Valparaiso (1-0, 0-0 PFL)
at Illinois State (0-1, 0-0 MVFC)

Game #2 Saturday, Sept. 10, 6:30 p.m. CT
Hancock Stadium (13,391) – Normal, Ill.

This Week in Valpo Football: After an enthralling season-opening win in Week 1, the Valparaiso University football team will hit the road for the first time this season by visiting Illinois State for a Saturday night showdown that is regionally televised on Marquee Sports Network. This marks a nonconference game between two institutions who share conference affiliation for the majority of their non-football sports in the Missouri Valley Conference. It also represents an opportunity for the Beacons to take on a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference, the nation’s top FCS league, and a full-scholarship opponent.

Previously: The 2022 season began on a winning note as Valpo avenged an 18-point loss to Indiana Wesleyan from a year prior by besting the Wildcats, a nationally-ranked NAIA powerhouse, 20-17 at Brown Field. The game was hanging in the balance until the closing seconds, as Brian Bartholomew nailed what proved to be a game-winning field goal from 50 yards out with 1:36 to play before Indiana Wesleyan missed a field goal attempt from 54 yards in the closing seconds.

Series Notes: This will mark the fifth overall meeting between these two schools and just the second since 1948. The only other modern matchup occurred in 2016, when No. 8/10 Illinois State prevailed 50-13 in the season opener. Valpo beat Illinois State 26-0 in 1933 and 15-0 in 1934 before the Redbirds prevailed 16-14 in 1948. The all-time series is tied at two victories apiece. This will mark Valpo’s ninth game against a Missouri Valley Football Conference opponent since the start of the 2010 season. In that time, the Beacons have matched up with North Dakota State, North Dakota, Youngstown State (x3), Western Illinois (twice) and Illinois State.

Following the Beacons: This week’s game will be televised regionally on Marquee Sports Network in addition to airing digitally on ESPN+ with Kurt Pegler (play-by-play), Peter Ferreri (analyst) and Scott Sudikoff (sideline) on the call. The hometown radio call as described by Todd Ickow (play-by-play) and Brandon Vickrey (analyst) will be available on 95.1 FM Valparaiso, WVUR, ValpoAthletics.com and the TuneIn Radio app. For in-game social media updates, follow @valpoufootball on Twitter. Links to live video, audio and stats will be available on ValpoAthletics.com.

Head Coach Landon Fox: Landon Fox (10-20) is in his fourth season as the head coach of the Valparaiso University football program in 2022. In his third season leading the program in Fall 2021, Valpo finished with a Pioneer Football League record of .500 or better for a second consecutive year. This marked the first time Valpo had achieved that feat since the 1999 and 2000 campaigns. The Beacons won four Pioneer Football League games in the same season for just the third time ever (2017 and Spring 2021) and four league games in any conference for just the third time since 1968. During his second season at the helm in Spring 2021, Fox was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award – which is presented annually to the FCS National Coach of the Year – after guiding Valpo to its best winning percentage since 2003 and tying for the squad’s best winning percentage since 1999. He led his team to Pioneer Football League runner-up honors, the program’s highest finish in the league standings since the PFL championship season of 2003. Fox’s defensive roots paid dividends on that side of the football in his second year at the helm, as the team enjoyed its best defensive season in four decades. Valpo held opponents to 283.3 yards per game, the program’s best total defense in the last 40 years. In Year 1 of the Fox Era in 2019, Valpo ranked in the Top 5 in the PFL in scoring defense (32.0, fifth), total defense (381.6, fourth), rushing defense (184.2, fourth) and passing defense (197.3, fifth). After spending the previous 11 seasons as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at the University of Dayton, Fox was named the head football coach at Valpo prior to the 2019 season. He helped the Flyers finish with 10 winning seasons in his 11 years on staff and guided a defensive backfield that produced one All-American, four Academic All-Americans, two PFL Special Teams Players of the Year and three corners who were invited to NFL Rookie Minicamp. Prior to joining Dayton’s staff, Fox served as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Wayne State University in Detroit from 2005-2007. He also spent time as a defensive graduate assistant at Ball State University (2004), Dayton (2002-2003) and Lakeland College (2001). Fox began his coaching career as an assistant varsity coach at Preble Shawnee High School in Camden, Ohio during the 2000 season. During his playing days, Fox was a team captain and all-conference performer at Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio from 1995-1999 and graduated with a degree in physical education and health in May 2000 before earning his master’s degree in education from Lakeland in May 2002.

