Hillsdale’s Joe Glendening Named 2011 GLIAC Football “Player of the Year”

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BAY CITY, Mich. - Junior running back Joe Glendening (East Grand Rapids, Mich.) of Hillsdale College was named the 2011 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Football “Player of the Year” in balloting conducted by the league’s head coaches. University of Indianapolis sophomore quarterback Chris Mills (Lafayette, Ind./Central Catholic) was voted “Offensive Back of the Year”, while Hillsdale’s Keith Otterbein garnered “Coach of the Year” honors.

    The rest of the GLIAC’s postseason awards were chosen as follows:  rookie quarterback Tyler Scarlett  (Clarkston, Mich.) of Michigan Technological University earned “Freshman of the Year” accolades; senior defensive back Jeremy Jones (Grand Rapids, Mich./Rockford) of Wayne State University earned “Defensive Back of the Year” honors; senior offensive tackle Joe Long (Lapeer, Mich./East) of Wayne State earned the “Offensive Lineman of the Year” award; while Michigan Tech senior defensive end Todd Storm (Calumet, Mich.) was named “Defensive Lineman of the Year” for the second consecutive season.

    Glendening led Hillsdale to the 2011 GLIAC championship with a record-breaking season on the ground. He established single-season school-records in three major categories: carries (325), rushing yards (1,604) and touchdowns (27). He broke his own carries record, set last year, and the school’s rushing yardage record that had stood for 19 years. But the oldest record Hillsdale College had on its record books – in any sport – was shattered by Glendening with his 27 rushing touchdowns. The old record was 24, set by Nate Clark back in 1955.

    Jones led the GLIAC in 2011 with six interceptions, in addition to ranking among the league leaders in tackles (64) and passes defended (10). He led the Warriors in solo tackles (47) as well as total tackles, while helping WSU finish third in the conference in scoring defense (22.2 points per game allowed) this past regular season. Jones, a 2010 Daktronics All-America First Team (the first WSU defensive player in school history to earn First Team All-America accolades), started all 11 games in 2011 and 30 in his career. He ranks among WSU’s career leaders in interceptions (14), interception return yards (262) and interception returns for touchdowns (2). Jones has recorded 249 tackles (158-91), while totaling 22 pass break-ups and four fumble recoveries in 41 career games.

    Long, a four-time All-GLIAC selection, will set the WSU career and consecutive games started mark with his 45th this Saturday at St. Cloud State University (Minn.).  Long earned First Team All-GLIAC accolades in both 2010 and 2011, and was named to the All-GLIAC Honorable Mention squad in both 2008 and 2009.  He blocked for a 1,000-yard rusher all four seasons (Joique Bell in 2008 and 2009, and Josh Renel in 2010 and 2011).  This year the Warrior offense ranked second among GLIAC schools in scoring (35.5 ppg) and fourth in rushing yards (197.4 ypg), while tying for the fewest sacks allowed (10).

    Scarlett enjoyed one of the best seasons for a quarterback at Michigan Tech. The Clarkston, Michigan native set Tech single-season school-records in three statistical categories, completions (199), completion percentage (66.1) and passing yards (2,406). Scarlett also accounted for 18 touchdowns (two shy of the school record) and started all 11 games for the Huskies. Scarlett ranked in the top-10 in the league in three categories, sixth in passing yards per game (217.7), sixth in pass efficiency (146.9) and seventh in total offense (232.5).

    Storm earned his second straight “Defensive Lineman of the Year” award after finishing second in the league with nine sacks (six solo, three assisted) and second in the league with 19 tackles for a loss and a league-best 69 yards. The Calumet, Mich., native finished his career with 18.5 sacks, third all-time at Tech.

    Mills led the GLIAC in passing yards (2,980) while ranking second in touchdown passes (29) and interception percentage (1.31). Mills set UIndy single-season records for touchdown passes, completions (243) and completion percentage (63.8), while throwing just five interceptions in nearly 400 attempts. He notched seven games with at least three touchdown passes and recorded a career-high 415 passing yards a win over Northern Michigan (Oct. 22). As a team, the Greyhounds topped the league in passing offense per game (284.5), while notching seven wins and appearing in the regional poll for the first time since 2007.

    Otterbein led the Chargers to the 2011 GLIAC regular season championship, piloting the team to an overall record of 8-3 and 8-2 in conference games. After losing five offensive starters to graduation following the 2010 season, Hillsdale was picked to finish third in the GLIAC South Division by league coaches in the preseason poll. Instead of 2011 being a rebuilding year, Otterbein led the team to its first outright conference championship in 23 years. Hillsdale ended some long road losing streaks versus some talented foes in 2011, winning at Michigan Tech for the first time since 1996, and winning at playoff-bound Saginaw Valley State for the first time since 1992. Otterbein was previously named GLIAC “Coach of the Year” in 1992 and 1994, while leading the Ferris State University program.

    
A complete listing of the 2011 All-GLIAC Football teams is located below:

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