CARBONDALE, Ill. – SIU football placed seven players on Phil Steele’s 2026 Missouri Valley Football Conference Preseason All-Conference Teams, including two first-team selections and five second-team honorees. The senior also garnered third-team Phil Steele Preseason FCS All-America honors, making him one of the league’s top nationally recognized offensive linemen entering the season. Algrim joined Harden on the first team after earning recognition as Phil Steele’s top preseason long snapper in the MVFC. Dwight earned recognition along the defensive front, while Presto was honored at linebacker and Pierre Jr. represented the Salukis in the secondary. Youngstown State quarterback Beau Brungard was named Phil Steele’s MVFC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, while Illinois State linebacker Tye Niekamp earned Preseason Defensive Player of the Year honors.