Starting Out in the W Column: Valpo notched its first season-opening victory to start a fall campaign since 2007 by beating Indiana Wesleyan in Week 1. In the previous 13 season openers, the only victory was the win at Butler to start the unusual Spring 2021 slate. Valpo also won the home opener for the first time since 2016, snapping a streak of five straight setbacks in Brown Field lidlifters. If the Beacons can knock off Illinois State on Saturday, it would mark the program’s first 2-0 start to a season since 2000.  

Thrillers Galore: Since the start of the Spring 2021 season, half of the team’s 18 games have been decided by seven points or fewer. The Week 1 victory over Indiana Wesleyan helped Valpo improve to 5-4 in one-score games over the last three seasons. The win snapped a streak of three straight losses in one-score contests created by last season’s seven-point loss at San Diego, seven-point loss at St. Thomas and three-point home overtime loss to Marist. 

Program Progress: After going a combined 3-20 during the 2018 and 2019 seasons that represented Dave Cecchini’s final year and the first year of the Landon Fox Era, the program has enjoyed a significant step in the right direction since the start of Spring 2021. This year’s Week 1 win vs. Indiana Wesleyan allowed Valpo to improve to .500 at 9-9 in the program’s 18 games over those three seasons. Four of those nine losses were by seven points or fewer, and two of the others were to Division-I FCS scholarship opponents North Dakota State and Dartmouth.

Bart’s Boot: Kicker Brian Bartholomew’s game-winning 50-yard field goal in the final two minutes of the Sept. 3 season opener vs. Indiana Wesleyan represented the longest of his collegiate career. That edged his previous personal best of 49 yards, which represented Valpo’s first points of an eventual 10-7 win at Drake during the Spring 2021 season. He became just the second Valpo player to hit a field goal from 50 yards out since 2003, joining Dimitrios Latsonas, who was good from 50 on Nov. 17, 2018. Bartholomew was one of two players in the FCS nation with a 50-yard field goal in Week 1, joining Charleston Southern’s Sam Babbush in a tie for the longest field goal in the FCS nation to that point in the season. In the Week 1 victory, Bartholomew went 2-for-2 on field-goal tries, 2-for-2 on extra points and averaged 65.0 yards per kickoff including three touchbacks. He is up to 21 career made field goals, has a career field-goal percentage of 80.8 that ranks eighth among all active players in Division-I FCS.

Putting the Special in Special Teams: Brian Bartholomew was recognized as the Pioneer Football League Special Teams Player of the Week following Valpo’s Week 1 victory over Indiana Wesleyan. He won the award for the second time in his career after previously doing so in November 2021, when he broke a single-game program record with eight made PATs in a victory over Presbyterian. Bartholomew’s most recent honor marked the eighth time since the start of the Spring 2021 season that a member of the Beacons has hauled in PFL Special Teams Player of the Week recognition. Valpo has played 18 games in that time, with nearly half of them resulting in the league Special Teams Player of the Week.

Date                Player                                     Opponent

9-3-22             K Brian Bartholomew            Indiana Wesleyan

11-6-21           K Brian Barthlomew              Presbyterian

10-30-21         P Ben Niesner                         at San Diego

10-9-21           P Ben Niesner                         at St. Thomas

9-25-21           Austin Martins (blocked FG) at Drake

4-17-21           Drew Gedrys (blocked PATs) San Diego

4-3-21             P Ben Niesner                         at Drake

3-20-21           P Ben Niesner                         vs. Drake

No Run Zone: Valpo contained Indiana Wesleyan to just 25 rushing yards on 24 carries in the Sept. 3 season opener. The 25 yards marked the fifth-fewest allowed by an FCS defense on the young season thus far. That was Valpo’s best performance in terms of rushing defense since Sept. 15, 2007, when Kalamazoo rushed for negative-34 yards on 12 carries. The defensive line produced six sacks including a pair of strip sacks and 10 tackles for loss in the Week 1 game against Indiana Wesleyan.

