By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com

MINNEAPOLIS – Indiana State will look to join in on the David vs. Goliath fun that the FCS has been having so far in 2016 when it travels north to take on Big Ten opponent Minnesota this Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:01 p.m. ET at TCF Bank Stadium in downtown Minneapolis.

QUICK HITS

• Saturday's game will air live on both ESPNews and ESPN3/WatchESPN, with Mike Couzens and Dan Hawkins on the call.

• Sycamore fans can also listen locally on WDKE 95.9 FM “The Duke” to Brian Fritz (PBP) and Brian Jennings (color).

• This marks the 112th season of football at Indiana State, dating back to 1896. The University did not field teams from 1899 to 1900, 1908 or from 1910 to 1919. ISU owns an all-time record of 381-510-23 (.417) and is competing for the 31st consecutive season as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

• Indiana State is 0-2 all-time against the Golden Gophers and 0-15 all-time against the current Big Ten. The Sycamores have played at least one Big Ten school each season under head coach Mike Sanford (who took over in 2013) and every season since 2011 (ISU played Cincinnati in 2010).

• Indiana State is coming off a 41-25 victory over Butler at home in the season opener on Sept. 3. The Sycamores scored 21 points off turnovers (including a 100-yard fumble return for a TD by Tsali Lough), and sophomore Isaac Harker became the first 300-yard passer at Indiana State in two seasons in his first career start after a position battle during fall camp.

• The Sycamores are coming off a tough 5-6 season last year that left ISU on the outside looking in for the FCS Playoffs. Indiana State had several close losses that might have turned the tide of the season (including losses to eventual national champions North Dakota State and at No. 3 Illinois State), but injuries to key veterans like Connor Underwood and Mark Sewall put the Sycamores at a disadvantage for most of the season.

• The Sycamores put together one of the more magical seasons in Indiana State history the previous year in 2014. ISU finished 8-6 overall, which included its first trip to the FCS Playoffs since 1984 and its first playoff win since 1983.

• Offensive starters returning include: WR Robert Tonyan Jr., LT Dakota Vermillion, LG Zach Borens, C James Officer and RT Preston Collier.

• Defensive starters returning include: DL Conlan Cassidy, DL Tyshon Waller, LB Jameer Thurman, DB Tsali Lough, DB Marcus Gray and DB Lonnell Brown Jr.

#FearTheFCS

The FCS is off to another great start against FBS foes, with Buffalo (Albany), Iowa State (Northern Iowa), Virginia (Richmond) and Washington State (Eastern Washington) in Week One. MVFC school No. 3 UNI took the Valley's first FBS win of the season on an exciting last-drive interception to seal the deal against the Cyclones, 25-20. The FCS has also had a couple of close battles, including Furman sticking around late against Michigan State and both Southern Illinois and Montana State hanging around with Florida Atlantic and Idaho, respectively.

The Sycamores are two years removed from its own FBS upset after toppling in-state rival Ball State in 2014 to bring home the Victory Bell for the first time since 1987.

All-time, ISU is 58-137-3 against schools currently at the FBS level – which includes a handful of teams that ISU used to meet in either conference play or non-conference Division I-AA/FCS competition, like New Mexico State and Western Kentucky. ISU has even or winning records with Arkansas State (1-1), Central Florida (1-0), Florida International (1-0), Marshall (1-1), New Mexico State (4-1), UL-Monroe (2-2), Northern Illinois (5-5) and Oklahoma State (1-0). Against the current Big Ten, ISU is 0-15 against Indiana (0-6), Maryland (0-1), Minnesota (0-2), Penn State (0-1) and Purdue (0-5).

WHAT RETURNS FOR THE SYCAMORES IN 2016

RUSHING: 36.5 percent (706 of 1,936 yards)

PASSING: 0.04 percent (84 of 2,251 yards)

RECEIVING: 57.6 percent (1,296 of 2,251 yards)

DEFENSE: 62.0 percent (507 of 818 tackles)

ABOUT MINNESOTA

QUICK HITS

Total Offense: 280.0 YPG (108th FBS, 14th Big Ten)

Total Defense: 317.0 YPG (58th FBS, 9th Big Ten)

Rushing Offense: 150.0 YPG (74th FBS, 10th Big Ten)

Rushing Defense: 89.0 YPG (37th FBS, 8th Big Ten)

Passing Offense: 130.0 YPG (113th FBS, 13th Big Ten)

Passing Defense: 228.0 YPG (79th FBS, 10th Big Ten)

KEY PLAYERS - OFFENSE

#7 QB Mitch Leidner | 6-4, 230 | Sr. | Lakeville, Minn.

