CARBONDALE, Ill. – Ten Salukis were named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference’s 40th Anniversary team on Tuesday – safety Jeremy Chinn, kicker Craig Coffin, wide receiver Cornell Craig, punter Mark Gagliano, running back Brandon Jacobs, tight end Damon Jones, running back Tom Koutsos, tight end MyCole Pruitt, quarterback Joel Sambursky and linebacker Bart Scott.
Founded in 1985, the MVFC is the nation’s premier NCAA FCS conference. Its 40th Anniversary team was nominated and selected by school SIDs and fan voting.
S Jeremy Chinn, 2016-19
Jeremy Chinn was a four-year starter and a Consensus All-American and finalist for the Buchanan Award as a senior in 2019. He finished his storied career with 243 tackles, 13 interceptions, 31 passes defended and six forced fumbles. A second-round draft pick of the Carolina Panthers, Chinn recently completed his fifth season in the National Football League and has 441 career tackles.
K Craig Coffin, 2003-06
The placekicker on four NCAA Playoff teams, Craig Coffin set both the school and conference record for career scoring with 379 points. He made nearly 80 percent of his career field goal attempts (50-of-63) and broke the league’s single-season record by making 66-of-66 extra points in 2004. Coffin was a two-time All-American and two-time All-Conference selection.
WR Cornell Craig, 1996-99
Cornell Craig established numerous career receiving records at SIU, including most receptions (207), most receiving yards (3,508) and most touchdown catches (37). In 1999, he caught 77 passes for 1,419 yards and 15 touchdowns, earning him national recognition as the Division I-AA Player of the Year. He was an All-American in 1999 and a three-time All-Conference honoree.
P Mark Gagliano, 1993-96
Among the best punters in school history, Mark Gagliano earned First-Team All-American status from Walter Camp, the American Football Coaches Association and The Sporting News in 1996, a year in which he averaged 45.04 yards per punt. He was a two-time All-Conference performer (1994, 1996) and three-time All-Academic Team selection (1994, 1995, 1996).
RB Brandon Jacobs, 2004
Brandon Jacobs had one of the most dominating seasons in league history in 2004, earning First-Team All-American status and leading the team to an undefeated league season and No. 1 national ranking. He averaged 6.6 yards per carry and scored 19 touchdowns to lead the conference in scoring. A fourth-round pick of the New York Giants, he played nine seasons in the NFL, won two Super Bowl rings and set the franchise record for most career rushing touchdowns.
TE Damon Jones, 1994-96
Damon Jones played tight end at SIU and finished his career ranked third in receiving yards (1,542) and fifth in receptions (99). He was a three-time All-Conference selection, including first-team honors in 1995 and 1996. Jones was selected in the fifth round of the National Football League Draft and was a five-year pro in the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars (1997-2001).
RB Tom Koutsos, 1999-2003
Tom Koutsos recorded three 1,000-yard seasons, breaking school and conference rushing records along the way. The two-time first-team All-MVFC selection rushed for 4,715 yards and 52 touchdowns in his career. As a senior, Koutsos helped lead the program to a 10-2 record and its first playoff appearance in 20 years.
TE MyCole Pruitt, 2011-14
A two-time First-Team All-American, MyCole Pruitt set the school record for career pass receptions (221) and pass receptions in a season (81 in 2014). He also finished second in career TD catches (25) and had a streak of 31-consecutive games with at least one reception. A three-time, First-Team All-MVFC pick, Pruitt was selected in the fifth round of the NFL Draft and recently completed his 10th season in the NFL.
QB Joel Sambursky, 2002-05
Joel Sambursky set school records for career passing yards (7,894), pass completions (559), touchdown passes (65), rushing yards by a quarterback (1,100) and victories by a starting quarterback (33). His greatest accomplishment was leading Southern to three conference championships and three-straight I-AA Playoff appearances. He was a two-time finalist for the Walter Payton Award, which goes to the division’s top player, and was a three-time all-conference performer, including league MVP in 2004.
LB Bart Scott, 1998-2001
Bart Scott was a First-Team All-Conference pick in 2001 and ranks among the school’s career leaders in tackles (352) and sacks (14.5). He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Baltimore Ravens and his 11-year NFL resume included 732 career tackles, 25.0 sacks and a Pro Bowl appearance in 2006. Scott is currently employed as the co-host of Bart and Carlin weekdays 10 to 1 on ESPN Radio in New York City.