For the Brand: Valpo has become no stranger to success in the punting game as Ben Niesner became one of the best punters in PFL history prior to graduating at the end of last season. Evan Matthes has big shoes to fill, but the West Virginia transfer is off to a strong start. He posted a punting average of 48.1 with a long of 61 in Week 1, pinning three of his seven attempts inside the 20. Entering the Sept. 10 game at Illinois State, he ranks third nationally in FCS with a punting average of 48.1.

Dawson Debut: Running back Aaron Dawson accrued 147 yards on 22 carries in his Valpo debut on Sept. 3 vs. Indiana State. Dawson, who joined the program as a transfer from Central Connecticut State prior to this season, became just the third different Valpo player to rush for 100 yards in a game over the last six seasons, joining Robert Washington (10 times) and Chris Duncan (once). This marked the fourth consecutive game dating back to last season that a Valpo running back has rushed for at least 100 yards.

Under the Lights: Home night games have been a rarity for the Valpo football program. The Sept. 3 season opener vs. Indiana Wesleyan marked the first such game in eight years as the last home night game was on Sept. 6, 2014 vs. Saint Joseph’s College, the first home game of the Dave Cecchini Era, which preceded the Landon Fox regime. Valpo also played a home night game in 2012 vs. Saint Joseph’s, 2011 vs. Franklin and 2010 vs. Saint Joseph’s. This marked the fifth home night game in program history.

Opening at Home: For the first time in a decade, Valpo kicked off the season at home. The last time the Beacons started the docket with a home contest was Aug. 30, 2012 vs. Saint Joseph’s. The last nine seasons all started away from Brown Field.

Other Notes Wrapping Up Week 1: Valpo 20, Indiana Wesleyan 17

• Keyon Turner had a career-high 11 tackles as both of the top tackle outputs of his collegiate career have come against Indiana Wesleyan.
• Sam Hafner had 10 tackles plus a strip sack.
• Aaron Dawson ran for 147 yards, while eight different Valpo players caught passes from Michael Appel Jr. (13-of-20, 150 yards) and Mason Kaplan (3-of-5, 44 yards).
• Solomon Davis had his first career touchdown catch after entering the night with just one career reception.
• Dom Grguric had a team-high five catches including the first reception of his collegiate career.
• Kevin Spelman forced a key fumble and James Doerer had the fumble recovery.

Scouting the Opponent: Illinois State is coming off a 38-0 loss to FBS foe Wisconsin in Week 1. As recently as 2019, Illinois State qualified for the FCS Playoffs and picked up a pair of FCS Playoff victories. The 2016 team that opened the season against Valpo also went on to an FCS Playoff appearance.

O Captain, My Captain: Valpo has elected redshirted senior offensive lineman Aaron Byrd, redshirt junior linebacker Evan Annis and fifth-year defensive back Kohlton Sherman as team captains. In addition, the Beacons will appoint one rotating game captain for each contest. 

