Valparaiso (0-1, 0-0 PFL)
at No. 25/23 Youngstown State (0-1, 0-0 MVFC)

Game #2 Saturday, Sept. 7, 1 p.m. CT
Stambaugh Stadium (20,630) – Youngstown, Ohio

This Week in Valpo Football: The Valparaiso University football program will face off with a full-scholarship, Missouri Valley Football Conference foe for the second consecutive week as the Beacons make their way to Stambaugh Stadium in Youngstown, Ohio for a matchup with the nationally-ranked Youngstown State Penguins.

Previously: The Beacons opened the season with a 35-7 setback in Week 1 at UNI, starting a series of consecutive games against MVFC competition. The Panthers found the endzone on four of their five first-half drives, but the Valpo defense improved after halftime as UNI was limited to one score after the break. On offense, Valpo moved the ball more in the first half, as all five of the team’s first downs came before the intermission. The best series of the day for the offense was a five-play, 75-yard drive early in the second quarter, highlighted by a 61-yard reception by Michael Mansaray, with most of the yards coming after the catch. Following a seven-yard grab by Evan Jernegan pushed the ball to the 1-yard line, Mansaray leapt into the end zone to get the Beacons on the board.

Series Notes: This will mark the fifth all-time matchup between Valpo and Youngstown State and the second consecutive season that the two teams have locked horns. Last year, the Penguins prevailed 52-10 and the closest game between the two teams was 42-7 in 2018. The two squads also faced off in 2011 and 2012.

Following the Beacons: Saturday’s game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Drae Smith (play-by-play) and Chris Sammarone (analyst). For those interested in the hometown radio call, Todd Ickow is in his 34^th year as the play-by-play voice of the Beacons, while Brandon Vickrey is back for his ninth season as the radio analyst for road games. The broadcast will be available on WVUR, 95.1 FM Valparaiso, ValpoAthletics.com and the TuneIn Radio app.

Head Coach Landon Fox: Landon Fox (17-36) is in his sixth season as the head coach of the Valparaiso University football program in 2024. Over the last four seasons, Fox has led Valpo to 14 Pioneer Football League victories, the most in a four-year period in program history. This stretch marks Valpo’s most league wins in a four-year period in any conference since 1961-1964. Fox finished the 2023 season with 17 victories as Valpo head coach, tied for the seventh most in program history. He coached his 2023 team to a 3-2 record at Brown Field, the group’s highest home win total since 2017. Fox’s teams continued to thrive academically in 2023 as well, led by PFL Scholar-Athlete of the Year Evan Annis, who became the first Beacon to earn that honor. He was part of a group of five Academic All-PFL selections, tied for the most in the league and the program’s most since 1998. During the 2022 campaign, Valpo had 64 PFL Honor Roll members, the most in program history. 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.

Turnover-Free Football

• Valpo took care of the ball against UNI, as neither team lost a fumble or threw an interception.
• Since Valpo started playing at least one “guarantee game” against a full-scholarship opponent every year in 2010, this was the first time the offense played turnover-free football.
• In 11 games against MVFC opponents since 2010, this was the first time the Brown & Gold did not commit a giveaway.

A Tradition Continues

• Elite punters have become a tradition within the Valpo program under head coach Landon Fox.
• Ben Niesner was 2019 All-PFL Honorable Mention, Spring 2021 All-PFL First Team and Fall 2021 All-PFL First Team. He was also selected to the FCS Bowl and Tropical Bowl USA, was a member of the FCS Punter of the Year Watch List and was the Spring 2021 co-PFL Special Teams Player of the Year.
• Evan Matthes, who this season has transitioned to the coaching staff handling quality control, was a 2022 All-PFL Second Team and 2023 All-PFL First Team honoree while also being named an FCS Punter of the Year Semifinalist.
• Sam Johnson, who previously played at Jackson State and Alabama, made his Valpo debut in Week 1 at Youngstown State and averaged 48.4 yards per punt on eight attempts, covering 387 total yards with a long of 55.
• Through Week 1, Johnson is ranked seventh nationally in FCS with a punting average of 48.4.

Other Notes Wrapping Up Week 1: UNI 35, Valpo 7

• Michael Mansaray had three receptions for 79 yards while also rushing for six yards and a touchdown on four carries. Mansaray’s 61-yard catch was Valpo’s longest since a 68 yarder by Brandon Jimenez on Oct. 21 of last season at Davidson.
• Rowan Keefe started the season opener at quarterback, going 6-of-15 passing for 101 yards.
• The team’s top tacklers were Jimmy Pouba and Colin Graves with nine apiece. Pouba’s tackle total was a career high, surpassing six on Oct. 28 of last season at Butler.
• Penalties were something Valpo will look to clean up going forward, as the Beacons committed nine for 72 yards.
• While the passing numbers were comparable with Valpo being outgained 116-108 through the air, UNI held a 365-16 advantage on the ground, thanks in large part to two stud backs and a veteran offensive line.

Scouting the Opponent: Youngstown State

• Ranked No. 23 nationally by the AFCA Coaches’ Poll and No. 25 by Stats Perform FCS in the preseason polls.
• Coming off a 24-17 road loss to Villanova in Week 1. The Penguins trailed 17-3 at halftime in a rematch of last year’s second-round FCS Playoff matchup.
• Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Doug Phillips.
• Coming off the program’s first FCS Playoff appearance in seven seasons.

