McKendree’s James, Wentland among attendees for 2015 GLVC Football Kickoff
McKendree University senior Cameron James and junior A.J. Wentland will represent the Bearcats next week at the 2015 Great Lakes Valley Conference Football Kickoff, school officials said Thursday.
The fourth annual event which will serve as the unofficial start to the new football season, will be held for the second consecutive year at McKendree’s Hettenhausen Center for the Arts on July 31 beginning at 11:30 a.m.
James, an Edwardsville High graduate, and Wentland will be joined by McKendree head football coach Mike Babcock for the three-hour GLVC Kickoff, which serves both media members from around the league and the fan base of the GLVC’s nine football-playing institutions through social media and video interaction. Additionally, the 2015 GLVC pre-season football poll will be released during the event. Two players and the respective head coaches for each GLVC program will attend the GLVC Football Kickoff.
The only three-time All-GLVC honoree in McKendree history, James is coming off a productive junior season in 2014. Last season, James led the Bearcats with 61 pass receptions for 516 yards and five touchdowns from his slot back position. Through three seasons he has grabbed 99 passes, which is good for second all-time in program history. James also sits in fourth place on the McKendree career list for receiving yards (980) and touchdown catches (9).
James was also a stalwart on special teams, setting a new McKendree record with 28 kick returns a year ago while adding 14 punt returns. He has moved into the Bearcats’ top five on the career list for kick returns and punt returns while becoming the program’s all-time leader in kick returns with 52.
Last season marked the second consecutive year that James received second-team All-GLVC honors as both a wide receiver and return specialist. He was honored as an All-GLVC second-team awardee at running back as a freshman in 2012.
Wentland moved into the starting lineup last season and put together one of the most memorable seasons ever by a McKendree defensive player in 2014. Anchoring the Bearcats’ lineup from his middle linebacker slot, Wentland piled up a school-record 132 tackles as a sophomore, blowing past the previous mark of 108 tackles set by Brandon Nigro in 2011. Wentland recorded at least 10 tackles in 10 of the Bearcats’ 11 games a year ago, including each of the first seven contests. In a 41-20 home victory over William Jewell College last November, Wentland registered a career-best 17 tackles.
Of his 132 tackles, Wentland posted seven tackles for loss, including 2 ½ quarterback sacks. He also tied for the team lead with two interceptions, one of which was returned 29 yards for a touchdown last September at Northwood University. For his efforts, Wentland was one of three Bearcats to earn first-team All-GLVC honors last season. He was also recognized as a third-team All-American by College Football USA.
Babcock enters his third season at the helm of the McKendree football program. The Bearcats closed the 2014 season with a flourish, winning their final five games to finish in a tie for second place in the final GLVC standings. McKendree went 5-6 last season with a 5-3 mark in conference play. That marked the Bearcats’ highest finish in the final league standings since joining the GLVC prior to the 2012 campaign.
For the second year in a row, McKendree will play an 11-game schedule, beginning with a Sept. 5 home game against the College of Faith. Kickoff on the new Leemon Field turf is set for 6 p.m.
McKendree football fans can follow the day’s events and become part of the interactive social media sessions by visiting www.glvcsports.com throughout the GLVC Football Kickoff 2015. A complete list of activities can be viewed there.
This story was originally published July 23, 2015 at 11:50 AM with the headline "McKendree’s James, Wentland among attendees for 2015 GLVC Football Kickoff."