By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – Indiana State Football returns to the road this weekend with a trip down to Southeast Missouri State for the first time since 2007 this Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET at Houck Stadium in Cape Girardeau.

QUICK HITS

• Saturday's game can be viewed live on the OVC Digital Network. Sycamore fans can also listen locally on WDKE 95.9 FM “The Duke” to Brian Fritz (PBP) and Tom James (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 381-511-23 (.416) and is competing for the 31st consecutive season as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

• The all-time series between the Sycamores and Redhawks stands tied at 4-4.

• This is Indiana State's first trip to Cape Girardeau since 2007 (L, 13-10). ISU is 1-3 all-time at Southeast Missouri and 3-1 at home.

• Indiana State tied the series at home in 2015 with a thrilling 29-28 victory over Southeast in a matchup that included three different two-point conversion attempts in the final two minutes of play and a gutsy fourth down call by the Sycamores to take the lead once and for all.

• Trailing 22-21 with 41 seconds to play, the Sycamores went for it on 4th-and-3 from the 33 and scored on a 33-yard TD pass from QB Matt Adam to WR Gary Owens and extended the lead to seven on a two-point conversion from Adam to WR Kelvin Cook. The Redhawks immediately marched down the field and scored as time expired on a 26-yard TD pass from Dante Vandeven to Paul McRoberts. However, SEMO went for the two-point try to end the game and came up short to seal Sycamore victory.

• Last year's game also featured a 100-yard INT return for a touchdown by DB Travis Starks, who helped spark the Sycamores to a 21-0 third quarter. At the time, that return was the third 100-yard play in Indiana State history after 100-yard INT returns by Marty Murray (Sept. 17, 1977, vs. Southern Illinois) and Vencie Glenn (Sept. 1, 1984, vs. Wayne State).

• Earlier this season against Butler, DB Tsali Lough returned a fumble in the endzone 100 yards for a TD, the fourth 100-yard play in school history, the first on a fumble return, which also marked the first instance of back-to-back seasons with 100-yard defensive/special teams touchdowns.

• Both QB Isaac Harker and WR Robert Tonyan Jr. rank in the national top-30 in several different categories. Harker ranks in points responsible for (6th, 42), passing touchdowns (8th, 5 TDs), passing yards (12th, 552 yards), passing yards per game (13th, 276.0 YPG), total offense (16th, 274.0 YPG), yards per completion (16th, 13.46 YPC), passing efficiency (20th, 146.3), yards per pass attempt (23rd, 7.77 yards/attempt) and completions per game (27th, 20.5/game).

• Tonyan, meanwhile, ranks in receiving touchdowns (6th, 3 TDs), receptions per game (7th, 7.5/game), receiving yards (18th, 182 yards), receiving yards per game (19th, 91.0 YPG) and scoring (26th, 9.0 PPG).

• The Sycamores are coming off a 58-28 loss at Big Ten foe Minnesota on Sept. 10, a game in which the Sycamores outscored the Gophers 21-20 in the second half but allowed them to go on an insurmountable 34-0 run. WR Robert Tonyan Jr. caught all three of QB Isaac Harker's passing touchdowns to become the first Sycamore to ever have multiple games over a career with three or more receiving touchdowns, and Harker himself caught one on a reverse WR pass from Bob Pugh.

• Tonyan is one of eight FCS receivers this year to have three or more receiving TDs in a single game.

• Indiana State opened the season with a 41-25 victory over Butler at home 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.

ABOUT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

QUICK HITS

Total Offense: 324.0 YPG (67th FCS, 7th OVC)

Total Defense: 404.0 YPG (58th FCS, 7th OVC)

Rushing Offense: 133.0 YPG (57th FCS, 5th OVC)

Rushing Defense: 124.0 YPG (34th FCS, 2nd OVC)

Passing Offense: 191.0 YPG (61st FCS, 6th OVC)

Passing Defense: 280.0 YPG (92nd FCS, 8th OVC)

KEY PLAYERS - OFFENSE

#4 QB Jesse Hosket | 6-4, 221 | Jr. | French Camp, Miss. (East Central CC)

• Passing: 36-of-73 (49.3%), 382 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT, 191.0 YPG, Long of 46

#34 RB Will Young | 5-11, 200 | Sr. | Wichita, Kan. (Highland CC)

