By Tyler Wooten
GoSycamores.com

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – Sycamore Football returns home for a crucial open to the grueling Missouri Valley Football Conference season, playing host to No. 9 Illinois State on Saturday. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

QUICK HITS

• Saturday's game will be broadcast live on ESPN3, with Indiana State students Tim Wells (play-by-play) and Ramonte Baker (color) on the call.

• 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 382-511-23 (.417) and is competing for the 31st consecutive season as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

• Indiana State is coming off a thrilling 27-24 victory at Southeast Missouri on Sept. 17, which featured two clutch late drives engineered by QB Isaac Harker to score twice and erase an 11-point deficit in the last 5:19, including the game-winning 15-yard TD pass to WR Miles Thompson with 10.8 seconds to play.

• This Saturday marks the beginning of the Missouri Valley Football Conference slate. Six MVFC teams are currently ranked in the national top-25 and have been in each poll this season. All-time, the Sycamores are 59-142 in MVFC play. Indiana State was 3-5 in conference play in 2015.

• Nine of the 10 MVFC schools rank in the top-40 in total offense: Southern Illinois (11th, 497.0 YPG), Youngstown State (13th, 482.0), Missouri State (16th, 465.5), Western Illinois (21st, 443.0), North Dakota State (23rd, 441.3), Illinois State (28th, 420.3), South Dakota State (29th, 419.0), Indiana State (33rd, 414.7) and South Dakota (36th, 405.7).

• Illinois State leads the all-time series 36-29-2. The series dates back to 1924, when the Sycamores defeated the Redbirds 47-0 at home.

• The Redbirds rank No. 2 in the nation in total defense, yielding only 223.3 YPG through three games.

• Illinois State is currently on a five-game winning streak in the series, with Indiana State's last victory against the Redbirds coming at home in 2010 (59-24).

• The Sycamores almost broke the streak in a downpour on Halloween in Normal last year, but fell in a heartbreaking 27-24 loss to the then 3rd-ranked Redbirds. A win would have been the first for Indiana State in Normal since 1997 (16-13), and the Sycamores looked primed for a win after surmounting a 15-point lead by late in the third quarter at 24-9. The Redbirds then relied on All-American RB Marshaun Copprich (28 carries, 165 yards, 1 TD; 117 second-half yards) and QB Tre Roberson (9-of-19, 121 yards; 12 carries, 61 yards, 2 TD) to hold onto the ball for 10:07 of the fourth quarter and come back for the 27-24 win.

• Illinois State enters Terre Haute on Friday ranked No. 9 in the nation. All-time, Indiana State is 15-86 vs. Top-25 teams and 11-66 against ranked MVFC teams. Indiana State last beat a ranked team in the first round of the 2014 FCS Playoffs against No. 16 Eastern Kentucky on Nov. 29, 2014 (W, 36-16). The Sycamores last beat a Top-10 team vs. Northern Iowa earlier that season at home on Oct. 4 (W, 20-19).

• Indiana State last beat a ranked MVFC team on Nov. 15, 2014, topping No. 15 Youngstown State 27-24 in OT.

• The Sycamores were 0-4 against ranked teams in 2015, three of which were in the top-10: No. 8 South Dakota State (L, 24-7), No. 8 North Dakota State (L, 28-14), No. 3 Illinois State (L, 27-24) and No. 17 Northern Iowa (L, 59-13).

• QB Isaac Harker ranks seventh in the FCS in passing TDs (8 TDs) and ninth in passing yards (854). Harker ranks second in the MVFC in passing yards per game (284.7) and total offense (286.7 YPG).

• Harker was named the MVFC Offensive Player of the Week for his game-winning performances at SEMO.

• Senior WR Robert Tonyan Jr. hauled in his 14th career TD at SEMO, just one score away from tying Indiana State's all-time career record of 15 TDs set by Joe Downing (1982-85).

• Tonyan has had at least seven receptions and 90 yards in all three games this season -- inclduing an eight-catch, 90-yard and three touchdown day at Minnesota on Sept. 10.

• Tonyan is the only Sycamore to ever have three receiving TDs in multiple games in a career: at Minnesota (2016) and at No. 3 Illinois State on Oct. 31, 2015. Tonyan is one of 11 FCS receivers this year to have three or more receiving TDs in a single game.

