25 Years of Bearcat Football
McKendree football celebrated its 25th season of the return of intercollegiate football on Oct. 15th,
after a two-year delay due to the COVID pandemic. Several players returned and were
honored on the field during half-time.
A 25-Anniversary 90-player team was selected in consultation with former head coach
Carl Poelker, current head coach Mike Babcock, and several others that have been associated
with McKendree football since its return in 1996. Honorees earned a combined 38 All-American
honors, 155 All-Conference honors, seven Conference Player of the Year accolades and
seven McKendree Sports Hall of Fame inductees (Mike Garavalia, Ricardo Harris, Scott
Mehring, Brandon Murphy, Rory O'Connell, Oku Satcher, and Cory Wilson).
McKendree’s football history has been a roller coaster, with multiple starts and stops
through the years.
1892 - First football game vs. Smith Academy; 66-0 loss
1906 - Football was prohibited by the Board of Trustees for 11 years
1916 - Football returned as an intercollegiate sport
1951 - Football was dropped as an intercollegiate sport for 45 years
1996 - First modern football game vs. Lindenwood College 35-27 loss
The following is a list of the 25th-Anniversary McKendree Football Team (Players are
listed by years played at McKendree).
OFFENSE
QB – Billy Gray, 1997-00
QB – Austin Fisher, 2008-11
QB – Isaac Fisher, 2012-15
Honorable Mention QB Selections: Jason Karnes, 1996-97; Reece Metcalf, 2016-18; Turner
Pullen, 2019-present
RB – Brandon Murphy, 1997-00
RB – Jarrod Karnes, 1997-99
RB – Daryle Jones*, 2002-05
RB – Shayeen Edwards, 2014-17
Honorable Mention RB Selections: Louis Harden, 1997-98; George Smith, 2005-08; Preston
Thompson, 2015-18
WR - Myron Hicks, 2008-11
WR – Cameron James, 2012-15
WR – Jalyn Williams, 2016-18
WR – Matt Cole, 2016-19
Honorable Mention WR Selections: Dewayne Gatti, 2013-14; Sean Dowling, 2013-16; Jacob
Bachman, 2019-present
TE – Kolin Peterson, 1999-01, '03
TE – Byron Gettis, 2008-10
TE – Zach Bobos, 2017-18
TE – Steven Leadlove, 2017-20
OL – Justin Townsend, 1996-99
OL – Dennis Barnett, 1997-00
OL – Scott Mehring, 2000-02
OL – John Keeven, 2000-03
OL – Chris Cummings, 2002-05
OL – Rick Schilb, 2002-05
OL – Mike Siverly, 2004-07
OL – Nick Hegger, 2007-10
OL – Richie Rebmann, 2010-13
OL – Cole Foster, 2016-18
OL – Jake Stevenson, 2017-21
Honorable Mention OL Selections: Ryan Presson, 1997-99, '01; Keith Jackson, 2004-05; Bryan Edgar, 2006-09; Craig Zurliene, 2007-10; Derrik Starrett, 2012-15
DEFENSE
DL – Oku Satcher, 1999-01
DL – Ricardo Harris, 1999-02
DL – Nick Gianino, 2001-02
DL – Ardell Adams, 2004-06
DL – Brett Pearman, 2012-15
DL – Lucky Baar, 2013-16
Honorable Mention DL Selections: Zach Carter, 2001-04; Tobias Cook, 2014-17; Darion
Simmons, 2014-17; Isaiah Ward, 2017-19, '21
LB – Mike Garavalia, 1996-99
LB – Ryan Thornhill, 1996-99
LB – Darius Green, 1999-02
LB – Cory Wilson*, 2000-03
LB – Deveon Moss, 2002-05
LB – A.J. Wentland, 2013-16
LB – Austin Weltha, 2014-17
Honorable Mention LB Selections: Brandon Nigro, 2008-11; Jason Rejfek, 2008-11; Ricco
Gipson, 2016-19
DB – Rory O'Connell, 1996-99
DB – Colin Adams, 1997, '99-01
DB – David Rhodes, 2001-04
DB – Adam Clapp, 2003-06
DB – Mike Harrison, 2004-06
DB – Nate Powell, 2014-17
Honorable Mention DB Selections: Ryan Klier, 2005-08; Ryan Keen, 2010-13; Jamison Wilson, 2010-13; Blake Benoist, 2016-18
SPECIAL TEAMS
K – Brian Schneider, 1998-01
K – Stephen Webb, 2002-05
K – Steven O'Block, 2013-16
K – Josh Lazaro, 2017-20
Honorable Mention K Selections: Kevin Kinsall, 2006-08; Jordan Fark, 2009-2010; Ryan
Kastl, 2019-present
P – Mark Albertini, 1999-02
P – Jordan Spurlock, 2004-06
P – Alex McMahon*, 2010, '13
P – Monte Wolke, 2016-18
Honorable Mention P Selection: Bret Dougherty, 2007-10
RS – Rory O'Connell, 1996-99
RS – Brandon Murphy, 1997-00
RS – Adam Clapp, 2003-06
RS – Cameron James, 2012-15
RS – Derrick Curry, 2014-17
RS – Matt Cole, 2016-19
LS – Brandon Zehr, 2013-16
LS – Caleb Shipley, 2017-20
