ST. LOUIS - Seniors Alex Sewall and Julian Easterly and juniors FN Lutz and Michael Mardis were named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference's All-Academic Team as announced by the league office today (Nov. 30). Sports information directors from around the MVFC vote on the awards.

Sewall and Lutz were both named to the first team, while Easterly picked up second team status and Mardis earned honorable mention. South Dakota State led the conference with eight overall selections, while North Dakota State and Southern Illinois placed second with six each. ISU and Western Illinois tied for fourth with their four selections.

Sewall, a senior safety, was named First Team All-MVFC earlier in the week after leading the team with 51 solo tackles and placing third on the team with 114 stops. He was a Capital One Academic All-District Five selection earlier this season as well, with Academic All-American voting taking place in the coming weeks. Sewall ranked third in the MVFC in solo tackles and fourth in total stops, while placing 24^th nationally with an average on 10.4 tackles per game. He tied for the conference lead with three recovered fumbles, while making double-digit tackles in eight games this season, including a season-high of 17 against Western Illinois. Sewall finished his career with 358 career tackles, good for sixth in Indiana State history. In the classroom, he carries a 3.73 GPA while majoring in Exercise Science.

Lutz, a junior offensive lineman, was named First Team All-MVFC earlier in the week after starting all 11 games at center this season. Lutz spearheaded the ISU rushing attack that averaged 181.9 yards per game on the ground. A three-year starter on the offensive line, Lutz backed Indiana State to a league-leading 5.3 yards per carry for the season. In the classroom, he carries a 3.26 GPA while majoring in Criminal Justice.

Easterly, a senior defensive back, earned Second Team Academic All-MVFC for the second straight season. He appeared in four games in 2011 on special teams and kick coverage. In the classroom, Easterly carries a 3.97 GPA while majoring in English.

Mardis, a junior tight end, finished the year with 174 receiving yards on 10 catches, also catching a pair of touchdowns. He went for a season-high of three catches and 83 yards against Youngstown State and caught a 32-yard TD against Western Illinois and a four-yard scoring pass against North Dakota State. In the classroom, Mardis carries a 3.24 GPA while majoring in Nursing.