2015 GLVC Football Kickoff Video

INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) announced Wednesday the 18 student-athletes who have been selected to attend the 2015 GLVC Football Kickoff, which will take place in Lebanon, Illinois on Friday, July 31.   The GLVC contingent, highlighted by nine All-Conference returners combining for 18 career postseason honors, will participate in the fourth annual event.  The 2015 GLVC Football Kickoff will take place at The Hettenhausen Center for the Arts on the campus of McKendree University from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. CT, and will serve both the league's media members and passionate fans through several social media outlets.

The head coach and two student-athletes from each of the nine GLVC football institutions will be on hand to help promote the conference's fourth season. 

Six first-team All-GLVC honorees will be in attendance, including University of Indianapolis senior defensive lineman Lee Campbell and Saint Joseph's College senior running back Braxton Shelton, who earned first-team annals at their respective positions the past two years.  The remaining first-team selections in attendance include one of the nation's top wide receivers in Southwest Baptist University senior Nathan Mourik, McKendree junior linebacker A.J. Wentland, William Jewell College senior offensive lineman Brandon Klewer, and UIndy senior quarterback Connor Barthel, who was a first-team signal caller in 2013 and a second-team selection last season.  Klewer and Wentland were also second-team honorees at their positions in 2013.

Quincy University senior fullback Greg Eilerman returns as a second-team offensive utility pick in 2014, while Lincoln University senior quarterback Owen Jordan was tabbed as an honorable mention.

McKendree senior running back Cameron James holds special distinction within the group, as he has been recognized every year since the league began sponsoring the sport in 2012.  James earned second-team laurels at running back in 2012 and was honored at both wide receiver and return specialist following the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

Also in attendance will be Lincoln senior linebacker Treston Pulley, Missouri S&T sophomore quarterback Lamar Wilkes (Maryland Heights, Mo./Pattonville) and junior linebacker Rob Cidlik (Eureka, Mo./Eureka), Quincy junior defensive end Tanner Day, Saint Joseph's senior defensive back Jamyl Scott, Southwest Baptist senior defensive tackle Josh Caver, Truman State University senior offensive lineman Brad Hardin and senior defensive end Devin Gillespie, and William Jewell junior defensive lineman Aaron Neier.

Fans are encouraged to participate in the event through a variety of social media platforms, and interact with each GLVC school as they rotate through stations over the course of the 90-minute event.  A complete schedule, as well as the official GLVC Football Kickoff 2014 website, will be announced on Tuesday, July 28. 

Media members interested in attending the 2015 GLVC Football Kickoff can apply for credentials by contacting GLVC Associate Commissioner Jeff Smith at jeff@glvc-sports.org.

Lamar Wilkes (Maryland Heights, Mo./Pattonville), So., QB (Maryland Heights, MO/Pattonville)
Wilkes started the final eight games of the 2014 season for the Miners as a true freshman, completing 79-of-182 passes for 965 yards and six touchdowns while accumulating 1,014 yards of total offense.  In his first collegiate start at Southwest Baptist on Sept. 27, he became the second freshman in school history to threw for 300 yards in a game and earned the GLVC's "Offensive Player of the Week" award in the process.  Wilkes also threw for 221 yards against William Jewell and tied the GLVC record for the longest touchdown pass in league history.  The 95-yard pass was also the longest play from scrimmage in the history of the S&T football program.

Rob Cidlik (Eureka, Mo./Eureka), Jr., LB (Eureka, MO/Eureka)
Cidlik was a starter at linebacker for the Miners during the 2014 season, when he recorded 23 tackles (14 solo stops) before his season was cut short due to an injury.  He posted a season-high nine tackles at Midwestern State and also had a pass breakup in that contest, while making six tackles in games against Chadron State and Truman State.  As a redshirt freshman in 2013, he finished with 17 tackles which included a sack and two tackles for a loss.   Cidlik has also seen playing time as a fullback on the offensive side of the ball, scoring two touchdowns in 2013 – one rushing and one receiving – and had eight yards on two carries a year ago.