Portions of story courtesy of glvcsport.com 

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) has released the attendees, schedule, and website for the 13th annual GLVC Football Kickoff event, which will be held at The Hettenhausen Center for the Arts (The Hett) right here on the campus of McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM Central Time on Friday, August 1st. 

ATTENDEES 

The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) announced Friday the 18 student-athletes who have been selected to attend the 2025 GLVC Football Kickoff, which will take place in Lebanon, Illinois, on Friday, August 1. The GLVC contingent, highlighted by nine All-Conference returners, will participate in the 13th annual event. The event will take place at The Hettenhausen Center for the Arts on the campus of McKendree University from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Central Time and will serve both the league's media members and passionate fans through several social media outlets. 
 
The coach and two student-athletes from each of the nine GLVC football institutions will be on hand to help promote the Conference's 14th season. 
  
Four of the nine offensive players attending the kickoff are the signal callers for their respective teams. Gavin Sukup (UINDY) earned GLVC Offensive Player of the Year in 2023 and 2024. Ty Michael (MCK) placed second in total passing yards (2,542), while Dylan Hair (TSU) led the league in touchdown passes with 25. Michael earned Honorable Mention while Hair was named to the All-GLVC Second Team. Isaiah Tate (LIN) rounds out the quarterback group adding 1,359 passing yards in 2024. 
 
Three offensive linemen and two wide receivers will also be going to the Kickoff at the end of the month. Austin Mahoney (S&T), Nathan Smith (QU), and Nash Gagliano (WJC) represent the offensive lineman with Smith being named to the All-GLVC Second Team in 2024. Kamau Ransom (SBU) caught 30 passes for 309 yards, and Mante Morrow (UIU) recorded 40 receptions for 537 yards and earned All-GLVC Second Team honors. 
 
On the other side of the ball, we have a good representation of all areas of the defense with three defensive lineman, three linebackers, and three defensive backs, making the trip. Jacob McGhee (LIN), Shaquille Roman (UIU), and Justin Endicott (WJC) represent the lineman with McGhee coming off a five sack campaign, Roman a one sack, and Endicott a 5.5 sack season. The linebacking core includes Nick Bova (MCK), Brock Inman (QU), and Jack Weltha (TSU), with Bova an Honorable Mention and Inman a first team selection in 2024. Bova registered 63 tackles (8.5 for loss), Inman 55 (7.5 for loss), and Weltha is coming off a one game season. The defensive backs are represented by Jalyn Givan (UINDY), Justin Gniedziejko (S&T), and Jed Brandon (SBU). Givan and Gniedziejko were both named to the All-GLVC Second Team last season with Givan part of a Top 10 defensive unit in all of Division II last season. Gniedziejko had 55 tackles and Brandon had 22 in 2024. 
 
While attendance in person is for approved media only, fans are encouraged to participate in the event through a variety of social media platforms and follow along online 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 2025 GLVC Football Kickoff website, will be announced on Wednesday, July 30.  
 
Media members interested in attending the 2025 GLVC Football Kickoff can apply for access by contacting GLVC Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Communications Noah Stubenrauch at noah@glvc-sports.org by Tuesday, July 29 at 5 p.m. ET. 
 
The complete list of the 2025 GLVC Football Kickoff player attendees is below. 
 
  

School	Offensive Player	Defensive Player
Indianapolis	Gavin Sukup, Sr. QB (Seward, Neb.)	Jalyn Givan, R-Sr., DB (Plainfield, Ill.)
Lincoln	Isaiah Tate, So., QB (Memphis, Tenn.)	Jacob McGhee, So., DL (Chicago, Ill.)
McKendree	Ty Michael, Gr., QB (O'Fallon, Ill.)	Nick Bova, Jr., LB (Troy, Mo.)
Missouri S&T	Austin Mahoney, Jr., OL (St. Peters, Mo.)	Justin Gniedziejko, Sr., DB (Chicago, Ill.)
Quincy	Nathan Smith, Gr., OL (Roeland Park, Kan.)	Brock Inman, Gr., LB (Arnold, Mo.)
Southwest Baptist	Kamau Ransom, Sr., WR (Evanston, Ill.)	Jed Brandon, Sr., DB (Willard, Mo.)
Truman State	Dylan Hair, Jr., QB (Wardsville, Mo.)	Jack Weltha, Sr., LB (Bloomington, Ill.)
Upper Iowa	Mante Morrow., Sr., WR (Joliet, Ill.)	Shaquille Roman, Sr., DL (Beloit, Wis.)
William Jewell	Nash Gagliano, Sr., OL (Prosper, Texas)	Justin Endicott, Sr., DL (Prosper, Texas)

  
 
INDIANAPOLIS 
Gavin Sukup, Senior, Quarterback (Seward, Nebraska) 

• Enters third season with UIndy after leading College of DuPage to the NJCAA National Championship as a true freshman in 2022. 