MARKETING/PROMOTIONS NOTES

• Saturday's game is sponsored by the Terre Haute Tribune-Star.

• This year, a minor adjustment has been made to The March: the Sycamore Football team will conclude The March in front of the historic arch at the front gates to Memorial Stadium, where the band will be waiting for them.

• Saturday is also Family Day at Memorial Stadium with the football game at 3 p.m. and Sycamore Volleyball vs. Loyola at ISU Arena at 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.indstate.edu/parents

• For the ninth year in a row, college football coaches nationwide will join together in supposrt of the Coach to Cure MD program this Saturday. The annual effort has raised $1.2 million to battle Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Coaches will wear logo patches across the nation on Saturday.

ABOUT ILLINOIS STATE

QUICK HITS

Total Offense: 420.3 YPG (28th FCS, 6th MVFC)

Total Defense: 223.3 YPG (2nd FCS, 1st MVFC)

Rushing Offense: 174.7 YPG (37th FCS, 8th MVFC)

Rushing Defense: 81.3 YPG (11th FCS, 3rd MVFC)

Passing Offense: 245.7 YPG (27th FCS, 4th MVFC)

Passing Defense: 142.0 YPG (11th FCS, 1st MVFC)

KEY PLAYERS - OFFENSE

#16 QB Jake Kolbe | 6-3, 205 | So. | Naperville, Ill.

• Passing: 66-of-97 (68.0%), 728 yards, 3 TD, 4 INT, 242.7 YPG, Long of 44

• Rushing: 25 carries, 143 yards gained, 101 yards lost, 42 total rushing yards, 2 TD

#7 RB George Moreira | 5-10, 195 | So. | Gretna, La.

• Rushing: 29 carries, 203 yards, 2 TD, 67.7 YPG, 7.0 YPC, Long of 68

#13 RB Jamal Towns | 5-6, 175 | Sr. | Harvey, Ill.

• Rushing: 21 carries, 102 yards, 34.0 YPG, 4.9 YPC, Long of 20

• Started all three games at RB

#82 WR Anthony Warrum | 6-2, 200 | Sr. | Fishers, Ind.

• Receiving: 16 rec., 252 yards, 84.0 YPG, 15.8 YPC, Long of 36

• 2015: First-Team All-MVFC, Third-Team All-American | 58 rec., 1,290 yards, 15 TD

KEY PLAYERS - DEFENSE

#32 LB Alejandro Rivera | 6-0, 235 | Sr. | Sterling, Ill.

• 20 tackles (11 solo), 1 INT (27 yards)

• 2015 vs. Indiana State: 10 tackles (four solo)

#5 LB B.J. Bello | 6-2, 230 | Sr. | New Lenox, Ill.

• 18 tackles (13 solo), 4.5 TFL (29 yards), 3.0 sacks (24 yards), 1 PBU, 2 FF

#2 SS Alec Kocour | 6-0, 200 | Jr. | Waukesha, Wis.

• 15 tackles (7 solo), 1.0 TFL (4 yards)

• 2016 Preseason First-Team All-MVFC

• 2015 Honorable Mention All-MVFC

• 2015 vs. Indiana State: 13 total tackles

INDIANA STATE HEAD COACH MIKE SANFORD

HEAD COACH MIKE SANFORD

Indiana State head coach Mike Sanford (Southern California, 1978) is 32-67 (.323) overall in his ninth season as a head coach and is 16-24 (.400) 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, 9-41 on the road and 11-9 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 41st as the Indiana State head coach and his 100th as a collegiate head coach.

INDIANA STATE OFFENSIVE NOTES

QUICK HITS

• Total offense: 414.7 (8th MVFC, 33rd FCS)

• Rushing offense: 126.7 (10th MVFC, 84th FCS)

• Passing offense: 288.0 (3rd MVFC, 17th FCS)

• QB Isaac Harker led Indiana State on its game-winning comeback at Southeast Missouri on Sept. 17. Down 11 with 5:19 to play, Harker led the Sycamores on two drives totalling 18 plays, 149 yards and chewed up 3:42 off the clock. Harker connected with WR Miles Thompson on the game-winning score with 10.8 seconds to play from 15 yards out.

• Harker also led the game-winning drive in relief of QB Matt Adam in the 2015 season finale vs. Youngstown State (27-24).

• Harker ended the day 22-of-36 for 302 yards, 3 TDs and zero interceptions -- which included a fourth-quarter line of 11-of-16 for 126 yards and 2 TDs.