• Rushing: 39 carries, 214 yards, 1 TD, 107.0 YPG, 5.5 YPC, Long of 61

• Ranks 20th nationally in rushing and 45th in yards per carry

#8 WR/RB Tremane McCullough | 5-7, 163 | Sr. | Royal Palm Beach, Fla. (Arizona Western CC)

• Rushing: 12 carries, 49 yards, 24.5 YPG, 4.1 YPC, Long of 22

• Receiving: 11 rec., 69 yards, 34.5 YPG, 6.3 YPC, Long of 15

• 2015 vs. Indiana State: 18 carries, 114 yards, 1 TD; 2 rec., 5 yards

• One of four 100-yard rushers against the Sycamores in 2015

• 2015 First-Team Ohio Valley and OVC All-Newcomer team member

KEY PLAYERS - DEFENSE

#43 LB Roper Garrett | 6-1, 235 | Sr. | Farmington, Mo.

• 14 tackles (8 solo), 1.0 TFL, 1 INT, 1 QB hurry

• 2015 vs. Indiana State: 12 tackles (7 solo), 3.0 TFL (10 yards), 1.0 sacks (7 yards)

• 2015 Second-Team Ohio Valley

#4 CB Mike Ford | 6-0, 190 | Jr. | Alton, Ill.

• 11 tackles (9 solo), 1.0 TFL (8 yards), 1.0 sacks (8 yards), 1 INT (7 yards), 2 PBU

• 2015 vs. Indiana State: 7 tackles (5 solo), 2.0 TFL (6 yards), 1.0 sacks (4 yards)

• 2015 Second-Team Ohio Valley

#24 FS Ryan Moore | 5-9, 183 | Sr. | St. Louis, Mo. (Missouri Western)

• 14 tackles (8 solo), 1 QB hurry

SCOUTING THE REDHAWKS

Southeast Missouri is currently 0-2 on the season after losses at Memphis (35-17, Sept. 3) and at regional rival Southern Illinois (30-22, Sept. 10). The Redhawks boast a solid run defense at the moment (124.0 YPG allowed, 34th nationally and second in the OVC) and just barely allowed Memphis (406) and SIU (403) to eclipse the 400-yard mark in total offense, but the SEMO offense only mustered 253 yards of total offense against the Tigers and a better game of 395 against the Salukis.

Offensively, the Redhawks are led by first-year transfer QB Jesse Hosket out of East Central Community College. Hosket beat out returnee Dante Vandeven, who became the starter in 2015 after taking the reins from Tay Bender at Indiana State in 2015. Hosket has been a solid starter thus far, completing nearly 50 percent of his passes and not throwing a single interception in 73 attempts thus far.

The offense has revolved around RB WIll Young, who ranks 20th nationally in rushing with 107.0 YPG at the moment. The 5-11, 200-pound back has proved difficult to bring down early, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. Also returning for the Redhawks is WR/RB Tremane McCullough, who was one of four 100-yard rushers against the Sycamores in 2015 after a 114-yard performance in Terre Haute.

INDIANA STATE HEAD COACH MIKE SANFORD

HEAD COACH MIKE SANFORD

Indiana State head coach Mike Sanford (Southern California, 1978) is 31-67 (.316) overall in his ninth season as a head coach and is 15-24 (.385) 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, 8-41 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 40th as the Indiana State head coach and his 99th as a collegiate head coach.

INDIANA STATE OFFENSIVE NOTES

QUICK HITS

• Total offense: 397.5 (9th MVFC, 37th FCS)

• Rushing offense: 116.5 (10th MVFC, 71st FCS)

• Passing offense: 281.0 (3rd MVFC, 16th FCS)

• QB Isaac Harker ranks in the national top-30 in: points responsible for (6th, 42), passing touchdowns (8th, 5 TDs), passing yards (12th, 552 yards), passing yards per game (13th, 276.0 YPG), total offense (16th, 274.0 YPG), yards per completion (16th, 13.46 YPC), passing efficiency (20th, 146.3), yards per pass attempt (23rd, 7.77 yards/attempt) and completions per game (27th, 20.5/game).

• Harker has put up nearly identical performances in his first two starts of his Sycamore career: 21-of-35 for 315 yards and two TDs vs. Butler, and 20-of-36 for 237 yards and 3 TDs at Minnesota -- throwing zero interceptions in both contests.