• Passing: 13-of-26, 130 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, Long of 25

• Rushing: 13 carries, 76 yards, 2 TD, 5.8 YPC, Long of 17

• 2015 Passing: 242-of-407 (59.5%), 2,701 yards, 14 TD, 11 INT, 207.8 YPG, Long of 57

• 2015 Rushing: 107 carries, 270 yards, 6 TD, 20.8 YPG, 2.5 YPC, Long of 33

#1 RB Rodney Smith | 5-11, 205 | So. | Jonesboro, Ga.

• Rushing: 25 carries, 125 yards, 2 TD, 5.0 YPC, Long of 27

• 2015 Rushing: 157 carries, 670 yards, 2 TD, 55.8 YPG, 4.3 YPC, Long of 37

• 2015 Receiving: 16 rec., 124 yards, 10.3 YPG, 7.8 YPC, Long of 27

#82 WR Drew Wolitarsky | 6-3, 220 | Sr. | Santa Clarita, Calif.

• Receiving: 4 rec., 53 yards, 13.2 YPC, Long of 19

• 2015 Receiving: 39 rec., 524 yards, 3 TD, 40.3 YPG, 13.4 YPC, Long of 42

KEY PLAYERS - DEFENSE

#12 LB Cody Poock | 6-2, 230 | Jr. | Okoboji, Iowa (Iowa Western CC)

• 2016: 2 total tackles

• 2015: 99 total tackles (56 solo), 5.5 TFL (12 yards), 1 FF

• Second on the team in total tackles

• Honorable Mention All-Big Ten

#50 LB Jack Lynn | 6-3, 240 | Sr. | Lake Zurich, Ill.

• 2016: 7 total tackles (6 solo), 1 PBU

• 2015: 76 total tackles (42 solo), 11.0 TFL (30 yards), 1.5 sacks (11 yards), 2 PBU, 1 FR, 1 FF

• Honorable Mention All-Big Ten

#5 DB Jalen Myrick | 5-10, 205 | Sr. | Bloomingdale, Ga.

• 2016: 5 total tackles (5 solo), 1.0 TFL (3 yards), 1 PBU

• 2015: 27 total tackles (18 solo), 3.5 TFL (11 yards), 0.5 sacks (6 yards), 3 INT (30 yards), 3 PBU

• Honorable Mention All-Big Ten

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GOPHERS

Minnesota is 1-0 following a 30-23 win vs. Oregon State at home last Thursday that only saw 597 yards of combined offense between the two teams. The Gophers were able to capitalize 14 points off of turnovers and ran the ball to success on the backs of RB Rodney Smith (125 yards, 2 TD) and QB Mitch Leidner (76 yards, 2 TD).

The Gophers are coming off a 6-7 season in 2015 that ended with a 21-14 win over Central Michigan in the Quick Lane Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit. This is the first full season for head coach Tracy Claeys, who was the long-time assistant of Jerry Kill for most of his coaching career. Kill resigned midseason in 2015, handing the reigns to Claeys right before a close 29-26 loss to Michigan at home on Halloween.

Returning for the Gophers is 6-4, 230-pound senior QB Mitch Leidner, who accounted for 2,971 yards and 20 total TDs in 2015 as a dual-threat QB.

INDIANA STATE HEAD COACH MIKE SANFORD

HEAD COACH MIKE SANFORD

Indiana State head coach Mike Sanford (Southern California, 1978) is 31-66 (.320) overall in his ninth season as a head coach and is 15-23 (.395) in his fourth season with Indiana State. He is 7-17 all-time in MVFC games, including a 4-8 mark at home and an 3-9 mark on the road. During his career, he is 23-26 in all home games, 8-40 on the road and 10-9 in games decided by three points or less. With the Sycamores, Sanford is 1-1 in overtime games and 0-1 in shutouts. Saturday's game is Sanford's 39th as the Indiana State head coach and his 98th as a collegiate head coach.

INDIANA STATE OFFENSIVE NOTES

QUICK HITS

• Total offense: 439.0 (6th MVFC, 29th FCS)

• Rushing offense: 124.0 (10th MVFC, 57th FCS)

• Passing offense: 315.0 (3rd MVFC, 15th FCS)

• The Sycamore offense put up 439 yards of total offense against Butler in the season opener.

• Sophomore QB Isaac Harker was 21-of-35 for 315 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions, becoming the first 300-yard passer in two seasons since Mike Perish did so several times during the 2014 season.