• Harker's performance at SEMO was his second 300-yard game in three starts. Prior to this season, Indiana State had not had a 300-yard passer since current WR coach Mike Perish did so several times in 2014.

• Harker has put up nearly identical performances in his first three starts of his Sycamore career: 21-of-35 for 315 yards and two TDs vs. Butler; 20-of-36 for 237 yards and 3 TDs at Minnesota; and 22-of-36 for 302 yards and 3 TDs -- throwing zero interceptions in 107 pass attempts.

• Harker ranks in the national top-30 in: points responsible for (5th, 62 points), passing touchdowns (7th, 8 TDs), passing yards (9th, 854 yards), points responsible per game (9th, 21.3 PPG), passing yards per game (12th, 284.7 YPG), total offense (13th, 286.7 YPG), yards per completion (17th, 13.56/completion), passing efficiency (18th, 150.6), completions per game (22nd, 21.0/game) and yards per attempt (23rd, 7.98/attempt).

• Harker ranks seventh in the FCS in passing TDs (8 TDs) and ninth in passing yards (854), as well as second in the MVFC in both passing yards per game (284.7) and total offense (286.7 YPG).

• Harker was named the MVFC Offensive Player of the Week for his game-winning performances at SEMO.

• Harker has 11 passing plays of 20 yards or longer this season, including five 30 yards or longer and three plays of 50 yards or longer -- a 56-yard TD to WR Bob Pugh vs. Butler, a 58-yard gain on a tipped pass to WR Clayton Smith at Minnesota and a 75-yard wheel-route TD to RB Dimitri Taylor on the first play of the game at SEMO.

• That 75-yard pass from Harker to Taylor is the longest offensive play by the Sycamores since Nov. 1, 2014, when LeMonte Booker broke off a run of 87 yards vs. Missouri State. It is also the longest pass play since Sept. 6, 2014, when Mike Perish found  Gary Owens on a 79-yard strike vs. Tennessee Tech.

• 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.

• Senior WR Robert Tonyan Jr. hauled in his 14th career TD at SEMO, just one score away from tying Indiana State's all-time career record of 15 TDs 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.

• In his three seasons as a WR, Tonyan has 116 receptions for 1,620 yards and 14 touchdowns.

• Tonyan has had at least seven receptions and 90 yards in all three games this season -- inclduing an eight-catch, 90-yard and three touchdown day at Minnesota on Sept. 10.

• Tonyan is the only Sycamore to ever have three receiving TDs in multiple games in a career: at Minnesota (2016) and at No. 3 Illinois State on Oct. 31, 2015. Tonyan is one of 11 FCS receivers this year to have three or more receiving TDs in a single game.

• Senior WR Robert Tonyan Jr. ranks in the national top-30 in: receiving touchdowns (8th, 4 TDs), receptions per game (12th, 7.3/game), receiving yards (19th, 272 yards) and receiving yards per game (26th, 90.7 YPG).

• Tonyan leads the MVFC with 7.3 receptions per game.

• Indiana State has three rushers over 100 yards this season: RBs Jaquan Keys (146 yards), Roland Genesy (123 yards, 1 TD) and Dimitri Taylor (106 yards).

THRILLER IN CAPE

It must have felt like déjà vu for Sycamore and Redhawk fans, as Indiana State and Southeast Missouri once again fought a slugfest down to the final seconds of play in Cape Girardeau on a steamy Saturday night. The Sycamores once again prevailed, 27-24, but on the offensive this time rather than on a missed two-point conversion by SEMO like in 2015. Sophomore QB Isaac Harker led the Sycamores on two superb drives late in the fourth quarter to overcome a 24-13 deficit in the final five minutes of play, capped off by a 15-yard TD pass to WR Miles Thompson with 10.8 seconds to play after getting the ball down 24-19 with 1:33 left to play. In the fourth quarter alone, Harker was 11-of-16 for 126 yards and 2 TDs out of his 22-of-36 performance for 302 yards and 3 TDs on the night. At 2-1 in non-conference, the Sycamores enter conference play with a winning record for the third-straight season.