A Look Back at Fall 2021

• The program finished with a Pioneer Football League record of .500 or better for a second consecutive season for the first time since 1999 and 2000.
• Valpo won four PFL games in the same season for just the third time ever (2017 & Spring 2021) and four league game in any conference for just the third time since 1968.
• The 44-point margin of victory on Nov. 13 at Butler (W 47-3) set a program record for margin of victory against a Division-I opponent. It also was the largest margin of victory in league play in program history and the most lopsided win over Butler in the longstanding rivalry.
• The game at Butler also marked the first time Valpo went on the road and held an opponent to three points or fewer since 2006.
• Valpo had 112 points in a two-game span vs. Presbyterian and at Butler, tying with the 2017 squad (vs. Marist, vs. Morehead State) for the program’s most points over two games since 1985.
• The team’s 65 points in a Nov. 6 win over Presbyterian marked its highest single-game scoring output since 1996 and the fifth-highest single-game scoring output in program history.
• Valpo’s 45 points in an Oct. 23 victory over Dayton were the team’s most in all of the 30 all-time matchups with the Flyers. The 17-point margin of victory in the 45-28 win represented Valpo’s largest margin of victory in the all-time series.
• Valpo picked up a 24-21 win at Drake on Sept. 25, the team’s second straight victory over the Bulldogs after a 17-game head-to-head losing streak. Prior to the calendar year of 2021, Valpo was 0-14 all-time at Drake, and the program has now won two straight in Des Moines.
• Valpo beat both Drake and Dayton in the same season for the first time since 2003.
• The program has advanced to a place where every league game is competitive. Three of the team’s four PFL losses were decided by seven points or fewer and none were decided by more than 13 points. Prior to 2021, Valpo had not had a season with no league losses of 14 points or more since 2003.
• Valpo led the nation with nine blocked kicks, the second-most in program history and most since 1991. Valpo was the only team in all of Division-I college football (both FCS and FBS) to block nine kicks during the season.
• The team notched 32 sacks, the program’s most since 2000 and the fifth-most in a single season in program history. Valpo ranked 15^th nationally in FCS and led the PFL in sacks per game at 2.91.
• Valpo was also among the national leaders in tackles for loss per game at 7.3, ranking 15^th in FCS. The team’s 80 TFLs were its most since 1984 and the second most in program history.
• Valpo tied for fifth in program history in made field goals with 12, its most since 2003.
• The team also scored 298 points, the fifth-most in program history.
• As a team, Valpo rushed for 23 touchdowns, the third-most rushing TDs in program history and most since 1971.
• Valpo had 18 tackles for loss in a single game vs. Presbyterian, tied for the most in the Division-I nation (FCS and FBS) during the Fall 2021 season. The team’s 10 sacks vs. the Blue Hose were tied for the fifth most in FCS. Valpo had its highest single-game TFL total since at least 2004 and the program’s first double-figure sack total in over 20 years.
• On Oct. 30 at San Diego, Valpo tied a PFL record for blocked kicks in a single game with three.
• Valpo’s eight rushing TDs vs. Presbyterian shattered a single-game program record. In addition, Valpo finished the season as the only team in FCS and one of four teams in all of Division-1 college football (joining Army West Point, Oklahoma State and Michigan) with eight rushing TDs in a single game.

Inside the Staff: Head coach Landon Fox has welcomed six newcomers to his coaching staff, joining four returning assistant coaches.

• Will Fleming is in his first season as the team’s offensive coordinator after serving on the Boston College coaching staff for the past two seasons. Prior to his stint at BC, Fleming held the positions of offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Rhode Island from 2014-2019. Under his watch, the Rams produced a trio of student-athletes who went on to compete in the National Football League.
• The new-look offensive staff under Fleming features offensive line coach Pat Denecke, wide receivers coach Tim Smith, running backs coach Will Johnson and tight ends coach Spencer Duncan. Denecke was on staff at the University of Maine from 2016-2021, where his team earned a pair of FBS wins and produced an All-American. Johnson, who played in the NFL from 2012-2016 with the Pittsburg Steelers and New York Giants, came to Valpo after a stint on the coaching staff with the Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League. After winning two national championships as a walk-on tight end at Alabama, Duncan began a coaching career that most recently featured a stint at UNLV. Smith’s playing career reached the professional ranks with the Edmonton Eskimos (Canadian Football League, 2016), Hamilton Tiger Cats (CFL, 2015), Cleveland Browns (training camp, NFL, 2014) and Seattle Seahawks (NFL, rookie mini-camp, 2014).
• Valpo’s longest tenured assistant coach is defensive coordinator Brian Dougherty, whose arrival coincided with Landon Fox’s appointment as Valpo head coach prior to the 2019 campaign. Defensive line coach RJ Ghilarducci (third season), linebackers coach Andrew Lutgens (second season) and quality control coach Yoni Offit (second season) are all back on the defensive staff, while Vernell Price has joined the fold as defensive tackles coach. Price previously coached in the PFL at San Diego and also gained experience as a teacher and coach in China for several years.
• Gabe Miller has assumed the role of Associate Director of Sports Performance, leading the program’s strength & conditioning efforts.

Returner Report: The Beacons return five starters on offense and six on defense. In addition, kicker Brian Bartholomew is back. Defensive back is an area of experience, as all four starters return for the Beacons. However, Valpo returns just one starting linebacker and one starter on the defensive line. Three starting offensive linemen return along with a pair of starting wide receivers, but Valpo will feature first-year starters at quarterback, running back and tight end.