• Harker also tallied a rushing TD from one yard out, his second-career rushing score.

• Harker won the quarterback battle this training camp between himself and Wyoming transfer Aaron Young.

• Harker was 2-of-4 for 16 yards through the air in 2015 and he tallied 66 yards and one score on the ground, but he was also the architect of ISU's game-winning drive against Youngstown State in the season finale.

• Harker hit eight different receivers against Butler in Week 1, with 92 yards going to senior WR Robert Tonyan

• Against Butler, Harker had long throws of 56 yards (WR Bob Pugh, TD), 34 yards (Pugh, 1st Down), 25 yards (Tonyan, 1st Down), 24 yards (TE Lafaele Fautanu, TD) and 20 yards (TE Jacquet McClendon, 1st Down).

• Tonyan caught the most passes of any Sycamore receiver against Butler, with seven receptions for 92 yards.

• Tonyan was named to the Preseason All-MVFC squad as an Honorable Mention. Tonyan led ISU in receiving in 2015 with 601 yards on 40 catches and 6 TDs. He finished the year 7th in the MVFC in yards, 9th in receptions and 45th nationally in receiving touchdowns. He also owned ISU's longest reception of the year at 57 yards.

• Tonyan's 601 yards ranked 14th all-time at Indiana State for receiving yards in a single season.

• Tonyan recently passed 1,400 career receiving yards and 100 career catches vs. Butler, now standing at 1,440 yards and 10 TDs on 101 receptions in three seasons as a WR.

• At 10 career receiving TDs, Tonyan is within reach of ISU's all-time career record of 15 set by Steve Schmid in 1968.

• Tonyan was the main focal point of Indiana State's near-upset at No. 3 Illinois State in 2015, as he hauled in nine passes for 117 yards and 3 TDs -- the latter of which tied a single-game school record. Tonyan's second TD reception  -- a one-handed grab -- was actually featured as the No. 4 play of the day on SportsCenter's Top-10.

• Tonyan also threw for 56 yards in 2015: a 42-yard pass to Gary Owens vs. Southern Illinois and then a 16-yard toss to Owens vs. Western Illinois. Tonyan came to Indiana State as a QB before transitioning to WR in 2014.

• WR Sampson Levingston had a career-year in 2015, recording 26 catches for 319 yards and two scores. His career totals now entering his final year as a Sycamore are 56 receptions for 641 yards and 8 TDs.

• JUCO WR Bob Pugh led the Sycamores in receiving yards vs. Butler with 94 on three catches. Pugh had long receptions of 34 yards and a 56-yard TD in the third quarter.

• TE Lafaele Fautanu recorded his first-career receiving TD vs. Butler on a 24-yard scamper, in the process helping QB Isaac Harker record his first-career passing TD.

• TE Jacquet McClendon had a career day vs. Butler in his first game as a TE with four catches for 65 yards.

• All-Newcomer member RB Roland Genesy will lead the charge in a depleted backfield for the Sycamores. Genesy led the Sycamores in rushing in 2015 with 582 yards on 117 rushes (5.0 YPC), 3 TD and 52.9 YPG.

• Genesy only lost five yards all last year, gaining a total of 587 yards and recording a net of 582.

• Genesy was also ISU's sixth-best receiver, hauling in 15 passes for 98 yards in 2015.

• RBs LeMonte Booker (ACL) and Marlon Fleming II (foot) are lost for the season, but Dimitri Taylor returns for the 2016 season after tearing his ACL on the second offensive play of the year in 2015 vs. Butler.

• Dimitri Taylor led all Sycamores in rushing vs. Butler with 68 yards on 12 carries (5.7 YPC).

THE NEW MAN IN CHARGE

Sophomore QB Isaac Harker entered Memorial Stadium on Saturday not even sure if he would be Indiana State's starting quarterback against Butler and exited as its first 300-yard passer in two years. Harker won the training camp battle against Wyoming transfer Aaron Young and did not disappoint against the Bulldogs with a stellar 21-of-35 performance for 315 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Harker is now the first 300-yard passer at ISU since current wide receivers coach Mike Perish did so several times during the 2014 playoff season. Harker showed off his skills with both the long ball and in checking his reads for the check-down, as he hit eight different receivers on the day and was able to fly one long to Bob Pugh for a 56-yard touchdown.

