Dec. 1, 2009
By Jason Clay

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Eight Southern Illinois student-athletes, including three who earned first team honors, highlight the 2009 Missouri Valley Football Conference all-academic teams, announced by the league office Tuesday.

Nominees must be starters or important reserves with at least a 3.20 cumulative grade point average (4.0 scale). Student-athletes must have reached sophomore academic and athletic standing at their institutions (freshmen are not eligible) and must have completed at least one full academic year at their institution. League sports information directors voted on the team by designating 11 players for first-team honors and 11 players for second-team honors.

Senior tight end Ryan Kernes, senior inside linebacker Ryan Patton and junior wide receiver Joe Allaria were all selected to the first team. Junior free safety Mike McElroy, sophomore defensive end Chance Coda and sophomore offensive tackle David Pickard garnered second team accolades while senior nose tackle Tony Colletti and junior defensive end Jason Seaman were named honorable mention.

SIU's eight student-athletes voted to the all-academic teams were the second most in the conference behind South Dakota State's 10.

Four Salukis (Allaria, Kernes, McElroy and Patton) all repeated their honors from 2008. Coda, Colletti, Pickard and Seaman all received their first nod to the leagues all-academic team.