ST. LOUIS — Missouri State safety Todric McGee (Jr., Wichita, Kan.) has been named Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts in the Bears’ near-upset of No. 3-ranked Montana on Saturday.
McGee was honored Monday, along with three other league standouts from the opening week of the college football season.
McGee shined brightest on a night when Missouri State’s defense held the defending national runners-up under 30 points for just the second time in the past nine games. He logged a game-high 11 total tackles, including three solo stops. He also assisted on a tackle for loss in the contest.
Missouri State led Montana 17-12 late in the third quarter in the season opener in Missoula on Saturday and had the ball in the final 98 seconds with a chance to rally from behind. Ultimately, Montana slipped away with a 29-24 victory despite Missouri State outgaining the Grizzlies by a 356-347 margin.
This week’s award marks McGee’s first Valley weekly honor. He earned All-MVFC second-team laurels last season.
Also recognized by the MVFC this week are: North Dakota State QB Cam Miller (Offense), South Dakota return specialist Keyondray Jones-Logan (Special Teams) and Youngstown State running back Ethan Wright (Newcomer).
Missouri State is back on the road this Saturday for a clash with Ball State in Muncie, Ind., at 1 p.m. (Central) before lifting the lid on the home schedule on Saturday, Sept. 14 against Lindenwood at Plaster Stadium. Tickets for the Lindenwood game are available at MissouriStateBears.com or through the Missouri State box office at Great Southern Bank Arena, (417) 836-7678, during regular office hours.
