ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Eight Sycamores were honored on the Missouri Valley Football Preseason All-Conference teams, while Indiana State was selected 10th overall in the Valley poll as voted on by the league's head coaches, media members, and SIDs as the conference office announced the preseason awards on Tuesday morning.
 
Justin Dinka (RB) and Rylan Cole (DB) represented the Sycamores on the All-MVFC First Team, while Jose Vazquez IV (OL), Lucas Hunter (DL), and Geoffrey Brown (LB) were all selected to the Second Team. Gianini Belizaire (DL), Keagen Trost (OL), and Johnathan Edwards (DB) were all honored on the MVFC Honorable Mention squad.
 
Dinka was a 2022 MVFC Second Team All-Conference selection after finishing fourth in the MVFC in total rushing yards (895), while adding a 5.77 yards per carry average. The redshirt junior posted a career-high 177 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns against Youngstown State and finished the season with nine games with at least 50 rushing yards.
 
Cole returns as one of the more heralded players in the MVFC after earning 2022 HERO Sports Sophomore All-American honors. The junior safety finished among the conference leaders in solo tackles per game (5.2) and passes defended per game (1.1), while tying for the team lead with 84 tackles on the year. He posted a season-high 18 tackles against North Dakota State, while adding a two-interception game against North Alabama.
 
Vazquez IV lined up as Indiana State's primary right guard in the 2022 season starting 10 games on the year. The redshirt junior is a three-year starter on the ISU offensive line and posted an average grade of 88.7% throughout the year. This average bumped up to an 89.5% mark in conference play. The Carol Stream, Ill. native allowed just 1.5 sacks in the 2022 season and just three quarterback hurries.
 
Hunter finished the 2022 season with 35 total tackles, including 4.5 tackles-for-loss and one sack as an interior defensive lineman. The Indianapolis, Ind. native highlighted his season with a career-high 11 tackles, a TFL and 0.5 sacks against North Dakota State. The junior defensive lineman also recorded a scoop-and-score fumble recovery for a touchdown early in the season against Montana for his first collegiate touchdown.
 
Brown tied for the ISU lead with 84 total tackles, while adding 7.0 TFL and 3.5 sacks. The rising junior opened the season with a career-high 15-tackle game against North Alabama, while adding 10 tackles, 2.0 TFL, and 2.0 sacks at Northern Iowa. He finished the year with five double-digit tackling efforts on the season.
 
Belizaire led Indiana State with 8.5 tackles-for-loss and 5.0 sacks in his first season with the Sycamores. The junior defensive lineman made his ISU debut with a season-high six tackles, 1.5 TFLs, and 1.5 sacks against North Alabama, while adding a 2.5 TFL and 1.5 sack game against Western Illinois.
 
Trost started at right tackle in 10 games, right guard in one contest in 2022. He posted an average grade on the season was 86.5 with an 88.6 mark in conference play. Trost allowed just one sack and two quarterback hurries on the season.
 
Edwards is scheduled to get back on the field this season after suffering an injury in 2023. The St. Louis, Mo. native finished second in the MVFC in passes defended (9) and led the conference in pass breakups (9) in the 2022 season while serving as a starting cornerback. He posted multiple tackles in eight different games.
 
The Sycamores garnered 148 total points on their way to being picked 10th overall in the poll. South Dakota State was named the MVFC Preseason favorite garnering 539 total points and 44 of the 45 first-place votes. North Dakota State was second in the poll receiving the final first-place vote and 492 total points.
 
ISU reports for fall camp this afternoon with the Sycamores set to start official practice on Wednesday morning at Memorial Stadium starting at 10 a.m. All practices will be open to the general public.
 
Indiana State Head Coach Curt Mallory announced the 2023 football preseason camp schedule as the Sycamores prepare for the team to report to campus on Tuesday, August 1.
 
ISU will hold 17 practices at Memorial Stadium through fall camp prior to classes starting on August 22. U.S. Lawns will serve as the official fall football camp sponsor for the third consecutive season helping provide coverage leading up to the 2023 season opener on August 31 against Eastern Illinois.
 
Practice official starts on Wednesday, August 2 with the Sycamores taking the field at 10 a.m. All practices will be open to the general public.
 
2023 Football Season Tickets On Sale Now
Indiana State will employ mobile ticketing as the default option for all home games during the 2023 football season, enabling contactless entry into athletics venues. Offering greater convenience and safety, fans can access their ticket online and transfer to family and friends. Fans will also have the option to get their tickets printed for an additional $5 charge.
 
For more information on season tickets, fans can contact Assistant Manager of Athletic Ticketing Austin Bishop by phone at 812-237-8972 or via email at Austin.Bishop@indstate.edu. Fans can also call 877-ISU-TIXS or email ISU-Tickets@indstate.edu. Fans have the opportunity to also buy or renew season tickets online by clicking HERE.
 
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