INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) will host its 14th-annual GLVC Football Kickoff event on Friday, July 31, with the event being held at The Hettenhausen Center for the Arts on McKendree's campus in Lebanon, Illinois. UIndy head coach Chris Keevers along with student-athletes Tyler Leopld and Alvin Contreras will represent the Greyhounds as one of nine GLVC football institutions on hand to help promote the Conference's 15th season on the gridiron.
 
This year's event, which will serve both the league's media members and passionate fans through several social media outlets, will take place from 11:30 AM to 1:10 PM Central Time.

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 2026 GLVC Football Kickoff website, will be announced on Wednesday, July 29. 

Media members interested in attending the 2026 GLVC Football Kickoff can apply for access by contacting GLVC Assistant Commissioner Jared McFarlane (jared@glvc-sports.org) by Tuesday, July 28.

The complete list of the 2026 GLVC Football Kickoff player attendees is below.

 

School	Offensive Player	Defensive Player	Head Coach
Indianapolis	Tyler Leopold, R-Sr., OL	Alvin Contreras, Jr., LB	Chris Keevers
Lincoln	Marcus Harris, Sr., WR	Mark Gorbatenko, Sr., DL	Moses Harper
McKendree	Quincy Hall Jr., Jr., WR	Nick Bova, Sr., LB	Jason Rejfek
Missouri S&T	Evan Wells, R-So., RB	Seneca Bradley Jr., R-Sr., LB	Andy Ball
Quincy	Jack Bishop, Sr., OL	Brock Wiley, R-Jr., LB	Jason Killday
Southwest Baptist	Jobe Smith, Sr., RB	Ricky Woodhouse, Sr., LB	Paul Hansen
Truman State	Nathan Ryan, Sr., WR	Jack Weltha, Sr., LB	Kellen Nesbitt
Upper Iowa	RJ Wells, Sr., RB	Demontay Mack, Sr., DL	Jason Hoskins
William Jewell	Rontrel Gates, R-Jr., OL	Jonny Williams, Jr., LB	Jason Ambroson

 











INDIANAPOLIS
Tyler Leopold, Redshirt Senior, Offensive Line (Ottawa, Ohio)

• Enters fifth season with UIndy.
• Named to All-GLVC Second Team the last two seasons.
• Appeared in 11 games for offensive unit that led Division II in team passing efficiency in 2025.
  • Also ranked second in total offense, scoring offense, and first down offense.
• Helped the Greyhounds wins its fourth-straight GLVC title and first DII playoff game since 2018 last year.

Alvin Contreras, Junior, Linebacker (Indianapolis, Indiana)

• Enters third season with the Greyhounds.
• Named to All-GLVC First Team in 2025.
• Snagged five interceptions, ranking 16th in DII and first in the GLVC.
• Scored three defensive touchdowns and tallied 53 total tackles (39 solo).
• Earned GLVC Defensive Player of the Week twice, one of only two players to win the award multiple times during the season.
• Helped the Greyhounds wins its fourth-straight GLVC title and first DII playoff game since 2018 last year.
  • Broke up career-high four passes and grabbed game-sealing interception in league-title-clinching victory over Upper Iowa.

Chris Keevers, Head Coach (8th Season)

• Enters 2026 with a 58-14 overall and 41-4 GLVC record as the head mentor at UIndy.
• Coached league-best 26 players to All-GLVC recognition last season, along with two major award winners – Gavin Sukup (Offensive Player of the Year and Anthony Crowell (Co-Special Team Player of the Year).
• Accumulated four GLVC Coach of the Year accolades and five DII playoff appearances during his tenure.

 
LINCOLN
Marcus Harris, Senior, Wide Receiver (Radcliff, Kentucky)

• Enters second season with the Blue Tigers after transferring from Indiana State.
• Named to All-GLVC First Team in 2025.
• Ranked 10th in DII and second in GLVC for yards per reception (21.38), along with finishing fourth in the league for receiving yards (791).
  • Tallied 37 receptions and five touchdowns.