CONSISTENCY UNDER CENTER

Sophomore QB Isaac Harker hasn't just led the Sycamore offense in 2016, but he's done so in eerily consistent fashion. On the year, Harker is 63-of-107 for 854 yards, 8 TDs and zero interceptions, and when you break it down per game it is almost evenly divisible. In his first career start in the season opener vs. Butler, Harker was 21-of-35 for 315 yards, 2 TDs and zero interceptions with a long pass of 56 yards – becoming the first 300-yard passer at Indiana State in two seasons. At Minnesota, Harker was 20-of-36 for 237 yards, 3 TDs and zero interceptions with a long pass of 58 yards, with all three of his TD strikes going to Robert Tonyan Jr. And this past week at SEMO, Harker was 22-of-36 for 302 yards, 3 TDs and zero interceptions with a long pass of 75 yards – with most of his production coming off the final two drives in the last 5:19 to play that propelled the Sycamores to a 27-24 victory.

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. Since, Harker has continued to excel on his way to the No. 2 spot in the MVFC at 284.7 passing yards per game and another 300-yard game to his credit at Southeast Missouri.

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 Sept. 12 to prove on a national stage that he is an upper-echelon receiver at any level of NCAA college football. This came 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.

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 1,600 yards and 100 career receptions, currently standing at 1,620 yards and 116 receptions and 14 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 missed the SEMO game due to a concussion). 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.

INDIANA STATE DEFENSIVE/SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES

QUICK HITS

• Total defense: 454.3 YPG (8th MVFC, 96th FCS)

• Rushing defense: 201.0 YPG (8th MVFC, 85th FCS)

• Passing defense: 253.3 YPG (8th MVFC, 88th FCS)

• Indiana State allowed a season-low 380 total yards at Southeast Missouri on Sept. 17: 166 on the ground and 214 through the air.

• The Sycamore defense also came through with a handful of timely stops, including a clutch diving pass breakup by DB Rondell Green on third-and-long to give the Sycamore offense the ball back for the game-winning drive.

• The Sycamores tallied 6.0 TFL for a loss of 18 yards at SEMO, their second game of 2016 with at least 6.0 (Butler, 6.0).

• LB Jameer Thurman led ISU in tackles with 11 total stops, his first double-digit game of 2016.

• Senior LB Jameer Thurman is Indiana State's active leader in total tackles (270), solo tackles (134), assisted tackles (136), tackles for loss (20.5), 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 added a career-high eight total tackles at SEMO and 1.5 TFL for a loss of four yards. On the season, Rollins leads Indiana State with 4.5 TFL for a los of 14 yards.

• 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 26 of 40 games played. (nine each in 2013 and 2014, six in 2015, two in 2016). In those games, Indiana State is 14-12.

• 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.

• 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.

• True freshman kicker Jerry Nunez won the training camp position battle for starting place kicker, and is a perfect 4-for-4 to start his Sycamore career. Nunez hit field goals of 29 and 37 yards against Butler on Sept. 3, and then two crucial scores of 22 and 43 yards at Southeast Missouri in Indiana State's thrilling 27-24 win.

• Nunez is one of two Valley kickers to be perfect on field goal attempts this season, the other being South Dakota's Miles Mergner (4-of-4).

• 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.

• Punter Thomas Bouldin owns the second-longest punt in the MVFC this season at 62 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 (270), solo tackles (134), assisted tackles (136), tackles for loss (20.5), 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 -- as well as 6.0 TFL for 18 yards and one sack of seven yards at SEMO. DL Kenyota Rollins leads the way with 4.5 TFL for 14 yards this season, which includes one sack. Graduate transfer LB Cedric Doxy has also been very productive in the backfield with 3.0 TFL for a loss of eight yards. Ten different Sycamores have had their hands in at least 0.5 TFL this season,

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.

DEFENSE WINS

The Sycamore defense has given up a handful of large offensive outputs under head coach Mike Sanford and defensive coordinator Brian Cabral, but a closer look at the numbers reveals that the Sycamores have been fairly consistent at keeping their own offense in the game. In 40 games coaches at Indiana State, the due have kept opponents to under 400 yards of total offense 26 times, going 14-12 in such games. In the last four years under their leadership, the Sycamores have only given up 500 yards or more eight times -- only four such occurances coming from fellow FCS schools, the other four coming from FBS Big Ten Opponents Minnesota (593; Sept. 10, 2016), Purdue (540; Sept. 12, 2015) and Indiana (566, Aug. 30, 2014; 632, Aug. 29, 2013).

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.