Transfer Tracker: When former Valpo running back Robert Washington received an NFL Rookie Minicamp Invite from the Philadelphia Eagles this past May after wrapping up his two-year tenure with the Brown & Gold, it tied a bow on a successful career that helped show that transfers can flourish in Valpo’s program. Washington is one of numerous transfers who have had strong success in Fox’s young tenure. This season, in addition to the freshman class, the program has welcomed a new crop of transfers. Linebacker Ben Hines (Washington), defensive back Tyler Days (Boston College), linebacker Hunter Nabers (Fresno State), defensive back Ousmane Dabo (Eastern Kentucky), punter Evan Matthes (West Virginia), running back Aaron Dawson (Central Connecticut State), tight end Jalen Jones (Lincoln) and tight end Dawson Pierson (East Tennessee State) have transferred into the program. In total, the roster features 13 players who started their collegiate careers at different institutions.

Roster Rundown: The program has continued to bring in talent from all over the United States. This year’s roster features athletes from over half of the 50 states as 26 states are represented. Illinois is the state most represented on Valpo’s roster as 23 players hail from the Land of Lincoln. Other states in double figures are Ohio (14), Michigan (13) and California (10) followed closely by Indiana (eight).

Nonconference Schedule Strength: Valpo is facing a challenging nonconference schedule yet again this season. After opening against an Indiana Wesleyan team that is nationally ranked in NAIA, Valpo will make its way to Illinois State to face off with the Redbirds, a full-scholarship FCS program in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The nonleague slate concludes with a visit to Dartmouth, a program that went 9-1 last season. The two-time defending Ivy League champions were picked to win the league in this year’s preseason poll, tied atop the projections with Princeton.

2022 Preseason Picks

• A trio of Beacons were named to the Preseason All-Pioneer Football League team as offensive lineman Aaron Byrd, kicker Brian Bartholomew and return specialist Chuck Maxwell earned Preseason All-PFL Honors.
• Nine members of the program were recognized on Phil Steele’s Preseason All-PFL squads. Kicker Brian Bartholomew, kick returner Chuck Maxwell and punt returner Josh Becton were named to the first team. Offensive lineman Aaron Byrd and linebacker Evan Annis were tabbed to the second team. To close out the group of honorees, Braden Contreras, Drew Parrish, Kurt Kessen and Keyon Turner earned third team status.
• Valpo was picked to finish eighth of 11 in the Pioneer Football League preseason poll. Last season, the Beacons defeated two of the teams picked in front of them in this year’s poll – Dayton (projected fourth) and Drake (projected seventh). Davidson is favored to win the league, followed by San Diego and St. Thomas. The Brown & Gold is projected ahead of Stetson, Butler and Presbyterian.

Fall 2021 Awards/Honors

• Robert Washington – recognized on ESPN’s College Football Final with a “Helmet Sticker” for his performance vs. Presbyterian
• All-PFL First Team – Robert Washington, Brian Bartholomew, Ben Niesner
• All-PFL Second Team – Trejuan Purty, Chuck Maxwell
• All-PFL Honorable Mention – Evan Annis, Aaron Byrd, Doug Haugh, Connor Hebbeler, Jadarius Horton, Austin Martins, Trey Psota, Ollie Reese, Keyon Turner
• Academic All-PFL First Team – Drew Parrish, Evan Annis, Kurt Kessen, Ben Niesner
• Academic All-PFL Second Team – Aaron Byrd, Cade Bishop, Ben Nimz
• One of three PFL teams with seven or more academic-all PFL honorees, joining Dayton and Morehead State.
• Ben Niesner – FCS Bowl selection, FCS Bowl Special Teams MVP, Tropical Bowl USA selection, FCS Punter of the Year Preseason Watch List
• Kohlton Sherman – CoSIDA Academic All-District Team