• Harker's 315-yard performance vs. Butler made him the first 300-yard Sycamore passer in two seasons since current WR coach Mike Perish did so several times during the historic 2014 season.

• Harker also has a receiving TD (10 yards, from WR Bob Pugh, at Minnesota) and a rushing TD (1 yard, vs. Butler) to his credit.

• Harker has eight passing plays of 20 yards or longer this season, including four 30 yards or longer and two plays of 50 yards or longer -- a 56-yard TD to WR Bob Pugh vs. Butler and a 58-yard gain on a tipped pass to WR Clayton Smith at Minnesota.

• 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.

• Senior WR Robert Tonyan Jr. ranks in the national top-30 in: receiving touchdowns (6th, 3 TDs), receptions per game (7th, 7.5/game), receiving yards (18th, 182 yards), receiving yards per game (19th, 91.0 YPG) and scoring (26th, 9.0 PPG).

• Against Minnesota, Tonyan hauled in three receiving touchdowns on his eight-catch, 90-yard day against the Big Ten defense.

• Tonyan is one of eight FCS receivers this year to have three or more receiving TDs in a single game.

• Tonyan is the only Sycamore to ever have multiple games with three or more receiving TDs after doing so this past week at Minnesota and at No. 3 Illinois State on Oct. 31, 2015.

• Tonyan currently stands at 109 receptions, 1,530 yards and 13 TDs in his Sycamore career, just two TDs away from tying ISU's all-time career record of 15 set by Joe Downing (1982-85).

• The single-season receiving TD record of eight set by Steve Schmid in 1968 is also up for grabs.

• 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 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.

• JUCO WR Bob Pugh ranks third in the MVFC and 31st nationally in all-purpose yardage with 267 yards (133.5 YPG).

• Pugh also ranks third in the Valley and 16th nationally in kickoff returns at 26.9 yards per return. Pugh has had two returns of 25 yards or longer, including a 46-yard return at Minnesota.

• Pugh also ranks sixth in the Valley in receiving yards per game (76.5).

• RBs Dimitri Taylor (96 yards) and Jaquan Keys (93 yards) lead the Sycamores in rushing this season.

• Keys had a 25-yard rush at Minnesota and led all Sycamore rushers with 62 yards.

SETTLING IN

Sophomore QB Isaac Harker is settling into the starting role nicely after two very strong starts at home against Butler and on the road at Minnesota. After a 21-of-35 performance for 315 yards and two touchdowns vs. Butler in the season opener, Harker went on the road against a Big Ten defense with an performance of 20-of-36 for 237 yards and three touchdowns. Most impressive of all, Harker hasn't even come close to throwing an interception in his first 71 pass attempts as a starter. Harker even hauled in a receiving touchdown against the Gophers, a 10-yard strike from Bob Pugh on a WR reverse pass. Harker currently ranks third in the Valley in passing yards per game (276.0).

THE NEW MAN IN CHARGE

Sophomore QB Isaac Harker entered Memorial Stadium on Sept. 3 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. In the process, Harker became 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.

THRICE AS NICE, PART DEUX

Most receivers would be lucky to receive three touchdowns in one game during their career, but most receivers aren't Robert Tonyan Jr. The 6-5, 230-pound senior tore up yet another Big Ten secondary for a monster eight-catch, 90-yard day and three touchdowns at Minnesota on Saturday to prove on a national stage that he is an upper-echelon receiver at any level of NCAA college football. This comes on the heels of a very impressive three touchdown performance at No. 3 Illinois State in the rain in 2015, which included a superb one-handed snare that ended up as the No. 4 play of the day on SportsCenter's Top-10. Tonyan is now the only Sycamore to ever have two separate three touchdown games, and with 13 career receiving touchdowns he is also closing in Joe Downing's all-time career record of 15 – an impressive feat for someone who came to Indiana State as a QB.

In his career as a WR, Tonyan now has 16 receptions for 211 yards and four TDs against three Big Ten teams (Indiana in 2014, Purdue in 2015 and Minnesota in 2016), and he has 19 catches for 243 yards and four scores against all FBS schools when ISU's upset at Ball State in 2014 is included. Tonyan currently leads the Valley in receptions by three (15 to WIU's Lance Lenoir's 12) and is also tied for seventh nationally in the same category. Tonyan is also one of eight receivers in the FCS this season to haul in three or more TDs in a single game.

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 1,500 yards and 100 career receptions, currently standing at 1,530 yards and 109 receptions and 13 TDs.

JACK-OF-ALL-TRADES

JUCO WR Bob Pugh has found his niche with the Sycamores very quickly, becoming Indiana State's all-purpose guru through two games vs. Butler and at Minnesota. Pugh is ISU's second-leading receiver with six receptions for 153 yards and 1 TD and has been a big-play threat for QB Isaac Harker, averaging 76.5 YPG on just three catches per game. In addition to his three receptions of 20-yards or longer (one of which is a 56-yard TD vs. Butler), Pugh also owns two kick returns of 25 yards or longer -- capped by a long 46-yard return at Minnesota on Sept. 10. Pugh also owns a passing touchdown to his credit after a 10-yard TD strike to Harker on a WR reverse pass against the Gophers. Pugh currently ranks third in the Valley and 31st nationally in all-purpose yardage with 133.5 YPG and 16th nationally with 26.8 yards per kick return.

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.

INDIANA STATE DEFENSIVE/SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

QUICK HITS

• Total defense: 491.5 YPG (9th MVFC, 92nd FCS)

• Rushing defense: 218.5 YPG (9th MVFC, 84th FCS)

• Passing defense: 273.0 YPG (7th MVFC, 87th FCS)

• Indiana State allowed 593 yards of total offense at Minnesota on Sept. 10, the most against the Sycamore defense since Indiana put up 632 on Aug. 29, 2013.

• Minnesota's Kobe McCrary ran for 176 yards and two touchdowns against the Sycamore defense, the most since Indiana RB Tevin Coleman (currently with the Atlanta Falcons) rushed for 247 on Aug. 30, 2014.

• Under head coach Mike Sanford and defensive coordinator Brian Cabral, only four FCS schools have ever broken the 500-yard plateau against the Sycamores: Western Illinois (524; Nov. 14, 2015), Southern Illinois (554; Oct. 17, 2015), Chattanooga (503; Dec. 6, 2014, Second Round of FCS Playoffs) and South Dakota State (510; Nov. 8, 2014).

• The only other schools to break 500 yards have all been FBS Big Ten opponents: Minnesota (593; Sept. 10, 2016), Purdue (540; Sept. 12, 2015) and Indiana (566, Aug. 30, 2014; 632, Aug. 29, 2013).

• Under Sanford and Cabral, the Sycamore defense has held opponents to under 400 yards of total offense in 25 of 39 games played. (nine each in 2013 and 2014, six in 2015, one in 2016). In those games, Indiana State is 13-12.

• The Sycamores scored 21 points off turnovers against Butler, including a 100-yard fumble return for a TD by senior DB Tsali Lough that was 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.

• Lough currently leads ISU in tackles with 16 total stops (12 solo).

• Sophomore LB Katrell Moss is second on the team in tackles with 13 (10 solo) after a 9-tackle day at Minnesota.

• Fellow senior LB Jameer Thurman also had a very strong day vs. Butler 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 (259), solo tackles (132), assisted tackles (127), tackles for loss (19.5), forced fumbles (4) and fumble recoveries (4), and is tied with Lonnell Brown Jr. and Antonio Broadus for active lead in sacks (6.0).

• DL Kenyota Rollins is ISU's current leader in TFL with 3.0 for a loss of 10 yards with 1.0 sacks for a loss of five -- all coming against Butler. Rollins also forced a fumble against the Bulldogs on a career-day.

• Illinois graduate transfer LB Cedric Doxy is second on ISU's roster with 2.0 TFL. He recorded five tackles and 1.0 TFL in his first game as a Sycamore, and currently ranks fourth on the team with 10 tackles.

• 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 Sept. 3, 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 (259), solo tackles (132), assisted tackles (127), tackles for loss (19.5), forced fumbles (4) and fumble recoveries (4), and is tied with Lonnell Brown Jr. and Antonio Broadus 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. The Sycamores added 3.0 more TFL at Minnesota from Katrell Moss, Cedric Doxy and De'Jaun Tyson.

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, they 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.