Returning All-MVFC tight end ... Had 2 pass receptions for 30 yards in spring game (4/27/17).
2016: All-MVFC second-team honoree ... MVFC All-Academic Team honorable mention selection ... Started all 11 games at tight end ... Talented tight end pulled in 27 pass receptions -- tops among all MSU tight ends -- for 245 yards and four scores ... Scored four TDs in a six-game stretch to end the season ... Season-highs 6 receptions for 68 yards against Southern Illinois (10/29/16) with a TD ... Also produced 47 yards on five receptions vs. Western Illinois (10/15/16) with first score of the campaign ... Season-long 23-yard reception came in season opener against Southwestern College (9/1/16) ... Only road TD of the year came at South Dakota State (11/5/16) ... Ended year with a TD reception against Youngstown (11/19/16) ... Logged multiple pass receptions in 8-of-11 games ... Received prestigious MVFC Presidents Council Academic Award ... Earned MSU AD Honor Roll distinction for fall and spring semesters as well as MVFC Commissioner’s Academic Excellence Award and MVFC Honor Roll laurels. ... Had 3 receptions for 38 yards and a TD in the Maroon and White Game (4/23/16).
2015: Started 5 times as a sophomore and played in all 11 games at tight end … Snagged 5 pass receptions on the season, including 4 for 15 yards at Arkansas State (9/19/15) … Other reception on the season was a season-long 9-yard catch at Southern Illinois (10/10/15) … Named to MVFC Honor Roll and MSU AD Honor Roll for fall 2015 and spring 2016 semesters ... Had 2 pass receptions for 21 yards in Maroon and White Spring Game (4/11/15).
2014: Played in all 12 games at OLB as a redshirt freshman, accounting for 10 total tackles on special teams and from his spot at OLB ... Had 4 tackles and broke up a pass in homecoming win over South Dakota (10/18/14) ... Registered 3 stops, including a pair of solos, the following week at Illinois State (10/25/14) ... Earned MSU Special Teams Player of the Week after season-opening win at Northwestern State (8/28/14) ... AD Honor Roll for spring 2015.
2013: Redshirted his first season at Missouri State ... Named MSU Defensive Scout Team Player of the Week for road game at Iowa (9/7/13) ... AD Honor Roll for fall and spring.
High School: Helped guide Althoff Catholic to the Illinois Class 2A title game as a senior where he posted 10 tackles, 9 solos and a fumble recovery in the championship ... Coach Ken Turner’s Crusaders finished 10-4 overall in 2012 ... Also garnered Illinois first-team all-state honors as a senior as well as all-conference and all-city distinction ... Earned Belleville News-Democrat and Post-Dispatch Player of the Week honors as a senior ... Was also all-city and all-conference as a sophomore and junior ... Was a two-year starter in basketball.
Personal: Erik Alexander Furmanek was born 10/15/94 in Belleville, Ill. ... Son of Phil and Celeste Furmanek of Belleville ... Has two sisters, Nicole and Erin ... Part of MSU’s MBA program.
