McLean County Times

A trio of Illinois State University athletes has been recognized for their impressive debut seasons by being named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) All-Newcomer Team. Wide receiver Xavier Loyd, offensive tackle JJ Guedet, and punter Hayden Futch have all made significant contributions in their first year at ISU.

Xavier Loyd, a transfer from Kansas State, started all 12 games as a wide receiver. He was second on the team and fifth in the MVFC with 853 receiving yards on 60 receptions. Loyd also ranked among the top seven in the league for yards, touchdowns, and receptions. Notably, he had six games with over 80 receiving yards and two with over 100 yards. "He currently sits just 88 yards shy of 1,000 on the year with six receiving touchdowns following his strong effort in the first-round playoff win at Southeast Missouri State."

JJ Guedet played an essential role on the offensive line after transferring from Minnesota. Starting all regular season games primarily at left tackle, Guedet was key to an offense that averaged 175.3 rushing yards per game and scored an average of 27.3 points per game. His efforts contributed to running back Wenkers Wright's success as a thousand-yard rusher.

Hayden Futch served as both punter and holder during his redshirt freshman season. Averaging 41.4 yards per punt across 51 attempts without having any blocked punts demonstrates his reliability on special teams. His standout performance against Western Illinois earned him MVFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

The recognitions highlight these players' immediate impact within their new team environments.