Fall 2021 Individual Achievements

• Robert Washington became the third 1,000-yard rusher in program history and finished the season with 1,105 rushing yards, the second-highest total in program history. He finished in the top 10 nationally in FCS in rushing yards per game and total rushing yards.
• Washington also finished in the top 10 nationally in rushing TDs with 14, a total that tied the program record (Dave Newnam, 1977).
• Washington rushed for 234 yards vs. Presbyterian, the most by a Valpo player in a single game since 2012.
• Washington ranked ninth in program history in career rushing yards with 1,758 despite having played just 17 games at Valpo.
• Brian Bartholomew finished the season tied for second in single-season program history with 12 made field goals. He also cracked the program record book by finishing with 32 made PATs, a total that ranked fifth all-time. Bartholomew led the PFL in both field-goal percentage and field goals per game.
• Ben Niesner averaged 43.2 yards per punt, which ranks third in program history. He now owns two of the top three single-season punting averages in the program record book. He finished the season ranked 16^th nationally in punting average while leading the PFL.
• Trejuan Purty finished the season with 15 tackles for loss, tied for the fifth most in single-season program history.
• Brett Bittner blocked three kicks during the season, finishing as one of just six players in the FCS nation with three or more.
• Trejuan Purty had 5.0 TFL vs. Presbyterian, tied for the fifth most in the FCS nation in a single game in Fall 2021. Austin Martins had 4.5 TFL vs. San Diego, tied for the 14^th most in a single game last year, while Gavin Twigg’s 4.0 vs. Presbyterian tied for 26^th.
• Nick Orekoya’s four rushing TDs vs. Presbyterian tied a single-game program record.
• Jamauri Jackson had an 83-yard interception return for a touchdown, Valpo’s longest pick six since 2000.
• Valpo had two safeties in a single game vs. Dartmouth, the first time the program recorded two safeties in the same season – let alone the same game – since 2006.

Family Tree

• WR/RS Chuck Maxwell’s great grand uncle Charles Maxwell played for the Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox. In addition, his cousin Brady Ewing played football at Wisconsin and in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars.
• LB Evan Annis has a pair of older brothers who played college football. Brett played at Division-III Capital, while Kyle played at – and we’re going to whisper this one – Butler.
• Wide receiver Cam Livingston is a third-generation Division-I football player. His grandfather Brian played at Ohio State and his father Robert played for – here we go again – Butler.
• QB Michael Appel Jr. has two family members who played football at Morehead State University – father Mike (1993-1997) and uncle Jim (1989-1992)… The Morehead State annual academic award is named after his father and uncle as both were Academic All-Americans at MSU.
• Punter Patrick Oliva’s cousin is Tad Boyle, the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Colorado.
• WR EJ Locke’s father Eric Locke Sr. played football at Illinois State, Valpo’s Week 2 opponent.
• DB Anthony Hightower’s brother Tre played at Ohio State from 2014-2018, brother Jajuan plays wide receiver at UCF and cousin Talmadge Jackson played DB at Oregon and played a season in the NFL, participating in preseason games for the Baltimore Ravens in 2011.
• LB Hayden Bedell and OL Drew Parrish are cousins.
• DB Etwood Williams’ father Arthur played football at Illinois State from 1991-1993, cousin Rodney Peete played at USC and went on to a long NFL career from 1989-2004. His cousin Shawn Buchanon played baseball at Nebraska and went on to a five-year minor league career in the Chicago White Sox organization.
• DL Amar Elmore’s cousin Markus Wheaton played college football at Oregon State and went on to play in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers (2013-2016), Chicago Bears (2017) and Philadelphia Eagles (2018).
• TE Jalen Jones’ uncle Derrick Coleman was the No. 1 overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft. Coleman went on to play in the NBA from 1990-2005, was the 1991 NBA Rookie of the Year and was an NBA All-Star in 1994.
• DL Sam Hafner’s great aunt Louise Erickson played professional women’s basketball for three years (Racine Belles one year, Rockford Peaches two years).
• DL Logan Chastain’s father Dan was a catcher at the University of Portland, was drafted out of high school by the Montreal Expos in the 57th round of the 1991 MLB Draft and played minor league baseball in the Marlins organization.

