ST. LOUIS — Eleven Missouri State football standouts were honored Monday (July 22) on the Preseason All-Missouri Valley Football Conference Team, the league announced.
Leading the way for the Bears were first-team honoree Grant Burkett (P, Joplin, Mo.) and second-teamers Darion Smith (DL, St. Louis, Mo.), P.J. Hall (S, Little Rock, Ark.) and Todric McGee (S, Wichita, Kan.). MoState also landed seven honorable mention picks, including Caden Bolz (LS, Overland Park, Kan.), Jacardia Wright (RB, Decatur, Ill.), Jmariyae Robinson (WR, Cocoa, Fla.), Cash Hudson (OL, Tulsa, Okla.), Hutson Lillibridge (OL, St. Louis, Mo.), Tahj Chambers (LB, Arlington, Texas) and Avery Powell (CB, East Orange, N.J.).
“The guys have worked extremely hard this offseason and look to build of that momentum heading into camp this fall,” said second-year head coach Ryan Beard. “We will continue to stay focused and do what it takes to win each day. The future is very bright for MoState Bears football.”
Burkett is a four-time All-MVFC selection and a three-time All-American who averaged 44.0 yards per punt last season with 11 kicks of 50 yards or more. His punting average led the MVFC and was good enough to finish seventh nationally while he was a finalist for FCS Punter of the Year.
Smith anchors a sturdy Bears defensive line this fall after collecting 37 total stops a year ago. He notched 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks and four quarterback hurries from his defensive end post in 2023.
Hall earns a spot on the Preseason All-MVFC Team for the second year in a row after he started all 11 games at safety a year ago. He brought down 62 ball carriers with 37 solos — both ranking third on the team — with a pair of interceptions and 9 passes defended.
McGee was a second-team All-MVFC selection in 2023 after the standout safety became Missouri State’s first player to eclipse 100 tackles since 2021, racking up 102 total stops and 59 solo tackles, a pair of interceptions, 8 passes defended and two fumble recoveries. He led the MVFC and ranked 13th nationally in solo tackles per game (5.36).
Bolz was an honorable mention All-MVFC selection last season and was perfect on 93 long-snap opportunities, including 43 extra point tries, 37 punts and 13 field goal attempts. He was a Phil Stele Preseason All-America fourth-team honoree as well as a Preseason All-MVFC first-team selection a year ago.
Wright was a second-team All-MVFC selection in 2023 and an MVFC All-Newcomer Team honoree in 2021. He ranked fifth in the MVFC and 46th nationally with 69.6 rushing yards per game a year ago, averaging 4.7 yards per game and finishing with 147 attempts for 696 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Robinson was named to Phil Steele Freshman All-America Team (second team) last season after logging 45 receptions for 500 yards and 5 touchdowns in his first full season. He ranked 13th in the MVFC in receiving touchdowns, 12th in receptions per game (4.1) and 18th in receiving yards per game (45.5).
Hudson was also named to Phil Steele Freshman All-America Team (first team) in 2023 after playing in eight games and making six straight starts at center to end the season. He averaged a 95 percent assignment grade, 98 percent effort grade and 83 percent technique grade for the season.
Lillibridge was an honorable mention All-MVFC selection in his first season at MSU, playing all 11 games with five starts at center and five consecutive starts at right guard to end the campaign. He averaged a 97 percent assignment grade, 94 percent effort grade and 86 percent technique grade.
Chambers earned nine starts at linebacker in 2023 with 54 total tackles, which ranked fourth on the squad. He had season-high eight tackles in the homecoming win over Murray State with five solo tackles and a pass break-up.
Powell was named to Phil Steele Freshman All-America Team (first team) in 2023 in his first season with the Bears and also was named to MVFC All-Newcomer Team. He racked up 50 total tackles in 11 games as a redshirt freshman which ranked fifth on the team, including 32 solo stops.
The MVFC preseason poll was also released Monday with the Bears being tabbed ninth in the 11-team race. Defending national champion and defending MVFC champion South Dakota State is the league’s preseason favorite again this year with 42 of 44 first-place votes and 482 total points, followed by North Dakota State (437), South Dakota (371), Southern Illinois (293) and North Dakota (276) in the top five.
In their last two meetings against the other MVFC schools, the Bears have at least one win over every Valley program except SDSU, NDSU and Southern Illinois. Missouri State is a charter member of the MVFC (formerly Gateway Conference) with the 2024 season marking the university’s final season in the conference before transitioning to CUSA next season.