DOWNFIELD THREAT

JUCO WR Bob Pugh had no first-game jitters against Butler on Sept. 3, hauling in the two longest passes of the game at 34 yards and a 56-yard TD from Isaac Harker in the 3rd quarter. The 5-11, 190-pound transfer from Highland CC was a Second-Team All-Conference member as a return specialist and an Honorable Mention member as a receiver during his JUCO career.

FROM BACKUP QB TO NFL PROSPECT

Senior WR Robert Tonyan Jr. has NFL scouts on the edge of their seats heading into the 2016 season, but it wasn't that long ago that Tonyan was struggling for playing time elsewhere. Tonyan originally came to Indiana State as a quarterback, and after redshirting the 2012 season he was part of a dual QB setup with Mike Perish in 2013. That year, Tonyan was 32-of-102 for 348 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games played.

The next year, at the behest of the coaching staff, Tonyan made the transition to wide receiver and never looked back. His first year as a WR in 2014, Tonyan was the 10th-best in the Valley with 4.2 catches per game, ending the year with 747 yards on 54 receptions and four touchdowns. After another stellar year in 2015 that saw 601 yards and six touchdowns on 40 catches, the 6-5, 220-pound McHenry, Ill., Tonyan has now surpassed 1,400 yards and 100 career receptions, currently standing at 1,440 yards and 101 receptions after the season-opener vs. Butler. And at 10 career receiving TDs, Tonyan is within reach of ISU's all-time career record of 15 set by Steve Schmid in 1968.

TONYAN'S BIG DAY

Junior WR Robert Tonyan Jr. had a career day at No. 3 Illinois State on Oct. 31 last season, as he single-handedly led a Sycamore offensive revolution in the second quarter to put the third-ranked Redbirds on their heels. In the second quarter alone, Tonyan hauled in three touchdowns passes – the second of which was an amazing one-handed leaping grab while he was held by his defender in the corner of the endzone, which was featured as the No. 4 play in SportsCenter's Top-10 that night. On the day, Tonyan ended with nine catches for 117 yards – his three touchdowns tying an all-time ISU single-game record, making him the sixth Sycamore to ever do so and the second to that season (Gary Owens, vs. Southern Illinois). Tonyan's 117 yards also constituted his second-career 100-yard game.

OUT OF THE BACKFIELD

The Sycamores have been dealt two punishing blows to what should have been a dynamite running game after losing starting running back LeMonte Booker to an ACL injury in spring practice and losing sophomore Marlon Fleming to a foot injury during fall camp. Both are out for the season, but the Sycamores still have the potential for a strong ground game.

Senior Roland Genesy is the clear starter after leading ISU in rushing in 2015 with 582 yards and three scores. The 6-1, 225-pound Genesy was incredibly difficult to tackle last year, averaging 5.0 yards per carry and only losing five yards all season. Junior Dimitri Taylor is back as well after suffering a torn ACL on the second offensive play of the season in 2015. In 2014, Taylor saw action in all 12 games and had 285 yards and three scores on 63 carries. Taylor was Indiana State's leading rusher vs. Butler with 68 yards on 12 carries.

GETTING TRICKY

Following a season in which ISU made the SportsCenter Top-10 for its “Circle of Death” trick play, Indiana State scored on four different trick plays in 2015. First up was a Gary Owens nine-yard rushing touchdown vs. Southeast Missouri on a double-option reverse end-around. The following game at Missouri State, Owens got in on the fun again with a 22-yard passing touchdown to tight end Jamar Brown. In that same game, WR Tyler Denton scored on a fake-out punt return touchdown. And then at UNI, WR Kelvin Cook (a former triple-option QB in high school) took a handoff from QB Matt Adam, popped back and lobbed a 12-yard TD pass to WR Robert Tonyan Jr. Three different Sycamore position players completed a pass in 2015; two for a TD and the other being a 42-yard gain from Tonyan to Owens vs. Southern Illinois.

CONSISTENTLY EXPLOSIVE

He may have sat behind such big names as Robert Tonyan Jr. and Gary Owens, but senior wide receiver Sampson Levingston had a strong season in a supporting role in the slot for the Sycamores in 2015. Levingston ended up with 319 yards and two touchdowns on 26 receptions, which accounted for nearly half of his career totals in yards (626) and catches (54) entering 2016. Levingston was also a big-play threat in open space from his position in the slot, accounting for at least one play of 20 yards or longer in five of the last seven games -- which includes a career-long 42-yard reception for a touchdown at UNI last year.

