Youngstown State junior quarterback Beau Brungard was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference's Offensive Player of the Year, the league announced on Monday.

Brungard was one of four Penguins to garner first-team All-MVFC honors as he was joined by wide receiver Max Tomczak, defensive lineman Michael Wells and return specialist Ky "Flash" Wilson.

Earning second-team accolades were offensive lineman Desmeal Leigh and punter Brendon Kilpatrick. YSU placed four individuals on the honorable-mention squad - running back Jaden Gilbert, defensive back Dayne Hodge, placekicker Andrew Lastovka and Wilson, who was also nominated as an all-purpose player. Wilson was named to the all-newcomer squad as well.

Brungard had one of the best dual campaigns in league history to earn the player-of-the-year nod. He received 102 votes while NDSU QB Cole Payton was second with 69 votes. Payton was named second-team all-league as a signal caller.

He is the first YSU quarterback to earn the Player-of-the-Year Award since joining the league in 1997. Brungard is the fourth Penguin to be named the MVFC's top offensive performer joining running backs PJ Mays (2001), Marcus Mason (2006) and Jaleel McLaughlin (2022). Brungard is just the second YSU quarterback to be named first team All-MVFC joining Kurt Hess (2011).

Tomczak is a repeat first-team selection at wide receiver while Wells and Wilson are first time, first-team selections. 

The Penguins finished season this past Saturday with a 43-42 loss at home to Yale in the first round of the 2025 FCS playoffs.

First-Team selections

QB Beau Brungard

Started all 12 games…incredible season as a passer and runner…rushed for 1,378 yards on 225 carries with 24 touchdowns while completing 254-of-368 passes for 2,917 yards and 23 touchdowns with just three interceptions…in MVFC games, rushed for 852 yards on 155 carries with 16 touchdowns…completed 180-of-256 passes for 2,1621 yards and 19 TDs…became the first player in FCS history with a 300-passing, 200-rushing game (at Illinois State)…had seven 100-plus yard rushing performances…has 10 straight 200-yard passing efforts with a high of 345 against Southern Illinois.

WR Max Tomczak

Started all 12 games…caught 64 passes for 916 yards and five touchdowns…in MVFC contests, had 43 grabs for 610 yards and four TDs…had 116 yards against Towson and 109 against Indiana State…set school record for career receptions (219) while ranking second in yards (2,919)…had eight games of five-or-more receptions…averaging 76 yards a game.

DE Michael Wells

Played in all 12 games and started nine times…moved to defensive end from linebacker during the year…recorded 47 total tackles with 24 solos…had 13 TFLs and 8.5 sacks while adding seven QB hurries…in MVFC games, had 34 stops (16 solos)…collected nine TFLs and 6.5 sacks…recorded season-high 10 tackles and 3.5 sacks vs. Indiana State…added seven tackles and fumble force/recovery at UNI.

RS Ky "Flash" Wilson

Set the school single-season record for kickoff return yardage with 877 on 30 returns…had an average of 29.2…returned a kickoff 100 yards for a TD vs. Murray State…in MVFC contests, had 597 yards on 21 returns…had a 76-yard return at Towson while adding a 54-yard return at North Dakota and 52 at NDSU

Second-Team Selections

OL Desmeal Leigh

Started all 12 games at left tackle…played every snap in nine contests…key blocker for dual-threat QB Beau Brungard…has started 37 consecutive contests at left tackle…been the most consistent lineman during the season.

Punter Brendon Kilpatrick

On 35 punts has averaged 46.3 yards per attempt…has a long of 67 yards which came at Illinois State…had nine punts of 50 yards or more…placed eight punts inside the 20-yard line…in MVFC games, has punted 25 times averaging 45.7 yards…had five punts longer than 50 yards and five inside the 20 in conference play…had a season-high six punts vs. South Dakota State…also a holder on placement kicks…was the 2024 FCS Punter of the Year.

Honorable-Mention Selections

RB Jaden Gilbert

Played in 12 games, starting 11…rushed for 599 yards on 92 carries and three touchdowns…caught 40 passes for 369 yards and a touchdown…in MVFC contests, rushed for 405 yards on 60 carries and caught 25 passes for 318 yards…had a season-high 149 yards on nine carries against Southern Illinois…caught four passes for 58 yards at Michigan State in top receiving performance.

DB Dayne Hodge

Started all 12 games in first year with the program…finished with the team lead in total tackles with 68 (34 solos)…ranked third in MVFC play on the team with 41 stops (21 solos)…tied for second on the team with five pass breakups…had 10 tackles vs. Mercyhurst with nine against North Dakota and Michigan State…had eight against SIU and seven against UNI.

PK Andrew Lastovka

Converted 15-of-19 field-goal attempts and was 51-of-52 on PATs in 12 games…in MVFC games, was 10-of-13 on FG attempts and 35-of-36 on PATs…scored 96 points with 65 coming in league play…kicked a winning field goal as time expired to win at Towson…made three field goals of longer than 40 yards at NDSU.

All-Purpose Ky "Flash" Wilson

Played in all 12 games, starting eight…caught 55 passes for 550 yards and six touchdowns…in MVFC games, has a team-high 44 receptions for 454 yards and five TDs…caught five or more passes in seven games…caught two touchdown passes against SIU…had a season-best 102 yards at North Dakota…has 61-or-more yards in four of the last five games.