(LEBANON, Ill., June 16)—McKendree University tight end Byron Gettis (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia) was named to the NAIA pre-season All-America team in the 2010 edition of The Sporting News College Football Preview magazine.
Gettis (Cahokia, Ill./Cahokia), who will be a senior in 2010, was named the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League Co-Player of the Year last season. Gettis set a new team record with 30 receptions a year ago. He had 472 receiving yards and tied a team record with six touchdown receptions. Gettis also rushed for 93 yards on 11 carries out of the Bearcats' "Royal" formation.
Heading into his senior season, Gettis is second on the Bearcats' all-time receptions list with 54. He is third in career touchdown receptions with seven and is fifth in career receiving yards with 680.
Gettis is one of three MSFA Midwest League players that were named to the NAIA pre-season All-America squad in The Sporting News College Football Preview. Joining Gettis were conference mates Brendan Carragher, an offensive lineman from the University of St. Francis (Ill.) and Dale Woods, a defensive lineman from William Penn University.
In addition to the individual honor for Gettis, the Mckendree football squad earned a No. 9 ranking from The Sporting News in its NAIA preview. The University of Sioux Falls (S.D.), the two-time defending NAIA national champion, sits atop the poll.
The McKendree University football team finished the 2009 season with an overall record of 9-2. The Bearcats won the MSFA Midwest League championship with a perfect 7-0 record in league play. McKendree was ranked No. 9 in the NAIA spring football rating released in April.
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