INDIANA STATE DEFENSIVE/SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

QUICK HITS

• Total defense: 390.0 YPG (6th MVFC, 51st FCS)

• Rushing defense: 145.0 YPG (6th MVFC, 49th FCS)

• Passing defense: 245.0 YPG (6th MVFC, 68th FCS)

• The Sycamores scored 21 points off turnovers against Butler, including a 100-yard fumble return for a TD by senior DB Tsali Lough and forced by LB Antonio Broadus.

• Lough's 100-yard return is the fourth 100-yard play in Indiana State history, but the first fumble. The other three were interception returns: Marty Murray (Sept. 17, 1977, vs. Southern Illinois), Vencie Glenn (Sept. 1, 1984, vs. Wayne State) and Travis Starks (Sept. 19, 2015, vs. Southeast Missouri).

• The Sycamores scored three defensive/special teams touchdowns in 2015: Starks' 100-yard INT return vs. SEMO, Alex Stowers' 37-yard fumble recovery vs. Youngstown State and Tyler Denton's 42-yard punt return vs. Missouri State.

• Against Butler, the Sycamores recorded 6.0 TFL for a loss of 26 yards, including 2.0 sacks for a loss of 15.

• Indiana State also racked up in other statistical categories against the Bulldogs in Week 1, recording four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, nine pass breakups, one interception and a blocked PAT.

• DB Tsali Lough was ISU's driving force vs. Butler, leading in tackles with eight (seven solo), one solo sack for a loss of 10 yards, an interception returned two yards, a forced fumble and a 100-yard fumble return for a TD.

• Fellow senior LB Jameer Thurman also had a very strong day at six total tackles, 0.5 TFL, two pass breakups and a forced and recovered fumble each.

• Senior LB Jameer Thurman is Indiana State's active leader in total tackles (254), solo tackles (128), assisted tackles (126), tackles for loss (19.5), forced fumbles (4) and fumble recoveries (4), and is tied with Lonnell Brown Jr. for active lead in sacks (6.0).

• DB Lonnell Brown Jr. led the Sycamores in tackles for loss in 2015 with 7.0 for a loss of 13 yards. Brown had 3.0 alone vs. Butler in the season opener in 2015. Brown was also third on ISU's roster with 2.0 sacks. Against Butler in 2015, Brown had six total tackles (five solo) and 0.5 TFL.

• DL Kenyota Rollins had a career day against Butler in the season opener, leading the way with 3.0 TFL for a loss of 10 yards, 1.0 sacks for a loss of five yards, five solo tackles and a forced fumble.

• Senior DB Marcus Gray -- a former walk-on -- started eight games for the Sycamores in 2015 in place of injured All-MVFC safety Mark Sewall and was productive in his time to shine. Gray finished tied for second on the team in tackles with 75 (45 solo), and was also tied for second on the team with 5.5 TFL for 18 yards. Gray chipped in two interceptions that he returned for 24 yards, three pass breakups and two fumble recoveries.

• Illinois graduate transfer LB Cedric Doxy recorded five tackles and 1.0 TFL in his first game as a Sycamore.

• ISU recorded at least one turnover in nine of 11 games played in 2015 (UNI and SDSU being the exceptions). The Sycamore defense also recorded multiple turnovers in seven of 11 games this season.

• Only four opposing quarterbacks threw for 200 yards or more on the Sycamore defense in 2015: Purdue's Austin Appleby (289), SDSU's Taryn Christion (221), Southern Illinois' Mark Iannotti (427) and Western Illinois' Sean McGuire (332).

• ISU only gave up 300 yards passing to two teams in 2015: Southern Illinois (427) and Western Illinois (332).

• ISU only allowed three 100-yard receivers in 2015: WIU's Joey Borsellino (187), SIU's Darrell James (114) and SEMO's Paul McRoberts (100).

• Indiana State allowed a season-low 226 yards of total offense to Youngstown State in the season finale in 2015, which included stifling the Penguins to only 74 passings yards.

• Long-snapper Joshua Appel was named a STATS FCS Preseason All-American for the second straight season. Appel was also a First-Team All-American for his work in 2015.

• True freshman kicker Jerry Nunez won the training camp position battle for starting place kicker, and was a perfect 2-of-2 in his first career game vs. Butler. Nunez knocked down field goals of 29 and 37 yards.

