Indiana State University Athletics

ST. LOUIS -- Sycamore Football placed five student-athletes on the Missouri Valley Football Conference's All-Newcomer Team, the League announced Tuesday. The All-Newcomer teams are voted on by MVFC coaches, sports information directors and members of the media.
 
Indiana State put four on the offensive side of the ball led by quarterback Ryan Boyle, who was named the MVFC Newcomer of the Year last week. Redshirt freshman wide receiver Dante Hendrix also earned the honor while a pair of offensive linemen in Isaiah Edwards and Tate Leavitt rounded out the offensive honors for the Trees. First-year safety Denzel Bonner picked up the honor for the Sycamores on the defensive side of the ball.
 
Offense
 
#8 WR Dante Hendrix, 6-3, 180, R-Fr., Florence (Ky.) Randall K. Cooper HS
Led the Sycamores and finished eighth in the MVFC in total receptions with 47 … Closed out his first season with 681 yards receiving which was seventh-best in the Valley and a 14.5 yards per catch average … Finished with four touchdown catches on the season … Averaged 61.9 yards per game which was seventh-best in the conference … Exploded for a career high 186 yards receiving and two touchdowns in ISU's win at Youngstown State … Caught the game-winning touchdown in a triple overtime victory against South Dakota.
 
#10 QB Ryan Boyle, 6-2, 215, R-Jr., Urbandale (Iowa) University of Iowa
Made his Sycamore debut in week three at Eastern Illinois coming off an injury and started the next nine game at quarterback ... Finished the season with 1,627 yards passing on 128-of-205 attempts through the air for a 62.4 competition percentage to rank tops in the MVFC and 19th nationally … Finished with 12 passing touchdowns and a 145.5 passer efficiency rating … Finished second on the team with 610 yards rushing and six rushing touchdowns … Rushed for a career high 187 yards and two touchdowns against South Dakota … Finished with four total touchdowns against No. 3 South Dakota State (two passing, two rushing) in an overtime loss on the road … Led the Sycamores to a program record 569 yards of total offense at SDSU … Accounted for a school record seven total touchdowns (five passing, two rushing) in a triple overtime win against South Dakota … Led the team to five-straight victories to close out the 2018 season to finish 7-4 overall and a third-place finish in the MVFC after an 0-11 season in 2017.
 
#55 OL Isaiah Edwards, 6-7, 365, R-Jr., Katy (Texas) Independence CC
Started every game in 2018 at left guard … Helped the Sycamores to 241.5 rushing yards per game to rank 14th in the country … ISU finished with 2,656 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns this season after a 2017 season when ISU ran the ball for just 1,185 yards and seven rushing scores … Key in the passing game as the Sycamores threw for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns … The Sycamores finished the regular season seventh nationally, converting 42-of-46 (91.3 percent) chances in the red zone … Four different Sycamores (Keys, McCoy, Boyle, Kerlegrand) rushed for 100 or more yards this season.
 
#77 OL Tate Leavitt, 6-6, 325, R-Sr., Thornville (Ohio) Sheridan HS
Started every game in 2018 at left tackle … Helped the Sycamores to 241.5 rushing yards per game to rank 14th in the country … ISU finished with 2,656 rushing yards and 30 touchdowns this season after a 2017 season when ISU ran the ball for just 1,185 yards and seven rushing scores … Key in the passing game as the Sycamores threw for 2,559 yards and 18 touchdowns … The Sycamores finished the regular season seventh nationally, converting 42-of-46 (91.3 percent) chances in the red zone … Four different Sycamores (Keys, McCoy, Boyle, Kerlegrand) rushed for 100 or more yards this season.
 
Defense
 
#22 DB Denzel Bonner, INS, 6-2, 195, Jr., Waynesboro (Miss.) East Mississippi CC
Started 10 games at safety after transferring from East Mississippi CC … Finished fourth on the team with 63 tackles including 35 solo stops … Forced three turnovers on the season and recovered a fumble … Took an interception against Illinois State 29 yards to setup the go-ahead score … Forced two fumbles in the last two games, including a fumble that led to a field goal in a 15-13 win at Western Illinois to close out the season … Recorded a season high 12 tackles in a win over South Dakota and 10 tackles and tackle-for-loss at South Dakota State.
 
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