Press Release from the Missouri Valley Football Conference
ST. LOUIS – Southern Illinois offensive lineman Austin Olsen was named to the preseason All-Missouri Valley Football Conference team, the league announced Monday morning. Hans Carmien, Jeremy Chinn, D.J. Davis, Connor Iwema and Craig James were all named to the honorable mention preseason All-MVFC team.
Austin Olsen, a senior, has started 22-consecutive games for SIU at left tackle. With Olsen anchoring the offensive line, Southern Illinois has led the league in passing offense each of the last two years. The Salukis also led the league in total offense, points per game and fewest sacks allowed in 2015. Last year, Southern set single-season program records for passing completions, attempts and yards. Olsen was an MVFC Offensive Lineman of the Week once in 2015 and was an honorable mention All-MVFC pick last season.
Hans Carmien, a senior fullback, has played in 32 games and started 10 for SIU. Last year, he caught four passes for 37 yards and a TD. He has 11 career receptions for 53 yards and four touchdowns while also paving the way for Southern’s rushing attack. Carmien was an honorable mention All-MVFC choice in 2014. He earned the MVFC President’s Council Academic Award this year, which is the highest academic honor given by the league. He is also a two-time recipient of the MVFC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award.
Jeremy Chinn, a sophomore safety, earned freshman All-American honors last year as a true freshman. He started six MVFC games and earned a spot on the MVFC All-Newcomer team after the season. Chinn picked off three passes in eight games to lead the team, and he was second on the team in tackles per game. He was named the MVFC Newcomer of the Week after posting seven tackles and an interception in the win over South Dakota.
D.J. Davis, a sophomore, earned honorable mention All-MVFC at return specialist. He led the league in kick return average by 2.5 yards per return. He was an honorable mention Freshman All-American and a member of the MVFC All-Newcomer team after his true freshman season in 2016. He was honorable mention All-MVFC as a return specialist last year, and he also earned the team’s Special Teams Top Dawg. His 98-yard kick return touchdown against Murray State was the second-longest kick return in school history. He ranked second nationally among all freshmen in kick return average.
Connor Iwema, a senior receiver, was second on the team in receptions (44) and third in receiving yards (557) in 2016. He ranked 10th in the MVFC in both categories, and he led the Salukis with five receiving touchdowns. He had two 100-yard games (103 at Florida Atlantic and 107 vs. South Dakota State).
Craig James, a senior cornerback, was named to the MVFC All-Newcomer team after the 2016 season. The Minnesota transfer was second in the MVFC in passes defended per game and returned an interception for a touchdown vs. Missouri State. Along with Chinn, James led the team with three interceptions. Twenty-four of his 30 tackles were solo stops, and he started eight games at corner for the Salukis.
With six total honorees, the Salukis had the fourth-most honorees in the MVFC. Voting was conducted by a league panel consisting of coaches, media and sports information directors. The MVFC will announce its pre-season poll Tuesday, July 25, at 9 am CT.
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