ST. LOUIS – Missouri State defensive end Kevin Ellis (Jr., Fort Worth, Texas) was named Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week on Sunday for his efforts in helping the Bears to a league-opening victory at Western Illinois this weekend.
Ellis was everywhere for an MSU defense that allowed just 48 rushing yards on 30 carries in the 30-24 win at WIU. In the final five minutes of the game, Ellis was responsible for two forced turnovers on the Leathernecks’ last two possessions, snagging a one-handed interception to halt a Western Illinois rally before forcing a fumble and turnover on WIU’s final play of the game and securing MSU’s victory.
Ellis also had a possession-ending sack in the first half and finished the contest with 6 total stops, 5 solo tackles, 2.0 sacks, 2.0 tackles for loss, an interception and a forced fumble in MSU’s first win of the Bobby Petrino era.
Ellis is the first Bear to earn conference defensive honors since Darius Joseph claimed the honor on Sept. 29, 2018.
Also recognized by the league on Sunday were SIU quarterback Nic Baker (Offensive Player of the Week), South Dakota punter Brady Schutt (Special Teams Player of the Week) and North Dakota linebacker Josh Navratil (Newcomer of the Week).
The Bears continue the spring season on Saturday against North Dakota State at Robert W. Plaster Stadium.
