Four YSU players make All-MVFC preseason team

Penguins are picked

fifth in conference

Staff report

ST. LOUIS

Four Youngstown State players were named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s preseason all-league team, conference officials announced Tuesday.

Tailback Jody Webb, placekicker Zak Kennedy, defensive end Derek Rivers and free safety LeRoy Alexander all made the preseason squad.

The Penguins were picked to fifth in the 10-team MVFC in a poll of coaches, media and sports information directors.

Five-time defending national champion North Dakota State was picked to win the conference for a sixth consecutive season. The Bison, 71-5 over the last five years, earned 37 of 39 possible first-place votes and 388 points.

Northern Iowa picked up the other two first-place votes and tallied 343 points. South Dakota State was third (284), Illinois State was picked fourth (274) and YSU was fifth (254).

Rivers, Alexander and Kennedy were all first-team All-MVFC honorees in 2015 while Webb was a second-team selection following a breakout year in which he led the Penguins in rushing.

Kennedy set a school record by making 19 field goals last year, eclipsing the mark of 17. He made a field goal in all but one contest and led the team with 91 points. In MVFC contests he made 14 of-16 attempts, converting at an 87.5 percent clip. He ranked third in the FCS making 1.73 field goals per game. In the regular season, he was one of three FCS kickers to make at least 19 field goals.

Rivers was named first-team All-MVFC for the second consecutive season posting nine sacks and 15.5 TFLs. During the season, Rivers set the school record for career sacks with 26 and has one season remaining with the program. In 2015, he had 52 total tackles, including 37 solos. In conference games he had 36 tackles and five sacks.

Alexander transferred from Nebraska an immediately transformed the YSU secondary into one of the best in the nation. He was second on the team with 67 total tackles and 38 solo stops. In conference play he had 49 total tackles. Overall he led the squad with four interceptions. YSU ranked second in the country in fewest passing yards allowed per game after ranking 71st in 2014.

Webb rushed for a team-high 857 yards on 122 attempts. He had a team-high nine touchdown runs, five of which came in MVFC play, and averaged 7.8 yards per rush attempt in conference games.

YSU opens its second season under the direction of head coach Bo Pelini at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1 against Duquesne at Stambaugh Stadium.