ST. LOUIS – A total of 12 Missouri State players were honored as All-MVFC Team selections Monday (Nov. 29) by the Missouri Valley Football Conference for their outstanding efforts during the Bears’ memorable 2021 season.
The list of honorees includes six first-team selections, including QB Jason Shelley (Frisco, Texas), who was named MVFC Offensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, WR Tyrone Scott (Estill, S.C.); DE Kevin Ellis (Fort Worth, Texas), P Grant Burkett (Joplin, Mo.), and DB Montrae Braswell (Avon Park, Fla.). Braswell was recognized as first-team All-MVFC as a defensive back and as a return specialist.
Earning All-MVFC second-team distinction were: OL Landon Bebee (Webb City, Mo.), DT Eric Johnson (Plainfield, Ill.), PK Jose Pizano (Lehi, Utah), and LB Tylar Wiltz (Breaux Bridge, La.), while three Bears earned All-MVFC honorable mention laurels: WR Xavier Lane (Montgomery, Ala.), DB Kyriq McDonald (Madison, Ala.) and DB Titus Wall (Plano, Texas).
This year’s roster of Missouri State all-conference honorees is the most by the Bears since getting 13 selections in 2004.
The Bears completed the 2021 campaign with an 8-4 overall record and their second straight NCAA FCS Playoff appearance. Coach Bobby Petrino also guided Missouri State to a 6-2 record in the MVFC which earned the Bears sole possession of second place in the league standings.
Missouri State’s 2021 All-MVFC Team selections are:
First Team
QB Jason Shelley, RJr., Frisco (Texas) Lone Star High, Utah St.
2021 MVFC Offensive Player of the Year … 2021 MVFC Newcomer of the Year … 2021 Walter Payton Award Finalist … Two-time MVFC Offensive Player of the Week … Three-time MVFC Newcomer of the Week … STATS FCS National Player of the Week honorable mention (11/15/21) … Shattered Missouri State season records for passing yards (3,347) and total offense (3,789), both of which rank in the top-10 all-time in MVFC history … Holds top 25 FCS national rankings as follows: 8th in passing yards (3,342*); 9th in points responsible (194*); 9th in yards per completion (14.2); 10th in total offense (315.0*); 14th in passing yards per game (278.5); 16th in passing touchdowns (22); 16th in points responsible per game (16.2); 24th in pass efficiency (142.6); 24th in rushing touchdowns (10) … Only Missouri State quarterback in program history to throw for 200 yards or more in his first 12 career games … Engineered four fourth-quarter, game-winning drives … Transfer from Utah State.
WR Tyrone Scott, RSo., Estill (S.C.), Jenkins High, Central Mich.
Set school-record for season receptions (66), receiving yards (1,110), receiving touchdowns (8) and 100-yard receiving games (6) … Ranks high in FCS national ratings as follows: 5th in receiving yards (1,110)*); 10th in receiving yards per game (92.5*); 24th in receiving touchdowns (8); 32nd in receptions per game (5.5); and 46th in yards per reception (16.8). … Had 18 receptions this season of 20 or more yards … Had 8 catches for 174 yards at Dixie State (11/20/21) … Posted 147 yards vs. North Dakota on 10 catches with a TD (10/30/21) … Had 6 receptions for 104 yards at NDSU (10/23/21) … Recorded 3 catches for 106 yards, 2 TD vs. Indiana State (10/16/21) … Logged 8 catches, 121 yards, 2 TDs at Youngstown State (10/9/21) … Transfer from Central Michigan.
RS / DB Montrae Braswell, So., Avon Park (Fla.) High, Central Mich.
Finished third in MVFC Defensive Player of the Year voting … Recorded 44 total tackles and 17 passes defended … His 29.4 kick return average ranks 5th nationally and tops in Valley … Had a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown vs. Central Arkansas (9/11/21) to earn MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week … Earned College Sports madness Defensive Player of the Week for Oklahoma State game (9/4/21) … Ranks 16th nationally and tops in MVFC in total return yardage (589) … Has started 19 consecutive games … Ranks 7th nationally in passes defended (1.4) per game, which leads MVFC … Ranks 30th nationally in interceptions per game (0.3) … Defended a career-high 4 passes at No. 7 SIU (11/6/21) and 3 at Dixie State (11/20/21) …Garnered the longest interception return of his career with a 46-yard pick-six at Illinois State (10/2/21) … Earned All-MVFC first team, MVFC All-Newcomer Team and Hero Sports Sophomore All-America Team honors in 2020-21 season.
DE Kevin Ellis, Jr., Fort Worth, Texas, North Crowley High
Three-year starter and two-time Missouri State team captain … Finished with 59 total tackles, including team-high 13.0 tackles for loss (57 yards) … Also MSU leader in sacks (8.0) and quarterback hurries (7) … Had tackles for loss in 9-of-12 games … Ranks 42nd nationally and 3rd in MVFC in sacks per game (0.67); 58th nationally and 4th in MVFC in tackles for loss (1.1) … Recorded career-highs in tackles (10), tackles for loss (3.0) and sacks (3.0) against South Dakota (9/25/21) … All-MVFC second team selection in 2020-21.
