VALLEY-FOOTBALL.org – Indiana State linebacker Geoffrey Brown was selected to the Missouri Valley Football All-Conference First Team highlighting five Sycamores named to the Valley's postseason squad as voted on by the league's head coaches, SIDs, and media members.
 
Brown was joined by Joey Shew (Second Team), Maddix Blackwell (Honorable Mention), Garret Ollendieck (Honorable Mention), and Rashad Rochelle (Honorable Mention) as the Sycamore representatives on the team.
 
Brown earns First Team honors for the first time in his collegiate career after finishing the 2024 regular season as the MVFC tackling leader. The Fishers, Ind. native was the only player in the conference to eclipse 100 tackles over the course of the regular season with 112 (10.2 per game) on the year. He averaged 10.5 tackles per game in conference play including double-digit tackles in four of the last five games of the season, including a career-high 19 tackles against North Dakota.
 
Brown wrapped up the season with 10 tackles, 2.0 tackles-for-loss, and 1.0 sacks in the season finale against Northern Iowa. He finished fourth on the Sycamores with 6.5 TFL and second with 4.0 sacks, while adding one pass breakup and four quarterback hurries. He highlighted his game in the turnover battle with interceptions against both Missouri State and Southern Illinois, the latter of which he returned 21 yards for a touchdown in Indiana State's come-from-behind win over the Salukis.
 
Shew takes home Second Team recognition for the first time after leading Indiana State's defensive efforts along the line of scrimmage. The Clinton, Ind. native led the Sycamores in both tackles-for-loss (9.5) and sacks (4.5), among his 46 tackles on the field. He added four quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, and a blocked kick to his tallies over the years.
 
Shew highlighted his year with 3.0 tackles-for-loss, 2.0 sacks, and a pick-six 20-yard interception return for a touchdown against North Dakota in the Sycamores' win over the Fighting Hawks. He posted a three-game stretch against Missouri State, SIU, and North Dakota where he recorded 6.0 TFL and 4.5 sacks, and finished with at least a partial TFL in six consecutive games spanning September 28 through November 2.
 
Blackwell was named to the Honorable Mention team after finishing the year among the conference leaders in tackles for the second consecutive season. The Bloomington, Ind. native was seventh in the MVFC in tackles per game (7.5) with 90 overall on the season over 12 games. He posted three double-digit tackling games in 2024 coming against Purdue, Dayton, and North Dakota. He added a forced fumble against Purdue and an interception early in the season at Eastern Illinois.
 
Ollendieck received Honorable Mention honors after a strong 2024 season which saw the senior linebacker come back from injury to play in the final two contests of the year. The Cresco, Iowa native was second in the MVFC in tackles per game (10.0) and was inside the FCS Top 10 in both tackles per game and solo tackles prior to injury. He wrapped up the year second on the Sycamores with 7.0 TFL, while recording a scoop-and-score on a fumble against Dayton in Indiana State's win over the Flyers. He finished the year with four double-digit tackle games.
 
Rochelle received Honorable Mention honor for his efforts in the punt and kick return games. The Springfield, Ill. native was third in the MVFC in all-purpose yards per game in conference play (112.63), while finishing second in the Valley in kick return yards (616) and fourth in punt return yards (135). Overall, he finished sixth in the NCAA FCS in combined kick return yards (751) in the regular season.
 
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