• Named GLVC Offensive Player of the Year for two seasons in a row, as well being a two-time Harlon Hill Trophy candidate. 

• Led the GLVC last season in passing yards (2,621), total offense per game (248.6) and passing efficiency (158.3). 

• Racked up 362 yards and five TDs on the ground, with the latter tops among all GLVC quarterbacks. 

• Has led UIndy to a back-to-back conference titles and playoff appearances. 

• Enters his final season ranked second in career completion percentage (.646) and seventh in both career passing yards (5,337) and career passing TDs (46). 

Jalyn Givan, Redshirt-Senior, Cornerback (Plainfield, Illinois) 

• Three-year letterman and two-time all-conference performer; earned All-GLVC Second Team accolades in 2024 and All-GLVC Honorable Mention in '23. 

• Started 25 consecutive games dating back to the end of 2022. 

• Only returning defensive backfield starter returning. 

• Part of a unit that in 2024 paced the GLVC in scoring defense and total defense, ranking in the top 10 in Division II in both metrics. 

• Standout performer on three GLVC championship teams and three consecutive playoff qualifiers  

LINCOLN 
Isaiah Tate, Sophomore, Quarterback (Memphis, Tennessee) 

• Enters second season with the Blue Tigers. 

• Started all 11 games for Lincoln in 2024. 

• Threw for 1,359 yards and seven touchdowns. 

• Rushed for 240 yards and four touchdowns. 

Jacob McGhee, Sophomore, Defensive Lineman (Chicago, Ill.) 

• Enters second season with Lincoln. 

• Played in all 11 games for the Blue Tigers in 2024. 

• Made 50 total tackles with 12.5 for loss and five sacks. 

  
MCKENDREE 
Ty Michael, Graduate Student, Quarterback (O'Fallon, Illinois) 

• Enters fifth season with McKendree. 

• Named Honorable Mention All-GLVC in 2024. 

• Started all 11 games in 2024 

• Completed 57% of his passes for 2,542 yards. 

• Threw 17 passing touchdowns and ran in one touchdown. 

Nick Bova, Junior, Linebacker (Troy, Missouri) 

• Enters third season with McKendree. 

• Earned All-GLVC Honorable Mention in 2024. 

• Played in all 11 games as part of the defensive line unit. 

• Registered 63 total tackles, with 38 being solo. 

• Recorded 8.5 tackles for loss and three pass deflections. 

  
MISSOURI S&T 
Austin Mahoney, Junior, Offensive Line (St. Peters, Missouri) 

• Started the last two seasons as right tackle for the Miners. 

• Started all eleven games last season. 

• Three-time GLVC All-Academic Honoree 

• Named to the CSC Academic All-District in 2024 

Justin Gniedziejko, Senior, Defensive Back (Chicago, Illinois) 

• Enters fourth season at S&T. 

• Named to All-GLVC Second Team in 2024 after being named Honorable Mention in 2023. 

• Finished the season with 58 total tackles, including 28 solo stops. 

• Selected to the Academic All-GLVC team and was a College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District selection in 2024. 

QUINCY 
Nathan Smith, Graduate Student, Offensive Lineman (Roeland Park, Kansas) 

• Enters fifth season with Quincy. 

• Named GLVC 2nd Team and four team Academic All-GLVC. 

• Helped a rushing attack that averaged 5.4 yards per carry. 

• Only allowed seven sacks total and an offensive line. 

• Combined for 1,629 total yards of offense, which ranked third in the GLVC. 

Brock Inman, Graduate Student, Linebacker (Arnold, Missouri) 

• Enters fifth season with the Hawks. 

• Recorded 139 total tackles (13 for loss), three forced fumbles, and five interceptions in 28 total games 

• Named 1st Team All-GLVC in 2024 following a 2nd Team All-GLVC 2023 season 

  
SOUTHWEST BAPTIST 
Kamau Ransom, Senior, Wide Receiver (Evanston, Illinois) 

• Enters second season with SBU after transferring from Indianapolis. 

