WIU Athletics

Brantley named MVFC Newcomer of the Year

Monday, November 28, 2022 | By: WIU Athletic Communications

Junior also First Team MVFC wide receiver

MACOMB -- A big season came with big honors for Western Illinois wide receiver Naseim Brantley, who was named Newcomer of the Year in the Missouri Valley Football Conference as well as being named First-Team All-Conference at wide receiver on Monday.

In 10 games, Brantley had 53 catches, ranking him third-best in the MVFC. He had a conference-best 893 receiving yards and 89.3 yards per game. His nine receiving touchdowns was second in the MVFC and his 16.85 yards per catch was third-best in the MVFC.

"Naseim Brantley represents everything about being a great Leatherneck," Western Illinois football coach Myers Hendrickson said. "He is an incredible football player, but even a better person. He makes everyone around him better, and is a great leader and teammate. He went to work every day and continued to improve and work at his craft.

The junior had three touchdowns in the season-opening game against UT Martin and was named MVFC Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 4.

Brantley received 87 points to earn the honor as Newcomer of the Year.

"As a newcomer that just arrived this summer, he immediately came in and made a huge impact," Hendrickson said. "Every time the ball goes his way we have total confidence he is going to make the play, and that showed as he lead our league in receiving. He has helped our program improve in every way. I am so excited for Naseim, he is so very deserving of these awards as Newcomer of the Year and First-Team All Missouri Valley Football Conference."

Along with Brantley, Juan DelaCruz, T.J. Limehouse and Mason Laramie were also honored, getting honorable mention all-conference honors.

2022 All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Team

FIRST TEAM

QB Theo Day, Northern Iowa 6-5 231 R-Jr. Canton, Mich. / Divine Child High [Michigan State]
RB Isaiah Davis, South Dakota State 6-1 220 Jr. Joplin, Mo. / Joplin High
RB Jaleel McLaughlin, Youngstown State 5-9 183 Sr. Marshville, N.C. / Forest Hills High [Notre Dame College]
FB Hunter Luepke, North Dakota State 6-1 236 Sr. Spencer, Wis. / Spencer High
WR Naseim Brantley, Western Illinois 6-4 200 Jr. Farmingdale, N.J. /Howell High [Sacred Heart]
WR Dante Hendrix, Indiana State 6-3 210 R-Sr. Florence, Ky. / Randall K. Cooper High
WR Bryce Oliver, Youngstown State 6-1 212 Jr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / Dillard High
TE Tucker Kraft, South Dakota State 6-5 255 Jr. Timber Lake, S.D. / Timber Lake High
OL Drew Bones, Illinois State 6-4 350 Sr. Ottawa, Kan. / Ottawa High
OL Garret Greenfield, South Dakota State 6-6 305 Sr. Rock Valley, Iowa / Rock Valley High
OL Nash Jensen, North Dakota State 6-4 329 Sr. Maple Grove, Minn. / Osseo High
OL Cody Mauch, North Dakota State 6-6 303 Sr. Hankinson, N.D. / Hankinson High
OL Mason McCormick, South Dakota State 6-4 305 Sr. Sioux Falls, S.D. / Roosevelt High
DL Richie Hagarty, Southern Illinois 6-3 255 So. New Palestine, Ind. / Cathedral High [Miami (Ohio)]
DL Caleb Sanders, South Dakota State 6-1 270 Sr. Glenwood, Iowa / Glenwood High
DL Spencer Waege, North Dakota State 6-5 282 Sr. South Shore, S.D. / Watertown High
DL Reece Winkelman, South Dakota State 6-4 245 Sr. Marshall, Minn. / Marshall High
LB Adam Bock, South Dakota State 6-1 215 Jr. Solon, Iowa / Solon High
LB Stephen Hillis, South Dakota 6-1 235 Jr. Hartington, Neb. / Cedar Catholic High
LB James Kaczor, North Dakota State 6-0 215 Sr. St. Cloud, Minn. / St. Cloud Tech High
LB Zeke Vandenburgh, Illinois State 6-3 235 Sr. Freeport, Ill. / Freeport High
DB Montrae Braswell, Missouri State 6-0 190 Jr. Avon Park, Fla. / Avon Park High [Central Michigan]
DB Dyshawn Gales, South Dakota State 5-11 190 Sr. North Chicago, Ill. / North Chicago Community High
DB Benny Sapp III, Northern Iowa 6-1 205 Sr. Fort Lauderdale, Fla. / Eden Prairie High [Minnesota]
DB Michael Tutsie, North Dakota State 5-11 189 Sr. Indianapolis, Ind. / Warren Central High
DB Dawson Weber, North Dakota State 6-2 190 Sr. Elk Grove, Calif. / Pleasant Grove High
P Grant Burkett, Missouri State 6-1 184 So. Joplin, Mo. / Webb City High
PK Matthew Cook, Northern Iowa 5-11 199 Jr. Cedar Falls, Iowa / Cedar Falls High
DS Dalton Godfrey, South Dakota 6-2 240 Sr. Cedar Falls, Iowa / Cedar Falls High
RS Montrae Braswell, Missouri State 6-0 190 Jr. Avon Park, Fla. / Avon Park High [Central Michigan]
AP Hunter Luepke, North Dakota State 6-1 236 Sr. Spencer, Wis. / Spencer High

