The SIU football team (3-8, 2-6 Missouri Valley Football Conference) ended its first losing season since 2011-12 when the team finished 4-7, 2-6. Not all was bad in the season though, as individual players deserve recognition. 

Most Valuable Player: Mark Iannotti, senior, quarterback

Iannotti led the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s most high-powered offense, sealing his place in the Saluki record books along the way.

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Iannotti’s 3,195 passing yards and 3,911 yards of total offense this season are the most by any player in SIU history for a single season. His 24 touchdown passes tie him for second with Sherard Poteete’s 1999 mark.

Iannotti finished first in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision in total offense, third in passing yards and tied for eighth in touchdown passes.

His 6,286 career total yards are the second-most by any Saluki, a stat made even more impressive by the fact that he only played two seasons with SIU after transferring from Eastern Michigan. His 46 career touchdown passes have him tied for second with current co-offensive coordinator Nick Hill for second all-time.

Best Defensive Player: Chase Allen, junior, inside linebacker

Allen led a porous SIU defense with 120 tackles, the third-most in the Valley.

His season was highlighted by an Oct. 24 38-31 overtime win against Youngstown State in which he recorded 10 tackles — including one for loss — after sitting out the first half as part of a suspension for targeting the week before. 

Best Special Teams Player: Brandon Williams, senior, outside linebacker 

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Williams tied with Allen for the team lead with three blocked kicks, including one he returned for a touchdown Oct. 3 in a 37-36 loss at Western Illinois. 

Freshman of the Year: Daquan Isom, running back 

Isom was the team’s second-leading rusher and receiver. He finished the year second in the MVFC in per-game all-purpose yards with an average of 158.2. He played nine games because a two-game suspension for marijuana possession. Isom’s 275-yard game Saturday showed plenty of reason to be excited for the future of SIU football. 

Breakout Player: Israel Lamprakes, senior, wide receiver 

Lamprakes entered 2015 with five career receptions in 13 games in his first three seasons. He caught 31 passes as a senior for 381 yards and four touchdowns. He also proved willing and able as a blocker in Hill’s outside screen/sweep system. 

Most Disappointing: Defense

The Saluki offense was among the nation’s best in most categories. The Dawgs didn’t compete for a playoff spot and a conference championship because of a defense that gave away points like they were free.

It didn’t help that the one good defensive game SIU played was the Sept. 12 game at SEMO in which the offense turned the ball over six times in a 27-24 loss. 

Thomas Donley can be reached at [email protected] or at 618-536-3307