• Caught 30 passes for 309 receiving yards. 

• Added three receiving touchdowns, and one rushing touchdown. 

Jed Brandon, Senior, Defensive Back (Willard, Missouri) 

• Enters sixth season with the Bearcats. 

• Collected 22 total tackles in 2024 in four games. 

• Made six tackles, two for loss and one interception in a half against Lincoln last season. 

  
TRUMAN STATE 
Dylan Hair, Junior, Quarterback (Wardsville, Missouri) 

• Enters third season for Truman. 

• Named All-GLVC Second Team in 2024 

• Started all 12 games in 2024 throwing for 2,360 yards, and 25 touchdowns. 

• Rushed for 529 yards and four touchdowns. 

• Went 14-of-18 in the 2024 America's Crossroads Bowl, helping lead Truman to a victory, and it's fourth title overall. 

Jack Weltha, Senior, Linebacker (Bloomington, Illinois) 

• Enters fourth season for the Bulldogs. 

• Played in only one game last season. 

• Named to All-GLVC Second Team in 2023. 

• Career marks of 4.5 sacks, and 13 tackles for loss as well as two forced fumbles. 

UPPER IOWA 
Mante Morrow, Senior, Wide Receiver (Joliet, Illinois) 

• Enters third season with the Peacocks. 

• Named All-GLVC Second Team in 2024 following a First Team nod in 2023. 

• Recorded 40 receptions for a team high 537 yards and 9 touchdowns in 2024. 

Shaquille Roman, Senior, Defensive Lineman (Beloit, Wisconsin) 

• Enters fourth season with Upper Iowa. 

• Played in all 11 games this past season. 

• Recorded 18 tackles including three tackles for loss and one sack. 

• Also added a forced fumble, fumble recovery and an interception. 

  
WILLIAM JEWELL 
Nash Gagliano, Senior, Offensive Lineman (Prosper, Texas) 

• Enters fourth season with the Cardinals. 

• Started all 32 games of his career 

• Leader of the offensive line that contributed to nearly 2,000 rushing yards (1,994) last season leading to 20 touchdowns, and All-American Keaundre McCullough's breakout season 

• High school teammate of Justin Endicott. 

Justin Endicott, Senior, Defensive Lineman (Prosper, Texas) 

• Enters fourth season at Jewell. 

• Started 11 games in 2024 adding 34 tackles with 24 of them being solo. 

• Led the team with 47 tackle-for-loss yards on 10 TFL 

• Second on team with 5.5 sacks for team high 32 yards 

• Has appeared in all 32 games of his career with 25 starts 

• High school teammate of Nash Gagliano. 

SCHEDULE & WEBSITE 

The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) has announced the schedule, along with a fan-friendly website, for the 13th annual GLVC Football Kickoff event, which will take place on the campus of McKendree University this Friday, August 1. The website, which can be found at GLVCsports.com/2025kickoff, combines several social and traditional media platforms to allow both the league's media and fanbase to interact with the nine GLVC football head coaches and 18 student-athletes that will be at The Hettenhausen Center for the Arts from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM Central Time. 
 
Each school's coach and two student-athletes will rotate through several 10-minute stations designed to promote GLVC football on various platforms, including a live press conference on the GLVC Sports Network (GLVCSN), fun "4 Downs" interviews that will be uploaded to the GLVC's official YouTube page, an Instagram photo shoot and "Chalk Talk" session, as well as a "Teammate Test" feature on Facebook Live and GenU on TikTok. 
 
When each coach and student-athlete reach the GLVCSN live video stream station, the team representatives will spend 10 minutes previewing the upcoming season, as coverage of the formal press conference will be streamed live for all fans to watch free of charge on GLVCSN.com, the GLVCSN iOS and Android mobile apps, and GLVCSN OTT apps on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, and Android TV.  
  
Not only will fans have an opportunity to see their team in a formal setting, but they will have several opportunities to see their personal side, as well. The "Teammate Test" on Facebook Live will mirror the popular "Newlywed Game" theme and assess each player's knowledge of one another by fielding questions such as, "what is your teammate's favorite food?" or "which cartoon character most resembles your teammate?" The "Center for the Arts" station will showcase the artistic side of each attendee, and these masterpieces will be shared on various social platforms for fans to enjoy and choose their favorites. 
  
