If you’ve lost track of the number of accolades received by Valparaiso University football punter Ben Niesner (Black Diamond, Wash. / Tahoma [Portland State]), it’s hard to blame you.

Last spring? Pioneer Football League Co-Special Teams Player of the Year, All-PFL First Team, FCS National Punter of the Year Semifinalist, Academic All-PFL First Team, two-time PFL Special Teams Player of the Week, Team Special Teams Player of the Year. This fall? All-PFL First Team, FCS Bowl Selection, FCS Bowl Special Teams MVP, Tropical Bowl USA Selection, two-time PFL Special Teams Player of the Week.

And now, you can add Football Championship Subdivision Athletics Directors Association (FCS ADA) Academic All-Star status to Niesner’s credentials. He was one of 50 honorees nationally to receive this distinction, which is based on academic and athletic success.

Niesner posted a punting average of 43.2 this season, a mark that ranked third in program history. He tied program and PFL records for single-season punting average during the Spring 2021 campaign at 43.6. The Valpo standout finished this season with the league’s top punting average, a mark that ranked 16th nationally.

In the classroom, Niesner owns a 4.00 grade point average toward his master’s in sports administration after finishing his undergraduate degree in leadership in sport at 3.73.