ONE-MAN WRECKING CREW

Butler was knocking on the door and about to strike a decisive blow to Indiana State's momentum early-on in the first quarter on Saturday, and then senior Terre Haute native Tsali Lough took matters into his own hands. The safety kept fighting for the ball even after it seemed the play was over, but the whistle never blew and before Butler knew it, Lough was fifty yards down the sideline on his way to a 100-yard touchdown on the goal line fumble recovery forced by Antonio Broadus. Lough immediately entered himself into the Indiana State record books with that play, the fourth 100-yard play in school history – and the first of which that was on a fumble return (the other three were on interception returns). As if that wasn't enough, Lough went on to seal the momentum shift on Butler's very next play with an interception to setup a Sycamore offensive score. On the day, Lough ended as ISU's leading tackler with 8 total stops (seven solo), 1.0 sacks for 10 yards, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery for a 100-yard touchdown and one interception.

JAMEER THURMAN: #20 IN YOUR PROGRAMS...

...but No. 1 as the active leader in several statistical categories among Sycamore defenders. Thurman has been a consistent force for the Sycamores during the last three years, and he enters his final season at Indiana State the active leader in total tackles (254), solo tackles (128), assisted tackles (126), tackles for loss (19.5), forced fumbles (4) and fumble recoveries (4), and is tied with Lonnell Brown Jr. for active lead in sacks (6.0).

CHAOS IS A LADDER...

...and the Sycamores have climbed it to their advantage in the backfield this season. A key component to defensive coordinator Brian Cabral's shifting scheme, the Sycamores caused massive chaos against Butler by recording 6.0 tackles for loss for a loss of 26 total yards -- which included two sacks for a loss of 15 yards. Leading the way was DL Kenyota Rollins, who had a career day with 3.0 TFL and 1.0 sacks for a total loss of 10 yards.

SUPER SECONDARY

In addition to defending the pass, Indiana State's secondary is not afraid when it comes to stopping the run or causing mayhem in the backfield. Three of the top-five tacklers from the 2015 squad were defensive backs: Marcus Gray (75 tackles, T-2nd), Tsali Lough (70 tackles, 4th) and Lonnell Brown Jr. (51 tackles, 5th). Those three also combined for some serious backfield ruckus with 13 tackles for loss for 34 yards and 3.0 total sacks.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL

The Sycamores finished 2015 ranked sixth in the Valley in pass defense at 207.8 yards allowed per game, but a closer look at the numbers reveals that the ISU secondary did a better job against the pass than the numbers may suggest. ISU only allowed four 200-yard passers all year -- Purdue's Austin Appleby (289), SDSU's Taryn Christion (221), Southern Illinois' Mark Iannotti (427) and Western Illinois' Sean McGuire (332). The Sycamores also only allowed only three 100-yard receivers all season: WIU's Joey Borsellino (187), SIU's Darrell James (114) and SEMO's Paul McRoberts (100).

11 of ISU's 17 total turnovers in 2015 were interceptions, with three different Sycamores recording at least two interceptions themselves: DB Marcus Gray (2), DB Travis Starks (3) and LB Jameer Thurman (2).

JOSHUA APPEL: ALL-AMERICAN

Sycamore fans may not want to see the punter in action, but they had best pay close attention to who is snapping him the ball, as Indiana State may have the best long snapper in college football in 2016. Senior Joshua Appel continues to dazzle at camps around the country, and this past summer he was rewarded with a spot on the First-Team on the STATS FCS Preseason All-American team. Appel was also a Preseason honoree in 2015 as a Second-Team member, and was named a First-Team All-American at the end of the season.

Appel, a senior finance major from Normal, Ill., is a two-time winner of the well-known long snapping camp hosted by Chris Rubio. This summer, Appel bested 37 of the best long-snappers in the United States to take the overall title at the Rubio camp.

YOU SAY GOODBYE...

And the Sycamore defense says hello. Despite losing some of its best defensive players in its history in 2015 (such as Connor Underwood, Kendall Walker, Mark Sewall and Travis Starks), Indiana State looks primed for another solid year on defense.

That senior class took with them 1,053 tackles, 108.5 TFL, 40.5 sacks, 21 INTs and 11 forced fumbles in their careers -- in addition to helping lead the Sycamores in 2014 to its first FCS Playoff berth since 1984 and first playoff win since 1983. But the returning starting seniors of DL Conlan Cassidy, DL Tyshon Waller, LB Jameer Thurman, DB Tsali Lough, DB Marcus Gray and DB Lonnell Brown Jr. are no slouches. Combined, entered 2016 with 711 total tackles, 55.5 TFL, 18.5 sacks, 8 INTs and 6 forced fumbles.

For the latest information on the Sycamore Football team, make sure to check out GoSycamores.com. You can also find the team on social media including Facebook and Twitter.