Did You Know? #BeaconBits

• The team has two players with the first name Dawson (Pierson and Rye) and two players with the last name Dawson (Aaron and Luke).
• Quarterback Jeffrey Jackson was a 2010 Jiu-Jitsu World Champion.
• Linebacker Evan Annis played lacrosse for 10 years.
• Both of WR Solomon Davis’ parents are retired from the Navy.
• DB Ousmane Dabo is ambidextrous, as is LB Keagan Henschel.
• TE Dawson Pierson has been to over 40 of the 50 states.
• WR Owen Semp lived in Germany for four years.
• DB Austin Chilton lives a few minutes from Walt Disney World and can hear the Magic Kingdom Fireworks from his neighborhood every night. His career goal is to design and build rollercoasters for Disney World.
• RB Aaron Dawson started playing drums at age 6 in church.
• First names that start with K for males is a family tradition in DB Kohlton Sherman’s family.
• TE Cameron Rojik has lived in five different states.
• DB Andy Cole was adopted from Ethiopia, Africa when he was 8 years old.
• LB Justin Jurmu’s oldest brother Jordan was a national finalist in the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship in 2015 at Augusta National.
• DL Alex Goworowski has never seen Star Wars, Rocky, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones or Caddyshack.
• DL Dawson Rye had a pet aquatic frog for over 15 years.
• OL Aaron Byrd was an all-district trumpet player as a junior in high school.
• OL Drew Parrish tutors other engineering students at Valpo’s Hesse Learning Resource Center.
• TE Evan Jernegan has built out the biggest Lego set, the UCS Millennium Falcon.
• DL Kurt Kessen was his high school’s valedictorian.
• DL Adrian Divcic is a first-generation American who speaks English fluently.
• K Ryan Hawk is a certified advanced scuba diver.

Player-by-Player Quick Hits – Projected Offensive Starters

*Based on two-deep, starters subject to change

• WR-x #4 Matt Ross, R-Jr. – Named Fall 2021 Team Special Teams Player of the Year... Had season highs in receptions (three) and receiving yards (51) on Nov. 13, 2021 at Butler including a 38-yard touchdown grab, his first career score.
• WR-x #13 Braden Contreras, Jr. – 2022 Phil Steele Preseason All-PFL Third Team... Had a season-high 118 receiving yards on four receptions on Oct. 23, 2021 vs. Dayton including a season-long 42-yard reception... Had his first career TD and his first career touchdown reception on April 17, 2021 vs. San Diego. The TD was a memorable one as the 9-yard toss from Ben Nimz accounted for the go-ahead score that put Valpo up 20-19 with 21 seconds on the clock in the game against the Toreros, an eventual upset over a team receiving votes nationally.
• Slot #12 Jordan Bingham, R-Jr. –Made a heroic, juggling catch for Valpo’s game-winning 30-yard touchdown on 4^th-and-10 with 1:05 remaining in the 24-21 victory at Drake at on Sept. 27, 2021.
• QB #12 Michael Appel Jr., R-Fr. – Named the 2021 Offensive Team Scout Team Player of the Year... Did not see game action in Fall 2021... Threw for 150 yards and a TD on 13-of-20 passing in his Sept. 3 collegiate debut vs. Indiana Wesleyan.
• RB #21 Aaron Dawson – Played four seasons at Central Connecticut from 2017-2021... Set a school and NEC record with 361 yards on just 24 carries against Wagner on Oct. 27... Yardage total is sixth-highest single-game output in FCS history... Set a Division I (FBS and FCS) record for rushing yardage in a half with 308 yards on 15 carries in the second half... Set an FCS record with 197 yards in the fourth quarter... Ran for 147 yards in his Sept. 3 Valpo debut vs. Indiana Wesleyan.
• WR-z #15 Dom Grguric, R-Fr. – Fall 2021 Scout Special Teams Player of the Year.
• WR-z #10 Solomon Davis, R-Jr. – Had one reception last season, a six-yard catch on Nov. 13, 2021 at Butler.
• TE #89 Jake Vickers, R-So. – Played in all 11 games last season... His first collegiate reception was a six-yard TD catch on Oct. 23, 2021 vs. Dayton.
• LT #68 Aaron Byrd, R-Sr. – Has played in 29 career games entering this season... Has earned a slew of honors including 2022 Preseason All-PFL Team, 2022 Phil Steele Preseason All-PFL Second Team, Fall 2021 All-PFL Honorable Mention, Fall 2021 Academic All-PFL Second Team, Fall 2021 Sever Award (Team’s Top Offensive Lineman), Fall 2021 Phil Steele All-PFL Fourth Team, Spring 2021 All-PFL Honorable Mention, Spring 2021 Academic All-PFL Second Team and Spring 2021 Sever Award (Team’s Top Offensive Lineman).
• LG #64 Ryan Merklinger, R-Fr. – Redshirted and did not see game action during the Fall 2021 season.
• C #72 Drew Parrish, R-Jr. – 2022 Phil Steele Preseason All-PFL Third Team, Fall 2021 Academic All-PFL First Team, Fall 2021 Team Scholar-Athlete Award, Spring 2021 Academic All-PFL First Team.
• RG #62 Carter Woody, Jr. – Played in seven games in Fall 2021 after appearing in all six games during the Spring 2021 campaign.
• RT #78 Keith Szczepanski, R-So. – Competed in six games on Valpo’s offensive line in Fall 2021.

