The Valparaiso University football program was well represented as the All-Pioneer Football League teams were revealed by the league office on Tuesday. Redshirt senior wide receiver Solomon Davis (Brighton, Tenn. / Brighton), redshirt junior defensive lineman Sam Hafner (Green Bay, Wis. / De Pere) and sixth-year senior punter Evan Matthes (Reston, Va. / South Lakes [West Virginia]) were named to the All-PFL First Team, while redshirt senior linebacker Evan Annis (Hilliard, Ohio / Hilliard Davidson) and redshirt senior return specialist Jashon Butler (Lynwood, Wash. / Meadowdale [Arizona]) were tabbed to the Second Team.

In addition, six Valpo players received All-PFL Honorable Mention – junior defensive back Max Franco (La Habra, Calif. / La Habra), redshirt senior defensive back Tyler Geiman (Zion, Ill. / Zion-Benton Township [Dubuque]), senior linebacker Mohamed Kamara (Kalamazoo, Mich. / Kalamazoo Central [Hope]), redshirt sophomore running back Ryan Mann (Vernon Hills, Ill. / Vernon Hills [Northern Illinois]), redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Kevin Spelman (New Lenox, Ill. / Providence Catholic) and senior offensive lineman Carter Woody (Fort Mill, S.C. / Charlotte Catholic).

Hafner led the PFL and finished among the national leaders in tackles by a defensive lineman with 63 (5.73 per game). He ranked fifth in the PFL in sacks with five and was one of 10 players in the league with multiple fumble recoveries with two. He notched a team-high 10.0 tackles for loss totaling 43 yards. Last season, he earned Academic All-PFL First Team, All-PFL Second Team and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District.

Matthes led the PFL and ranked 16^th nationally in punting average at 43.2. He went 2-for-2 passing this season, twice successfully converting first downs on fake punts. The standout punter pinned 20 of his 50 boots inside the 20 with a long of 70. He had 10 punts that covered 50+ yards. Matthes was named PFL Special Teams Player of the Week on Nov. 5 after playing a crucial role in the field-position battle in the Nov. 4 win over Dayton. He was a member of the 2023 Preseason FCS Punter of the Year Watch List, earned a spot on the 2022 All-PFL Second Team and was named the team’s Special Teams Player of the Year last season.

Davis led the PFL in total offensive average per play at 3.18, ranked fourth in receptions per game at 4.55, third in receiving touchdowns with six, sixth in receiving yards per game at 60.09, fifth in total receptions with 50 and sixth in total receiving yards with 661. Davis has earned All-PFL First Team status for the second straight season and garnered the team’s Four-Year Man Award in 2022.

Annis ranked 12^th in the PFL and led the team at 7.18 tackles per game, totaling 79 tackles including 30 solos in his 11 contests. A team captain, Annis returned to the gridiron this season after missing the entire 2022 campaign with an injury. This adds to Annis’ long list of honors including two-time Academic All-PFL choice (Spring 2021 and Fall 2021), Spring 2021 All-PFL Second Team, Fall 2021 All-PFL Honorable Mention, Spring 2021 Team Koenig Award (Outstanding Sportsmanship & Character) and 2022 Team Most Inspirational Player Award. This season, he boasted 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks to go along with three pass breakups and four QB hurries. Annis recorded a huge sack to help Valpo get a third-down stop in an overtime win over Stetson on Nov. 11. The sack was likely the final play of his career at Brown Field. He had seven or more tackles on seven occasions including a season-high 10 on Oct. 21 at Davidson and Nov. 4 vs. Dayton. The Valpo veteran had nine or more tackles in four of his final five games.  

Butler averaged 30.75 yards per kick return, leading the league among those with more than one return. He totaled 615 yards on his 20 returns, ranking second in the league in total kickoff return yards and was narrowly behind the leader despite 13 fewer returns. Butler totaled a season-high 121 kick return yards on Sept. 30 vs. Southwest Minnesota State. His season long was 68 yards on Oct. 21 at Davidson.

Academic All-PFL honors will be announced on Wednesday.

2023 Pioneer Football League Major Award Winners

Offensive Player of the Year: Jyran Mitchell, Butler

Defensive Player of the Year: Finn Claypool, Drake

Special Teams Player of the Year: Shane Dunning, Drake

Freshman Offensive Player of the Year: Ronnell Johnson, Stetson

Freshman Defensive Player of the Year: Andrew Martin, Stetson

Coach of the Year: Todd Stepsis, Drake (unanimously)

Scholar-Athlete of the Year: To be announced, Wednesday

2023 All-Pioneer Football League First Team

Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown

OFFENSE

WR Solomon Davis (1) Valparaiso 6-1 180 RSr. Brighton, Tenn.

WR Dominic Kibby (2) Presbyterian 6-1 175 So. Catonsville, Md.

WR Re-Al Mitchell San Diego 6-0 210 RSr. Eastvale, Calif.

