INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) announced Friday the 18 student-athletes who have been selected to attend the 2024 GLVC Football Kickoff, which will take place in Lebanon, Illinois, on Friday, Aug. 2. The GLVC contingent, highlighted by nine All-Conference returners, will participate in the 12th annual event. The event will take place at The Hettenhausen Center for the Arts on the campus of McKendree University from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. ET 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 13th season.
 
Six 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 after leading the league in all major passing statistics. Darryl Overstreet Jr. (UIU) placed second in total passing yards (1,926) in the Peacocks' first season in the Conference, while Drake Davis (QU) finished runner-up in passing efficiency (155.9) as both nabbed All-GLVC Honorable Mention recognition. Caleb Fisher (MCK) and Tyler Gioia (S&T) each secured GLVC Offensive Player of the Week honors once last season, with Fisher also leading his team to its first postseason appearance. Collin Sutton (SBU) rounds out quarterback attendees, accounting for 1,813 total yards and 13 touchdowns during his 2023 campaign.

One running back and two offensive linemen will also be going to the Kickoff at the end of the month. Halfback Keaundre McCullough (WJC) posted a solid stat line last season, finishing fourth in rushing yards (731) and contributing seven total touchdowns. Right tackle Kody Klingensmith (TSU) enters the season with 23 starts in the past two seasons, helping the Bulldogs create a potent rushing attack. Left tackle Xavier Stewart (LIN) started 10 games for the Blue Tigers last season as they enter their first year as full-time members of the league.
 
On the other side of the ball, five programs are sending defensive backs to Lebanon. Michael Brown (UINDY) and Sean Mitchell (WJC) highlight the group after earning All-GLVC First Team honors this past season. Jake Closser (TSU) was a second-team honoree, while Kellen Curtis (SBU) paced the Bearcats' defense with 54 total tackles last year. Trajen Thornton (QU) broke up two passes and recorded one sack in his junior campaign for the Hawks.  
 
Rounding out the defensive representatives are three defensive linemen and one linebacker. Bentley Hart (S&T) was tabbed to the All-GLVC Second Team after notching nine tackles for loss last season, including six sacks. Dameion Hatten (MCK) was an Honorable Mention with 4.5 sacks, while Donte Moore (LIN) and Rhett Smith (UIU) both recorded solid 2023 campaigns for their respective teams.

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 2024 GLVC Football Kickoff website, will be announced on Wednesday, July 31. 

Media members interested in attending the 2024 GLVC Football Kickoff can apply for access by contacting GLVC Assistant Commissioner Lindsey Williams at lindsey@glvc-sports.org by Tuesday, July 30 at 5 p.m. ET.

The complete list of the 2024 GLVC Football Kickoff player attendees is below.
 

School	Offensive Player	Defensive Player
Indianapolis	Gavin Sukup, Jr., QB (Seward, Neb.)	Michael Brown, Sr., S (Indianapolis)
Lincoln	Xavier Stewart, Jr., OL (Kansas City, Mo.)	Donte Moore, Jr., LB (Marion, Ark.)
McKendree	Caleb Fisher, R-Sr., QB (Washington, Ill.)	Dameion Hatten, Jr., DL, (Sedan, Kan.)
Missouri S&T	Tyler Gioia, R-So., QB (Huntington Beach, Calif.)	Bentley Hart, R-Jr., DE (Brookland, Ark.)
Quincy	Drake Davis, Gr., QB (Princeton, Ill.)	Trajen Thornton, Sr., DB (West Des Moines, Iowa)
Southwest Baptist	Collin Sutton, Sr., QB (Winfield, Mo.)	Kellen Curtis, Sr., DB (Anchorage, Alaska)
Truman State	Kody Klingensmith, Sr., OL (O'Fallon, Mo.)	Jake Closser, Sr., DB (Wardsville, Mo.)
Upper Iowa	Darryl Overstreet Jr., Jr., QB (Grayslake, Ill.)	Rhett Smith, Sr., DT (Wapello, Iowa)
William Jewell	Keaundre McCullough, R-Sr., RB (Belzoni, Miss.)	Sean Mitchell, R-Jr., DB (Independence, Mo.)

INDIANAPOLIS
Gavin Sukup, Junior, Quarterback (Seward, Neb.)

• Enters second 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 and picked as a candidate for the Harlon Hill Trophy in 2023.
• Ranked sixth in DII in passing efficiency (166.9) last season while also topping the GLVC in passing yards (2,710), passing touchdowns (25) and completion percentage (.667).
• Racked up 276 yards and seven TDs on the ground
  • Finished fourth in league in rushing TDs
• Led the Greyhounds to a Conference title and playoff appearance last fall.

Michael Brown, Senior, Safety (Indianapolis)

• Enters fifth season with the Greyhounds.
• Three-time All-GLVC honoree, including making the First Team the last two seasons.
• Named team captain in 2023, leading UIndy to a league championship and playoff berth.
• Earned GLVC Defensive Player of the Week after helping limit S&T to just 151 passing yards and 13 points in a UIndy win last October.
• Ranks first among all active Greyhounds with seven interceptions.

 
Click/tap here for details on the remaining student-athlete attendees.