SECOND TEAM

QB Mark Gronowski, South Dakota State 6-3 220 So. Naperville, Ill. / Neuqua Valley High
RB Justin Dinka, Indiana State 5-11 180 R-So. Flower Mound, Texas / Marcus High [San Diego State]
RB Tyler Hoosman, North Dakota 6-0 215 Gr. Plainfield, Ill. / Plainfield High [Northern Iowa]
FB Jacob Garrett, Southern Illinois 6-2 247 Jr. Sellersburg, Ind. / Silver Creek High
WR Bo Belquist, North Dakota 6-1 180 Jr. New Rockford, N.D. / New Rockford-Sheyenne High
WR Avante Cox, Southern Illinois 5-10 175 Sr. Rochester, Ill. / Rochester High [Wyoming]
WR Jaxon Janke, South Dakota State 6-3 210 Sr. Madison, S.D. / Madison High
TE Zach Heins, South Dakota State 6-7 260 Sr. Sioux Falls, S.D. / Washington High
OL Landon Bebee, Missouri State 6-3 298 Jr. Webb City, Mo. / Webb City High
OL Alex Jensen, South Dakota 6-7 290 Sr. Plymouth, Minn. / Wayzata High
OL Mike McAllister, Youngstown State 6-3 308 Sr. Pittsburgh, Pa. / Woodland Hills High
OL Erik Sorensen, Northern Iowa 6-6 317 R-Sr. Waukee, Iowa / Waukee High
OL Donny Ventrelli, North Dakota 6-4 300 Sr. St. Paul, Minn. / Como Park High
DL Khristian Boyd, Northern Iowa 6-4 317 R-Jr. Kansas City, Mo. / Blue Springs High
DL Kevin Ellis, Missouri State 6-4 241 Sr. Fort Worth, Texas / North Crowley High
DL Ben McNaboe, North Dakota 6-3 240 Jr. Rogers, Minn. / Rogers High [Minnesota]
DL Dylan Wudke, Youngstown State 6-4 251 So. Miamisburg, Ohio / Miamisburg High
LB Branson Combs, Southern Illinois 6-3 224 So. Evansville, Ind. / Reitz Memorial High
LB Spencer Cuvelier, Northern Iowa 6-3 239 R-Sr. Cresco, Iowa / Crestwood High [Iowa Central CC]
LB Ferrin Manuleleua, Missouri State 6-1 219 Sr. Manteca, Calif. / Manteca High [Modesto (Calif.) JC]
LB Brock Mogensen, South Dakota 6-2 230 Jr. Farmington, Minn. / Farmington High
LB Korby Sander, Northern Iowa 6-1 224 Gr. Belmond, Iowa / Belmond-Klemme High
DB Rylan Cole, Indiana State 6-0 205 So. McCordsville, Ind. / Mt. Vernon High
DB Woo Governor, Northern Iowa 6-0 190 Jr. Plant City, Fla. / Durant High [Central Michigan]
DB Myles Harden, South Dakota 5-10 190 So. Miami Gardens, Fla. / Miramar High
DB PJ Jules, Southern Illinois 6-3 193 Jr. Orlando, Fla. / Jones High
DB C.J. Siegel, North Dakota 6-0 180 Sr. La Crosse, Wis. / Logan High
P John Bickle, South Dakota 6-1 190 Sr. Eau Claire, Wis. / Eau Claire North High
PK Colt McFadden, Youngstown State 6-0 194 Sr. Poland, Ohio / Poland High
DS Hunter Brozio, North Dakota State 6-1 230 Jr. Lakeland, Fla. / Lake Gibson High
RS Jadon Janke, South Dakota State 6-3 210 Sr. Madison, S.D. / Madison High
AP Javon Williams Jr., Southern Illinois 6-2 237 Jr. Centralia, Ill. / Centralia High

Honorable Mention

Illinois State: DB Deandre Lamont; FB Bryson Deming; TE Tanner Taula. Indiana State: DL Lucas Hunter; OL Jose Vazquez IV; WR Harry Van Dyne. Missouri State: DB Kyriq McDonald; DS Caden Bolz; PK Jose Pizano; WR Ty Scott. North Dakota: LB Devon Krzanowski; P Cade Peterson; QB Tommy Schuster. North Dakota State: DL Will Mostaert; RB TaMerik Williams; RS Jayden Price; Northern Iowa: LB Bryce Flater; OL Justin Peine; WR Sam Schnee. South Dakota: AP Carter Bell; OL Isaac Erbes; RB Travis Theis; WR/RS Wesley Eliodor. South Dakota State: DB Dalys Beanum; LB Jason Freeman; P Hunter Dustman; WR Jadon Janke. Southern Illinois: OL Beau Branyan; QB Nic Baker; WR D'Ante' Cox. Western Illinois: DB T.J. Limehouse; LB Juan DelaCruz; PK Mason Laramie. Youngstown State: DL Chris Fitzgerald; DL James Jackson; OL Jaison Williams.

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