The "4 Downs" YouTube segment will provide each student-athlete the opportunity to become a GLVCSN Extra Credit reporter and put their fellow teammate on the clock with four "hot seat" questions, while GLVC's TikTok account will host "Gen U". For "Gen U," players will be asked to identify images of various types of technology from past decades and generations, while each coach will be tasked with defining popular slang terms and phrases used by current college-aged students. These videos will be posted to the @glvcsports account in the days immediately following the event, as well as throughout the fall season. 
 
Fans will also learn more about the keys to victory and pregame protocol from the teams at the Instagram "Chalk Talk" station, while coaches and players will pose for a variety of photos and videos on the platform. Attendees can immediately post their own pictures to their social media account and share with all their friends and fans. The brand new station, The "America's Crossroads Bowl" station, will be an opportunity for the student-athletes and coaches to learn about one of the two bowl games that occurs for Division II. There will be a photo opportunity with the America's Crossroads Bowl trophy, as well as an assortment of questions to ask the participants. 
 
The league will also be using X to promote the 2025 season on its official account, @GLVCsports. The GLVC will once again be using the hashtag #GLVCkickoff and encourages its schools and fans to do the same. In addition, the league will release the 2025 GLVC Preseason Poll on Twitter over the course of the first hour of the event. Teams will also be posting content from their respective X accounts: @UIndyAthletics, @GoBlueTigers, @McKBearcats, @minersports, @QUHawks, @sbubearcats, @TrumanAthletics, @UIUPeacocks, and @JewellCardinals. 
  
One additional change this year will incorporate a 10-minute Instagram Takeover after all teams have rotated through the nine stations. After a 10-minute transition period from 12:50 to 1 PM, the Takeover will take place from 1-1:10. Make sure to visit your favorite school's account at one of the following links: @uindyathletics, @lustripes, @mckbearcats, @minersports, @quhawks, @sbubearcats, @trumanathletics, @uiupeacocks, and @jewellcardinals. 
 
Media members attending the GLVC Football Kickoff will also be involved in the station rotation, as each team will spend 10 minutes with reporters from print, radio, and TV throughout the league's footprint. 
 
A photo gallery featuring the day's activities, as well as group pictures of the head coaches and student-athletes in attendance, will also be available following the event. 
 
In addition to the players and coaches scheduled to attend the 2025 GLVC Football Kickoff, GLVC Commissioner Jim Naumovich and GLVC Supervisor of Football Officials Rich Edwards will also have a presence at the event. 
 
The event will conclude with a formal photo shoot of the players and coaches prior to wrapping up the day with a group lunch. 
  
The complete schedule for all the day's stations can be found below: 
  
2025 GLVC FOOTBALL KICKOFF COVERAGE SCHEDULE 
  

TIME (CT)	GLVCSN	4 DOWNS		ARTS	MEDIA	MEDIA	CHALK TALK	TEAMMATE TEST	ACB	GEN U
11:30 AM	LIN	UINDY		TSU	UIU	QU	MCK	S&T	WJC	SBU
11:40	SBU	LIN		UINDY	TSU	UIU	QU	MCK	S&T	WJC
11:50	WJC	SBU		LIN	UINDY	TSU	UIU	QU	MCK	S&T
12:00 PM	S&T	WJC		SBU	LIN	UINDY	TSU	UIU	QU	MCK
12:10	MCK	S&T		WJC	SBU	LIN	UINDY	TSU	UIU	QU
12:20	QU	MCK		S&T	WJC	SBU	LIN	UINDY	TSU	UIU
12:30	UIU	QU		MCK	S&T	WJC	SBU	LIN	UINDY	TSU
12:40	TSU	UIU		QU	MCK	S&T	WJC	SBU	LIN	UINDY
12:50	UINDY	TSU		UIU	QU	MCK	S&T	WJC	SBU	LIN
1:00	GLVC	- - -		- - -	- - -	- - -	- - -	- - -	- - -	- - -
1-1:10			IG Takeover

KEY: UINDY-Indianapolis, LIN-Lincoln, MCK-McKendree, S&T-Missouri S&T, QU-Quincy, SBU-Southwest Baptist, TSU-Truman State, UIU-Upper Iowa, WJC-William Jewell, GLVC-Commissioner Jim Naumovich/Supervisor of Football Officials Rich Edwards 
 

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