Mark Gorbatenko, Senior, Defensive Line (Barrington, Illinois)

• Enters first season with Lincoln after transferring from Davenport.
• Played in eight games for Davenport last season, collecting six tackles and one blocked kick.
• Earned All-Midwest Conference (MWC) Second Team honors in 2024 at University of Chicago (Division III) after recording 55 tackles and seven sacks.

Moses Harper, Head Coach (3rd Season)

• Enters 2026 with a 3-19 overall record at the helm of Lincoln.
• Mentored seven players to All-GLVC recognition last season.

McKENDREE
Quincy Hall Jr., Junior, Wide Receiver (Mascoutah, Illinois)

• Enters fourth season with McKendree.
• Named All-GLVC Honorable Mention last year.
• Recorded 22 catches for 380 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
• Served as primary kick returner, corralling 16 kickoffs for 398 yards. 

Nick Bova, Senior, Linebacker (Troy, Missouri)

• Enters fourth season with the Bearcats.
• Earned All-GLVC Second Team honors in 2025.
• Finished eighth in the league for solo tackles (42) and 14th for total tackles (73).
  • Notched three games with double-digit stops.
• Tallied 8.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and forced two fumbles. 

Jason Refjek, Head Coach (3rd Season)

• Enters 2026 with 9-13 overall and 8-8 GLVC record as the McKendree head man.
• Mentored 13 players to All-GLVC recognition last season.

MISSOURI S&T
Evan Wells, Redshirt Sophomore, Running Back (Roxana, Illinois)

• Enters third season with the Miners.
• Appeared in 10 of 11 games last season, claiming All-GLVC Second Team honors.
• Finished third in Conference for rushing yards per game (73.2) and total carries (129).
• Registered 732 total rushing yards, breaking the program record for a freshman.
  • Recorded four games with 100-plus yards.
• Won GLVC Offensive Player of the Week award on Oct. 20 after recording 196 rushing yards and two touchdowns against McKendree.
  • Set new S&T record for longest play from scrimmage with 99-yard touchdown run.

Seneca Bradley Jr., Redshirt Senior, Linebacker (Clarksville, Tennessee)

• Enters fifth season at S&T.
• Named to All-GLVC Honorable Mention team in 2025.
• Led Conference and tied for third in DII with four forced fumbles.
• Racked up team-high 70 total tackles, adding 8.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, and one interception.

Andy Ball, Head Coach (5th Season)

• Enters 2026 with 17-26 overall and 13-16 GLVC record as the head mentor at S&T.
• Coached 12 players to All-GLVC recognition last season.

QUINCY
Jack Bishop, Senior, Offensive Line (St. Louis, Missouri)

• Enters fourth season with Quincy.
• Started all 11 games last season.
• Earned All-GLVC Honorable Mention recognition.
• Claimed Quincy's Male Comeback Player of the Year award after returning from major injury.

Brock Wiley, Redshirt Junior, Linebacker (Hannibal, Missouri)

• Enters fourth season with the Hawks.
• Started all 11 games in 2025.
• Claimed All-GLVC Second Team honors last season after earning Honorable Mention recognition in 2024.
• Tied for 18th in DII and placed second in GLVC for tackles per game (9.6/106 total).
  • Racked up five games with double-digit tackles, including 18 against Missouri S&T.
• Added eight tackles for loss, six pass breakups, three sacks, and one interception.

Jason Killday, Head Coach (3rd Season)

• Enters 2026 with 12-9 overall and 9-7 GLVC record at the helm of Quincy.
• Mentored eight players to All-GLVC recognition last season, along with two major award winners – Jaylin Vaughn (Defensive Player of the Year) and Bradyn Little (Freshman of the Year).

