Missouri State freshmen Coleman Clanton and McNeece Egbim have been named to the 2016 Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer Team, chosen by the league’s coaches, sports information directors and select media members.
Clanton, a redshirt freshman offensive lineman, started all 11 games of the season as the Bears’ left tackle. He helped lead a unit that allowed just 16 sacks for the year, which currently ranks second overall in the MVFC and 31st nationally. The Olathe, Kan., native recorded 42 knockdown blocks in his initial college campaign and was an integral part of the Bears’ offensive turnaround that included an 80-percent spike in passing yards per game and a 38-percent improvement in total offense per game from the previous season.
Egbim, who picked up Honorable Mention All-MVFC recognition on Monday, made seven starts at linebacker as a redshirt freshman, finishing as the Bears’ No. 2 tackler with 76 stops for the season. His season tackle total is the top mark for a Missouri State rookie since 2011. The Rowlett, Texas, product recorded double-digit tackle efforts in two games while ranking 12th overall (6.9) in tackles per game in the Valley.
The two honors for the Bears continue a long line of MSU newcomers earning all-conference recognition from the Valley. Since the league began recognizing an All-Newcomer Team in 1994, only Western Illinois (81) and Illinois State (79) have had more selections than Missouri State, which has placed 77 players on MVFC All-Newcomer teams. Current Bears Cecil Bratton, Calan Crowder, Sam Ellifrits and Jared Beshore were also selected for the MVFC’s All-Newcomer squad.
The MVFC will conclude its postseason honors with the release of its All-Academic Team on Wednesday (Nov. 30).
