The Missouri Valley Football Conference continues to set the standard as the top FCS conference. With six teams making the playoff bracket last fall, two teams in the semifinals, another North Dakota State national title, and nine picks in the 2022 NFL Draft (more than C-USA, the MAC, and the Sun Belt), it was another fantastic year for the MVFC.
What’s in store for 2022? Here’s a look ahead at the top returning players and our predicted order of finish.
2022 FCS Preseason Preview Central
Returning All-Conference Players
From last season’s All-MVFC Team
Missouri State — 8: DB Kyriq McDonald (HM), DB Montrae Braswell (1st Team), DL Kevin Ellis (1st Team), K Jose Pizano (2nd Team), OL Landon Bebee (2nd Team), P Grant Burkett (1st Team), QB Jason Shelley (1st Team), WR Tyrone Scott (1st Team)
South Dakota State — 7: DL Caleb Sanders (2nd Team), DL Reece Winkelman (2nd Team), LB Adam Bock (1st Team), OL Mason McCormick (2nd Team), TE Zach Heins (HM), TE Tucker Kraft (1st Team), WR Jaxon Janke (2nd Team)
North Dakota State — 6: DB Michael Tutsie (1st Team), DL Eli Mostaert (HM), FB Hunter Luepke (1st Team), OL Cody Mauch (1st Team), RS Jayden Price (2nd Team), TE Noah Gindorff (HM)
South Dakota — 5: AP Carter Bell (HM), LS Dalton Godfrey (1st Team), OL Alex Jensen (2nd Team), RB Travis Theis (HM), RS Wesley Eliodor (HM)
Southern Illinois — 4: DB PJ Jules (HM), QB Nic Baker (HM), RB Javon Williams Jr. (2nd Team), WR Avante Cox (HM)
Northern Iowa — 4: DB Benny Sapp III (1st Team), K Matthew Cook (1st Team), LB Spencer Cuvelier (1st Team), WR Deion McShane (HM)
Youngstown State — 3: K Colt McFadden (HM), OL Jaison Williams (HM), RB Jaleel McLaughlin (1st Team)
Illinois State — 2: LB Zeke Vandenburgh (HM), RB Cole Mueller (HM)
North Dakota — 1: LB Devon Krzanowski (HM)
Indiana State — 1: WR Dante Hendrix (HM)
Returning HERO Sports All-Americans
From last season
North Dakota State — 5: FB Hunter Luepke (1st Team), DB Michael Tutsie (1st Team), TE Noah Gindorff (3rd Team), OL Cody Mauch (3rd Team), DL Eli Mostaert (Soph.)
South Dakota State — 4: TE Tucker Kraft (1st Team), OL Mason McCormick (1st Team), LB Adam Bock (1st Team), RB Isaiah Davis (Soph.)
Missouri State — 3: P Grant Burkett (3rd Team), WR Tyrone Scott (Soph.), DB Montrae Braswell (Soph.)
Youngstown State — 2: RB Jaleel McLaughlin (3rd Team), OL Jaison Williams (Soph.)
South Dakota — 1: DL Nick Gaes (Fr.)
Northern Iowa — 1: K Matthew Cook (2nd Team)
Teams With The Most D1 Transfers
FBS-to-FCS Transfers & FCS-to-FCS Transfers
Southern Illinois — 18 (13 FBS, 5 FCS)
Missouri State — 12 (10 FBS, 2 FCS)
Northern Iowa — 9 (6 FBS, 3 FCS)
Youngstown State — 8 (5 FBS, 3 FCS)
Illinois State — 8 (7 FBS, 1 FCS)
Indiana State — 8 (5 FBS, 3 FCS)
Names To Know
TOP OFFENSIVE PLAYER: Jason Shelley, Missouri State QB — Ranked the No. 12 dual-threat QB in the country coming out of high school, Shelley made stops at Utah and Utah State before transferring to Missouri State last fall. In his debut season, Shelley was named the MVFC Offensive Player of the Year after going 215-of-362 passing for 3,088 yards, 30 TDs, and six interceptions, plus 398 yards rushing and 10 scores.
TOP DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Adam Bock, South Dakota State LB — Bock has led SDSU’s defense in tackles in back-to-back seasons. Last fall, he totaled 125 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 2.5 sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles, and eight passes defended in 15 games.
TOP NFL PROSPECT: Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State TE — Draft Scout ranks the 6-foot-5, 255-pounder as the No. 79 overall prospect in the 2023 NFL Draft with a second-to-third round projection. Kraft caught 65 passes for 780 yards and six TDs last season.
HERO Sports’ Predicted Order of Finish
1. North Dakota State
2. South Dakota State
3. Missouri State
4. Southern Illinois
5. South Dakota
6. Northern Iowa
7. North Dakota
8. Youngstown State
9. Illinois State
10. Indiana State
11. Western Illinois
The top six teams here are all in HERO Sports’ preseason Top 25, UND went 5-6 last season with all five conference defeats being one-possession losses against playoff teams, and YSU is an under-the-radar team that beat three playoff squads last fall. It’s a strong top eight in the Valley, but the top three seem to have some separation from the rest as national title contenders.
Mo State continues to load its roster with talent and has an impressive mix of returning stars and transfers. Jason Shelley is arguably the top returning FCS quarterback. SDSU looks to have its best team ever when you look at its depth and its number of pro prospects. If QB Mark Gronowski replicates his play from the spring season and the secondary improves, the Jacks have a legit shot at a national championship this season. But until proven otherwise in the MVFC and the FCS, NDSU is the No. 1 team. The Bison should be even stronger than last season’s 14-1 squad that routed Montana State 38-10 in Frisco.
