Valparaiso University had five football players voted to the Academic All-Pioneer Football League First and Second Teams, as voted upon by the conference’s sports information directors.  The Crusader selections included First Team accolades for Ryan Kozey (Waterford, Wis./Union H.S.) and Adam Rundh (Aalborg, Denmark/Orjanskolan [Sweden] H.S.).  Tim Kratz (Macomb, Mich./Lutheran North H.S.), Ryan Koepke (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead H.S.), and Matt Mancl (Neenah, Wis./Neenah H.S.) were named to the Second Team.

Kozey, a senior, was a starting offensive tackle for the Crusaders for three seasons.  A First Team All-PFL selection each of the last two years, he was also named to the First Team All-Academic Team a year ago.  A civil engineering major, Kozey carries a 3.75 cumulative grade point average.

Rundh, a junior defensive lineman, earned Honorable Mention All-PFL honors for Valpo this year.  He was a Second Team ESPN The Magazine Second Team Academic All-American this season as well as earning First Team Academic All-District V honors.  Rundh is a international business and finance major carrying a 3.92 GPA.

Kratz, a redshirt junior, was the starting left tackle for the Brown and Gold the last two seasons.  He missed the final could of games for the Crusaders after suffering a knee injury this year.  A civil engineering major, Kratz carries a 3.58 GPA.

Koepke, a Second Team All-PFL selection at linebacker, finished his career with more than 240 tackles for Valpo.  An Academic All-District V First Team selection last year, the fifth-year senior is a three-time Academic All-PFL selection.  Koepke carries a 3.64 GPA as a mechanical engineering major.

Mancl, a fifth-year senior linebacker, was a two-year starter for the Brown and Gold.  With more than 135 career tackles, he was a four-time PFL Academic Honor Roll selection as well.  Mancl is a mechanical engineering student with a 3.74 GPA.

The Academic All-PFL squads began in 1993 as a way to recognize the league’s outstanding student-athletes.  To be nominated, the student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.00 cumulative grade point average for his career and reached both sophomore athletic and academic standing at the school.  The nominees are then voted on by the sports information directors, with two offensive and two defensive teams of 11 members selected as well as two special teams selections.