Player-by-Player Quick Hits – Projected Defensive Starters

*Based two-deep, starters subject to change

• Rush #90 Sam Hafner, R-So. – Played in four games during the Fall 2021 campaign after redshirting in Spring 2021... Burst on the scene with 10 tackles in the Sept. 3 season opener vs. Indiana Wesleyan after having one total over his first two collegiate seasons.
• DT #93 Kurt Kessen, Jr. – Member of 2022 Phil Steele Preseason All-PFL Third Team, Fall 2021 Academic All-PFL Team and named Fall 2021 Team Most-Improved Player... Played in all 17 games over the last two seasons (Spring 2021 and Fall 2021)... Made a season-high seven tackles on Sept. 4, 2021 at Indiana Wesleyan... Blocked a PAT on Nov. 20, 2021 vs. Morehead State.
• NG #96 Logan Chastain, Fr. – True freshman who made his collegiate debut in Week 1 vs. Indiana Wesleyan.DE #91 Kevin Spelman, R-Fr. – Played in four games as a true freshman in Fall 2021.
• LB (W) #4 Ben Hines, R-Sr. – Joined the program as a transfer prior to the 2022 season after spending four seasons at Washington... Did not see any game action over the first three seasons before competing in three games in 2021.
• LB (M) #58 James Doerer – After playing in four games over his first two collegiate seasons, had a fumble recovery in his first career start in the Sept. 3 season opener vs. Indiana Wesleyan... Completed an internship in broadcasting and communications with the Northwest Indiana Oilmen baseball team during the 2022 summer and has an interest in a career in sports media.
• LB (nickelback) #21 Anthony Sciarroni, Sr. – Appeared in 14 total games over the last two seasons... Totaled 31 tackles including 18 solos in Fall 2021.
• CB #1 Keyon Turner, Jr. – 2022 Phil Steele Preseason All-PFL Third Team, Spring 2021 finalist for Jerry Rice Award (FCS National Freshman of the Year), HERO Sports Freshman All-American, All-PFL First Team and Team Newcomer of the Year… Led the FCS nation in takeaways with six (four interceptions, two fumble recoveries) in Spring 2021… Had a takeaway in all six games he played that season… Saw his remarkable streak of notching a takeaway in each of his first six collegiate games come to an end in Week 1 of the Fall 2021 season at Indiana Wesleyan, but he did turn in a career-best nine tackles in that game.
• S #29 Kohlton Sherman, 5^th – Fall 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District Team, Spring 2021 Academic All-PFL Second Team… Spring 2021 Team Outstanding Hitter… Has played in 38 career games entering the 2022 season... Team captain.
• S #26 Colin Graves, So. – Played in five games in Fall 2021.
• CB #3 Jadarius Horton, 5th – Fall 2021 All-PFL Honorable Mention, Spring 2021 All-PFL Honorable Mention... Played in all 17 games over the last two seasons.

Specialist Quick Hits – Projected Starters

• K #87 Brian Bartholomew, R-Jr. – 2022 Preseason All-PFL Team, 2022 Phil Steele Preseason All-PFL First Team, Fall 2021 All-PFL First Team, Fall 2021 Phil Steele All-PFL First Team, Fall 2021 Special Teams Player of the Week (Nov. 6), Spring 2021 All-PFL First Team, Spring 2021 Team Most-Improved Player... Had 32 made PATs in Fall 2021, the fifth most in a single season in program history...  Broke a single-game record with eight made PATs on Nov. 6, 2021 vs. Presbyterian. The record had stood since 1984... Had a streak of 40 straight made PATs that ended on Nov. 13, 2021, when his lone miss of the season came after added distance due a 15-yard penalty... Finished Fall 2021 tied for second in single-season program history with 12 made field goals... Made a career-long 50-yard field goal with less than two minutes remaining to snap a 17-all tie in a 20-17 victory over Indiana Wesleyan on Sept. 3.
• P #11 Evan Matthes, R-Sr. – Joined the program prior to the 2022 season as a transfer after being a part of the program at West Virginia from 2018-2021.