Sunday, August 02
Sunday, August 02