INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Great Lakes Valley Conference announced its postseason football awards on Tuesday, November 21
st. Among those being recognized are 12 Bearcats for their effort on the field during the 2023 season.
Yogi Flager Jr. | R-Jr. | First Team
This is Flager's second consecutive year of being named to the All-GLVC First Team. Seeing action in five games, the Belleville, Illinois native caught 41 passes for 406 yards and five touchdowns. He had a long reception of 53 yards against Truman State which ended in a touchdown. On special teams, he returned 18 kicks for 372 yards for an average of 20.6 yards per game.
Sam Amponsah |Jr. | Second Team
The defensive end from Romeoville, Illinois had a breakout season in the purple and gold. Amponsah saw action in all ten games this season, recording 23 total tackles (12 solo). He was also disruptive in the offensive backfield as he racked up six tackles for loss, which was third best on the team, for a total of 56 yards. He was also fifth on the team with 1.5 sacks.
Drew Crooks | Sr. | Second Team
After earning Honorable Mention All-GLVC in the 2020 and 2021 season, the senior defensive back was named to the Second Team All-GLVC for his performance in the 2023 season. Racking up 36 tackles on the season (4
th best on the team), Crooks was a reliable DB. Twenty-five of his 36 tackles were solo stops. He also had success getting into the offensive backfield as he made four tackles for loss and a half of sack. The Bloomington, Illinois native tied for the team lead in pass breaks up with six and led the team with two forced fumbles. He also picked off a pass against Missouri S&T.
Kaleb Barry | Jr. | Second Team
The Kirkwood, Missouri native flipped the field several times for his Bearcats. Booting 45 punts for a total of 1,817 yards, Barry averaged 40.4 yards per punt. He posted a career long of 73 yards against Missouri S&T that was downed at the Miner one-yard line. Eighteen of his punts ended inside the opponent 20-yard line, with seven of those being kicks of fifty or more yards. For his performance against the Miners on October 21
st, he was named GLVC Special Teams Player of the Week and D2Football.com Player of the Week.
Eight Bearcats earned Honorable Mention recognition by the GLVC:
