The Valparaiso University football program will be represented by a pair of Aarons at the FCS National Bowl x Trillion, which will take place on Sunday, Dec. 11 in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Fifth-year senior running back Aaron Dawson (Westbury, N.Y. / W.T. Clarke / Milford Prep [Central Connecticut]) and redshirt senior offensive lineman Aaron Byrd (Bradley, Ill. / Bourbonnais) were both named to the rosters for the event. Last season, Valpo was represented by punter Ben Niesner.

Dawson was named to the All-Pioneer Football League First Team this season after rushing for a league-most 1,204 yards, a total that ranked second in single-season program history. Dawson also finished among the league leaders in rushing touchdowns with 10. He broke a longstanding program record for longest scoring run from scrimmage with a 99 yarder and nearly shattered the program’s single-game rushing mark with his 241-yard effort at Morehead State.

Byrd was also tabbed to the All-PFL First Team after paving the way for those aforementioned rushing accomplishments as a crucial part of the offensive line. Byrd earned Academic All-PFL Second Team for the third straight year and has also twice been named the Sever Award winner (team’s top offensive lineman), twice named All-PFL Honorable Mention (Spring 2021, Fall 2021) and was named to the Phil Steele All-PFL Fourth Team last season.

The FCS National Bowl is an annual post-season college football all-star game consisting of the top players from college football FCS schools. The inaugural FCS National Bowl was played in December 2014 at FIU Stadium and moved to Daytona Beach Stadium in Daytona Beach, Fla., which is home to FCS Bethune-Cookman football, in 2016. The National Bowl and FCS Bowl all-star weekend for Non-FBS schools has been the only game of its kind to attract numerous NFL & CFL scouts.

Click here for full FCS National Bowl rosters.