A half a dozen Valparaiso University football players were recognized for their academic and athletic prowess on Wednesday as the Pioneer Football League released its Academic All-PFL Teams.

Redshirt junior offensive lineman Drew Parrish (New Lenox, Ill. / Lincoln Way Central), redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Sam Hafner (Green Bay, Wis. / De Pere) and junior defensive lineman Kurt Kessen (Shelby Township, Mich. / Utica) received Academic All-PFL First Team honors, while redshirt freshman quarterback Michael Appel Jr. (Springboro, Ohio / Springboro), redshirt senior offensive lineman Aaron Byrd (Bradley, Ill. / Bourbonnais) and redshirt sophomore linebacker James Doerer (Grosse Pointe, Mich. / Grosse Pointe South) were tabbed Academic All-PFL Second Team honorees.

Parrish, who boasts a 3.98 cumulative grade point average in electrical engineering, was a starter on the offensive line for the majority of the season before being sidelined for the final two games with an injury. This marks the third consecutive season he has garnered Academic All-PFL First Team status. He was part of an offensive line that helped Aaron Dawson lead the PFL and rank 13^th nationally in rushing yards per game and finish second on the program’s single-season rushing list.

Kessen, who owns a 3.99 cumulative GPA in mechanical engineering, has earned Academic All-PFL First Team recognition for a second straight season. He started all 11 games on Valpo’s defensive line, blocked a PAT on Oct. 15 vs. Butler, accrued a personal-best 10 tackles in a Sept. 24 win over San Diego and had 1.5 tackles for loss including a sack in the Sept. 3 season opener vs. Indiana Wesleyan.

Hafner, who owns a 3.80 cumulative GPA in biology, tied for second on the team with 59 tackles and finished sixth in the conference in sacks with five. He was also named to the All-PFL Second Team this week. Hafner had a personal-best 10 tackles in the Sept. 3 season opener vs. Indiana Wesleyan, led the team with eight tackles for loss and tied for the PFL lead with three forced fumbles.

Appel, who owns a 3.74 cumulative GPA in computer engineering, started 10 games at quarterback and threw for 1,772 yards and 10 touchdowns. Byrd, who possesses a 3.48 GPA in biomechanical engineering, was also named an All-PFL First Team pick earlier this week and has won numerous honors in his career including Academic All-PFL Second Team on two prior occasions. Doerer, the owner of a 3.78 GPA in communication, tied for second on the team with 59 tackles.