SOUTHWEST BAPTIST
Jobe Smith, Senior, Running Back (Bonne Terre, Missouri)

• Enters fourth season at SBU.
• Named to All-GLVC First Team in 2025.
• Ranked fifth in league for rushing yards per game (63.1/631 total) on 112 total carries.
• Added four rushing touchdowns and 104 receiving yards.

Ricky Woodhouse, Senior, Linebacker (Urbana, Missouri)

• Enters fourth season with the Bearcats.
• Named to All-GLVC First Team last season after earning Second Team honors in 2024.
• Led the league and ranked fifth in DII for tackles per game (11.1).
• Notched 7.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovered.

Paul Hansen, Head Coach (2nd Season)

• Went 3-7 overall with a 2-6 GLVC mark in his first season as the SBU head mentor.
• Coached 10 players to All-GLVC recognition last year.

 
TRUMAN STATE
Nathan Ryan, Senior, Wide Receiver (Troy, Missouri)

• Enters fourth season at Truman.
• Started all 12 games in 2025, earning All-GLVC Second Team recognition.
• Tied for 20th in DII and third in the GLVC for receiving touchdowns with nine.
• Tallied 36 catches for 596 receiving yards.
  • Went off for 145 yards and three touchdowns against S&T. 

Jack Weltha, Senior, Linebacker (Bloomington, Illinois)

• Enters fifth season for the Bulldogs.
• Started all 12 games last year, earning spots on the All-GLVC First Team (linebacker) and Second Team (defensive utility).
• Ranked fourth in league for total tackles (94) and solo stops (50).
• Added 5.5 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, two sacks, and one forced fumble.

Kellen Nesbitt, Head Coach (3rd Season)

• Enters 2026 with 16-8 overall and 13-3 GLVC record at the helm of Truman.
• Won first GLVC Coach of the Year award last season after mentoring 15 players to All-GLVC recognition.
• Guided Bulldogs to first-ever DII playoff appearance.

UPPER IOWA
RJ Wells, Senior, Running Back (Indianapolis, Indiana)

• Enters fourth season with the Peacocks.
• Named All-GLVC Honorable Mention two years ago before missing 2025 season due to injury.
• Rushed for 490 yards on 98 carries with three touchdowns in 2024.
• Added 135 receiving yards and one touchdown.
• Punted 33 times, averaging 41.5 yards per punt with a long of 75 yards.

Demontay Mack, Senior, Defensive Line (Seattle, Washington)

• Enters fourth season at Upper Iowa.
• Played in all 12 games last season, earning All-GLVC Honorable Mention recognition.
• Ranked second in Conference for sacks (8) and eighth for tackles for loss (11.5).
• Tallied 27 total tackles, three pass breakups, two fumble recoveries, and one forced fumble.

Jason Hoskins, Head Coach (6th Season)

• Enters 2026 with 21-35 overall and 13-10 GLVC record as leader of the Peacocks.
• Mentored 18 players to All-GLVC recognition last season, along with one major award winner – Nathan Behne (Co-Special Teams Player of the Year).
• Led Upper Iowa to 37-28 win over Hillsdale in Albanese Candy Bowl to reach nine wins for first time in program history.

WILLIAM JEWELL
Rontrel Gates, Redshirt Junior, Offensive Line (Kansas City, Missouri)

• Enters fourth season with the Cardinals.
• Appeared in 16 games over the last two seasons.
• Part of offensive unit that rushed for over 2,700 yards in the last two years.

Jonny Williams, Junior, Linebacker (Joplin, Missouri)

• Enters third season at Jewell.
• Tied for team lead with 65 total tackles in 2025.
• Finished tied for 10th in the Conference for solo tackles (40).
• Added two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one interception.
• Locked up GLVC Defensive Player of the Week award on Sep. 2 after registering four tackles, one sack, and one interception with a 42-yard return in victory over Fort Lewis.

Jason Ambroson, Head Coach (3rd Season)

• Enters 2026 with an 8-14 overall and 4-12 GLVC record at the helm of Jewell.
• Mentored three players to All-GLVC recognition last season.