P Grant Burkett, RFr., Joplin (Mo.), Webb City High
Ranks 3rd nationally and first in the MVFC in punting average (46.2) … Had 16 punts of 50 yards or more with 15 downed inside the 20 … His efforts helped the Bears rank 3rd nationally and tops in Valley in net punting (42.8) … Averaged 53.5 yards on 4 punts in home win over Central Arkansas (9/11/21) with 3 punts of 50+ and a season-long 62 … Had a 58-yard punt and averaged 51.0 in win over North Dakota (10/30/21) … Had 3 punts downed inside the 20 at Illinois State (10/2/21) … Had 3 punts of 50+ yards and 3 downed inside 20 at Oklahoma State (9/4/21) … All-MVFC honorable mention selection in 2020-21.
Second Team
OL Landon Bebee, So., Webb City (Mo.) High
Bears team co-captain started 20 straight games … Preseason All-MVFC second team selection … Made seamless transition to left tackle two weeks before the 2021 season opener at Oklahoma State (9/4/21) … Earned a 95% assignment grade, 88% effort grade and an 83% technique grade from the coaching staff for the season … Anchored an offensive line that helped the Bears average 436.5 yards per game, which ranks 18th nationally and 2nd in the Valley … Bears also racked up 34.2 points per game, which ranks 14th in the FCS ranks … Earned All-MVFC second-team distinction in 2020-21 after producing a 96-percent assignment grade on 401 snaps in spring.
DL Eric Johnson, Sr., Plainfield (Ill.) South High
Played in a school-record 55 consecutive games as a five-year starter … All-around defensive lineman with impact in every phase … Racked up 43 total stops with 6.5 tackles for loss and 3 blocked kicks … Ended career with career-high 11 tackles vs. UT Martin in NCAA playoffs (11/27/21) with a forced fumble and a blocked kick … Blocked a kick at Illinois State (10/2/21) … Recorded 5 tackles at No. 7 Southern Illinois (11/6/21) … Finished season with starts in 23 consecutive games … Finished career with 131 total stops, including 19.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks … Earned All-MVFC second-team honors last season.
K Jose Pizano, So., Lehi (Utah) High, Snow College
Made 14 consecutive field goal attempts to end the regular season and ranks 2nd in the nation in field goals per game (1.75*) … Nationally ranked 8th in field goal percentage (.875*) with 21-of-24 field goal makes on the season … Ranks 7th nationally and tops in the Valley in scoring (9.1) per game … Made 46-of-47 extra points … His 109 points was most-ever by a Missouri State place kicker in a season and ranked No. 3 all-time in school history … Earned MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week (11/20/21) for 13-point output in win at Dixie State … Also averaged 58.4 yards on 77 kickoffs with 35 touchbacks … All-MVFC second-team in 2020-21.
LB Tylar Wiltz, Jr., Breaux Bridge (La.) High
Started 22 straight games and led Bears in total tackles (106) for second year in a row … Was also Missouri State team leader in tackles for loss (14.5) to go with 51 solo stops, 3.5 sacks, 3 interceptions and 4 forced fumbles … Ranks 14th nationally in forced fumbles per game (0.33) and fumble recoveries (2) … Ranks 3rd in MVFC in total tackles per game (8.8) and tackles for loss per game (1.1), which also chart at 35th and 42nd nationally, respectively … Recorded a pick-six as time expired in win over Central Arkansas (9/11/21) for his first career interception … Logged 10 or more tackles in 5 different games … Set a career high with 16 total tackles at Youngstown State (10/9/21) … Racked up 14 total stops in FCS Playoff game vs. UT Martin (11/27/21) with an interception, sack and 2.0 tackles for loss … Led MSU in tackles six games … All-MVFC second team selection in 2020-21.
Honorable Mention
WR Xavier Lane, RSr., Montgomery (Ala.) Carter High, Western Ky.
Had 56 receptions for 784 yards and 3 touchdowns this season … Ranked 34th nationally in receiving yards and 41st in receiving yards per game (71.3) … Also posted 5.1 receptions per game, which ranks 44th nationally … Named MVFC Offensive Player of the Week and Newcomer of the Week on 9/12/21 after posting 9 receptions for 148 yards and game-winning touchdown vs. Central Arkansas … Produced season-high 10 catches for 114 yards at Youngstown State (10/9/21) … Had 13 pass receptions of 20 or more yards this season … Transfer from Western Kentucky.
S Kyriq McDonald, Jr., Madison, Ala., James Clemens High, Cincinnati
Two-year starter who ranked 4th on the team with 64 total stops, and was 2nd on the squad with 45 solo stops … Also collected 9.5 tackles for loss and 10 passes defended … Led the team with 10 tackles at FBS No. 9 Oklahoma State (9/4/21) … Recorded his first-career interception at No. 3 North Dakota State (10/23/21) … Logged a career-high 2.0 tackles for loss against Indiana State (10/16/21) … All-MVFC second team and MVFC All-Newcomer Team selection in 2020-21.
S Titus Wall, Sr., Plano (Texas) Plano West High
Three-time Missouri State team captain was 2nd on the team in tackles (74) with 41 solo stops … Started 16-straight games … Racked up 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack and 5 passes defended … Set a career high in tackles (14) and unassisted tackles (10) at Youngstown State (10/9/21) … Ranks 13th in The Valley with 6.2 tackles per game … Collected 9 tackles, 1.5 TFL and a sack in win over Central Arkansas (9/11/21) … Led the Bears in tackles in 3 games this season with two games of 10 or more tackles.