WR Ryan Upp Morehead State 5-10 175 Jr. Leesburg, Va.

QB Bret Bushka (1) Butler 5-10 205 RSr. Lombard, Ill.

RB Jyran Mitchell Butler 6-0 205 Grad. Chicago, Ill.

RB Isaiah Williams San Diego 6-2 220 Sr. San Diego, Calif.

FB Joey Suchy Butler 6-0 224 RJr. Mayfield Heights, Ohio

A-P Re-al Mitchell (1) San Diego 6-0 210 RSr. Eastvale, Calif.

TE Worth Warner Presbyterian 6-4 215 Sr. Raleigh, N.C.

OL Bryan Bystol Butler 6-2 282 RSr. Libertyville, Ill.

OL Dylan DeMaison Dayton 6-2 296 RJr. Cincinnati, Ohio

OL Adam Dolan (H) Butler 6-8 310 RSo. Clarkston, Mich.

OL Beck Kipperman (2) Davidson 6-3 270 Sr. Round Rock, Texas

OL Ross Palmer (H) Drake 6-6 387 Sr. Waukee, Iowa

OL Alec Rasmussen (2) St. Thomas 6-7 307 Jr. Wayzata, Minn.

DEFENSE

DL Finn Claypool (U, 1) Drake 6-1 232 RSo. Des Moines, Iowa

DL Sam Hafner (2) Valparaiso 6-2 260 RJr. Green Bay, Wis.

DL Jonathan Hammond (2, 2x) Davidson 6-3 225 Sr. Dunwoody, Ga.

DL Julian Rawlins (H) Davidson 6-2 225 Jr. Huntersville, N.C.

LB Nate Arthur (2) Dayton 6-0 224 RSr. Cincinnati, Ohio

LB Jon Bunce (1) St. Thomas 6-3 241 Jr. Edina, Minn.

LB Alex Herriott (H) Presbyterian 5-11 210 Jr. Hanahan, S.C.

LB Jahleel Holmes Morehead State 6-2 240 Grad. Moreno Valley, Calif.

DB Nick Bafia Butler 6-1 190 Jr. Naperville, Ill.

DB Johnson Fallah St. Thomas 6-1 181 5th Yr. Brooklyn Park, Minn.

DB Eric Haney (H) San Diego 5-10 180 Sr. Peoria, Ariz.

DB Rassie Littlejohn (1) Stetson 6-1 188 RSr. Gainesville, Ga.

DB Kaleb Lyons Morehead State 5-11 180 So. Antioch, Tenn.

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK Shane Dunning Drake 6-0 212 Sr. Muskego, Wis.

P Evan Matthes (2) Valparaiso 6-3 215 6th Yr. Reston, Va.

RS Deyon Campbell Drake 5-10 200 Grad. Minneapolis, Minn.

LS Justin Iaccio (1) Marist 6-0 217 Grad. Mullica Hill, N.J.

Notes: Four wide receivers, six offensive linemen, and five defensive backs on First Team All-PFL due to ties in voting.

Symbols in parentheses: (U) indicates a player was a unanimous First Team All-PFL selection; (2x) is a non-consecutive two-time First-Team All-PFL honoree;

(1) was a First Team All-PFL selection in 2022; (2) was a Second Team All-PFL selection in 2022; (H) was an Honorable Mention All-PFL selection in 2022.

2023 All-Pioneer Football League Second Team

Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown

OFFENSE

WR Mitchell January Drake 6-1 182 So. Richfield, Minn.

WR Andrew McElroy St. Thomas 6-3 192 Jr. Bolingbrook, Ill.

WR Matt Stianche Marist 6-3 192 RJr. Northampton, Pa.

QB Luke Bailey Drake 6-2 190 Sr. Lemont, Ill.

RB Mari Adams Davidson 5-10 210 So. Shelby, N.C.

RB Hope Adebayo St. Thomas 5-8 216 Fr. St. Paul, Minn.

FB Eli Stewart Drake 6-2 232 Sr. Blue Springs, Mo.

A-P Ryan Upp Morehead State 5-10 175 Jr. Leesburg, Va.

TE Matt Rink St. Thomas 6-5 249 So. Lincoln, Neb.

TE Sam Rodriguez Drake 6-3 235 Sr. Western Springs, Ill.

OL Parker Althaus Drake 6-4 285 5th Yr. Waconia, Minn.

OL Gilbert Deglau Davidson 6-5 285 Sr. Richmond, Va.

OL Ibrahim Giwa Marist 6-4 291 Jr. Clarksburg, Md.

OL Malik McDaniel Davidson 6-1 295 Jr. Bartlett, Tenn.

OL Jimmy Poremba Drake 6-4 308 Grad. Wildwood, Ill.

DEFENSE

DL Noah Benza Morehead State 6-4 245 Jr. Hebron, Ky.

