ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Five Indiana State football players were recognized on the 2023 Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Academic team as announced by the conference office on Tuesday afternoon. The Sycamores were among the 43 players voted to the squad by the league's athletic communications and sports information directors across the conference.
 
Garret Ollendieck (LB) and Maddix Blackwell (DB) were both named to the MVFC All-Academic First Team, while Harry Van Dyne (WR) was voted to the league's Second Team. Lucas Hunter (DL) and Ethan Chambers (WR) both were named to the Honorable Mention squad.
 
Ollendieck earned the Valley recognition for the first time. The Cresco, Iowa native has posted a cumulative 3.98 GPA while pursuing his degree in finance at ISU. Ollendieck finished the year as ISU's Primary middle linebacker in the Indiana State defensive unit. He recorded five consecutive double-digit tackling efforts including 15 stops against Youngstown State, while adding 11 tackles and 3.0 sacks against Western Illinois. He wrapped up the MVFC regular season finishing second in the league with 13.0 tackles-for-loss and third with 7.5 sacks.
 
Blackwell earned the Valley recognition for the first time. The Bloomington, Ind. native has posted a cumulative 3.99 GPA while pursuing his degree in intelligence analysis. He was the MVFC regular season leader in total tackles (107) and tackles per game (9.73), becoming the first ISU player to top 100 tackles in a single season since Jonas Griffith (106, 2019). Blackwell posted double-digit tackles in seven games in the 2023 season including 15 against Youngstown State. His prowess on the field extended to the turnover game finishing the year as the team leader in forced fumbles (2), fumble recoveries (3), and interceptions (2) He scored touchdowns on fumble recoveries this year at both Indiana (75 yards) and Southern Illinois (15 yards).
 
Van Dyne earned the Valley recognition for the first time in 2023 as the Overland Park, Kan. native has recorded a cumulative 3.74 GPA while pursuing his master's degree in sport management. Indiana State's receiving leader in the 2023 season finishing with 43 catches for 619 yards. He posted at least one catch in all 11 games on the year, highlighted by a season-high 10 catches for 122 yards and a touchdown against Murray State. He added seven catches for 110 yards against North Dakota.
 
Hunter earns Valley academic recognition for the second time over his career as the Indianapolis, Ind. native posted a 3.67 GPA while pursuing his MBA. He finished eighth on the Sycamores in total tackles (32), while adding 3.5 TFL and 1.0 sacks. Hunter added his first collegiate interception against North Dakota, while adding a pass breakup and a forced fumble. The defensive tackle posted a season-high five tackles with 0.5 tackles-for-loss against Murray State. He wrapped up the year with a four-tackle game at Southern Illinois including 1.5 tackles-for-loss and his first sack.
 
Chambers earned Valley recognition for the first time over his career as the Fort Wayne, Ind. native has posted a cumulative 3.97 GPA while pursuing his degree in both psychology and kinesiology. Chambers lined up in all 11 games in the 2023 season for the Sycamores as both a wide receiver and on special teams. He finished with eight catches for 80 yards and saw increased playing time at the end of the year with catches in each of the last four games. He added a season-high two tackles on special teams against South Dakota.
 
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