DL Malachi Cooper San Diego 6-4 260 Jr. San Diego, Calif.

DL Nick Jackson Marist 6-0 298 Jr. Alpharetta, Ga.

DL C.J. Warren St. Thomas 6-3 273 5th Yr. Circle Pines, Minn.

LB Evan Annis Valparaiso 6-1 225 RSr. Hilliard, Ohio

LB Nick Lerew Stetson 5-11 222 Grad. Dillsburg, Pa.

LB Jayden Wickware San Diego 6-0 185 Grad. San Diego, Calif.

LB Kennan Wolf Morehead State 6-3 225 RJr. Fresno, Calif.

DB Daniel Carter Davidson 6-2 210 Jr. Denver, N.C.

DB Cooper Krezek Morehead State 6-0 200 RJr. Kansas City, Mo.

DB Joey Lukrich Drake 6-1 193 5th Yr. Heber City, Utah

DB Jihad McCall Morehead State 6-1 190 RSo. Jersey City, N.J.

DB Amir Wallace San Diego 6-0 175 Grad. Fairfield, Calif.

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK Luka Zurak Butler 6-0 195 RJr. Cleveland, Ohio

P Shane Dunning Drake 6-0 212 Sr. Muskego, Wis.

RS Jashon Butler Valparaiso 5-10 200 RSr. Lynwood, Wash.

LS Hayden Snyder Dayton 6-1 200 Grad. Elmhurst, Ill.

LS Brett Welsing Drake 6-3 233 So. De Pere, Wis.

Notes: Two tight ends, five defensive backs, and two long snappers on Second Team All-PFL due to ties in voting.

2023 All-Pioneer Football League Honorable Mention

BUTLER: Jeremiah Jackson (LB); Austin Korba (DL); Kody Leach (LS); Ryan Lezon (TE); Ethan Loss (WR); Will Mason (DB).

DAVIDSON: Tristan Allen (P); Christian Berry (TE); Coulter Cleland (QB); Kyler Herring (OL); Darryn Kindles (DL); Aaron Maione (AP); Brody Reina (WR); Cam’Ron

Willis (LB); Mason Sheron (RB); Adam Zouagui (PK).

DAYTON: Jake Coleman (WR); Ca’ron Coleman (DB); Cam Cope (DB); Ryan Iiams (OL); Alec Keathley (FB); Matt Lenti (DB); Gavin Lochow (RS); Gavin Lochow

(WR); Aiden McKinley (LB); Michael Neel (RB); Sam Schadek (DL); Jack Wardzala (DL).

DRAKE: Sean Allison (LB); Jacob Auen (DL); Caleb Bowling (DB); Dorian Boyland (RB); Andrew Grout (OL); Colin Howard (WR); Linden Howe (LB); Holden Hughes

(DB); Trey Radocha (WR); Jake Shipla (DL); Jacob Thompson (LB).

MARIST: Cam Ball (DB); Justin Iaccio (LB); Joe Neubecker (P); Dom Perricone (OL); Tristian Shannon (AP); Tristian Shannon (RS); Isaiah Smith (DB); Angelo

Vokolos (LB); Amin Woods (RB).

MOREHEAD STATE: Isaac Armstrong (DL); Carter Cravens (QB); Kyle Daly (WR); Brady McKnight (RS); Jaxsen Spears (OL); Kip Warren (P); James Wayne (OL).

PRESBYTERIAN: Patch Bennett (OL); Clint Caldwell (OL); JT Hill (OL); Malek Horlback (DL); Mack Mikko (PK); Bradley Russ-Martin (DB); Brooks Russ-Martin (DB);

Carter Szydlowski (DL); Anthony Thornton (DB); Tyler Wesley (QB).

SAN DIEGO: Brett Bostad (FB); Garrett Carney (LB); Aydan Corrales (P); Jack D’Ambra (OL); Eric Haney (RS); Josh Heverly (WR); Josh Hong (DB); Chase Lyons (LB);

Mark Mahoney (OL); Nick Murray (DB); Ja’seem Reed (WR); Jacob Saewitz (DL); Peyton Smith (TE); Maicah Talavou (OL). St.

THOMAS: Joe Fitzgerald (DL); Noah Friedt (DL); Luke Herzog (LB); Jack Mohler (LB); Landon Reed (FB); Langston Robinson (OL); Tommy Shelstad (LB); Shawn

Shipman (RB); Brock Stanek (OL).

STETSON: CJ Davis (LB); Dawson Harrington (OL); Ronnell Johnson (WR); Jaylon Johnson (DB); Andrew Martin (LB); Davion Maxwell (DB); Chad Staley (OL); Jalon

Warthen Carr (AP).

VALPARAISO: Max Franco (DB); Tyler Geiman (DB); Mohamed Kamara (LB); Ryan Mann (RB); Kevin Spelman (RS); Carter Woody (OL).