Valpo Versus The Valley

• This will mark Valpo’s 12^th 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, Western Illinois (twice), Illinois State (twice), UNI and Youngstown State (fifth time).
• Valpo is seeking its first win over an MVFC opponent. A 28-21 loss at Illinois State in 2022 is the team’s closest-ever game against an MVFC opponent.
• This marks the 14^th straight year (excluding the Spring 2021 campaign) where Valpo has played a “guarantee game” (a road game that is not part of a home-and-home series). This year, the Beacons have two such contests to start the year after playing at UNI last week.

Oh Captain, My Captain

• Valpo named its three captains for the 2024 season shortly before the Week 1 game at UNI.
• Redshirt senior defensive lineman Sam Hafner, senior linebacker Jimmy Pouba and redshirt senior defensive lineman Tyler Eberhart received the honor.
• Hafner and Eberhart are second-year captains, while Pouba holds the distinction for the first time this year.
• The Beacons will have a rotating game captain for the fourth captain spot each week.

Hafner Does It All

• Sam Hafner received preseason accolades related to each of the three main pillars of the Valpo Athletics Department – classroom, competition and community.
• Hafner was tabbed to the Preseason All-PFL Team, the lone Valpo player to earn that honor, after finishing second nationally among tackles by a defensive lineman with 63 last season. He was also named to the Phil Steele All-PFL First Team.
• Hafner was nominated for the 2024 Allstate AFCA Good Works team, which recognizes college football athletes for their unwavering commitment to community service and their “good works” off the field. A 2023 team captain, Hafner is the community service leader for the Valpo football defense, helping organize and track volunteer hours for the team. He also works summer football camp, participates in a Boys & Girls Club holiday event every December and is involved in the team’s Polar Plunge to raise money for Special Olympics.
• Hafner owns a 3.78 cumulative grade point average in biology/chemistry, and was nominated for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy, which is college football’s premier scholar-athlete award and annually recognizes an individual for a combination of academic success, football performance and exemplary leadership.

More Preseason Plaudits

• Hafner was not the only player to receive recognition this summer, as offensive lineman Tyler Eberhart was named The Leadership Playbook 2023-24 Collegiate Male Student-Athlete of the Year.
• That award is presented to an individual who exemplifies sportsmanship, positive leadership and good teamwork. Eberhart, a team captain and mechanical engineering major, made a positive impact on the program through leadership despite suffering a season-ending injury in the 2023 season opener at Youngstown State.
• Four Beacons were named to the Phil Steele Preseason All-PFL Third Team – senior offensive lineman Carter Woody, senior defensive back Max Franco, junior running back Ryan Mann and junior defensive lineman Kevin Spelman.
• The Beacons will look to exceed preseason projections as they were picked 10^th of 11 in the PFL preseason poll. Defending champion Drake earned the top spot in the poll.

Star-Studded Staff

• Head coach Landon Fox’s 2024 coaching staff features three former National Football League players and five coaches who have either played or coached in the professional ranks.
• Offensive line coach Michael Brewster started 49 consecutive games at Ohio State, the second longest streak in program history, and earned a variety of awards and honors. He was a Freshman All-American in 2008, garnered All-Big Ten honors in 2010 and 2011 and was the only junior to be named a finalist for the Rimington Trophy, awarded annually to the best center in college football, in 2010, when he was also named a First Team All-American. He spent two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars – seeing action in 26 games and making 10 starts – and later had stints with the Miami Dolphins (2014) and New Orleans Saints (2015).
• Quarterbacks coach Gibran Hamdan was a signal caller in the NFL from 2003-2010, playing for the Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2003 NFL Draft by Washington after playing his college football at Indiana, where he was a two-sport athlete and also played baseball. He passed for 2,115 yards and nine touchdowns during his senior season with the Hoosiers.
• Cornerbacks coach Stanford Routt was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft out of the University of Houston and played for the Raiders for seven seasons from 2005-2011. He also played for the Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans during the 2012 season and was part of the Baltimore Ravens organization in 2013. Routt played in 119 NFL games and made 60 starts including three different seasons where he started every game for the Raiders.
• Running backs coach Kearstin Schweitzer came to Valpo after a stint working with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League, where she spent the summer as part of the National Coaching Academy Fellowship with the Buccaneers and learned under longtime NFL running backs coach Skip Peete. She previously spent time with the Bucs as an NFL National Coaching Academy Finalist in May, working as part of the offensive staff during minicamp. She was also part of the NFL Nunn-Wooten Scouting Fellowship with the Pittsburgh Steelers during the summer of 2023. She became the first female position coach in Valpo and Pioneer Football League history. She joined St. Thomas’ Anna Caruso (Quality Control: In-Game Strategy and Data Research) as females with on-field coaching responsibilities in the PFL.
• Special Teams Coordinator / Safeties Coach Marc Hull served as the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach for the Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League before arriving at Valpo.
• Fox will have more of a presence on the offensive side of the ball this season. He’ll leave the defense in the hands of his two confidants who have the most experience in his system – Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers Coach David Marquis and Assistant Head Coach / Co-Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Line Coach RJ Ghilarducci. Marquis is in his second season on Valpo’s staff and previously worked under Fox at Dayton. Ghilarducci is the program’s longest-tenured assistant coach in his fifth season.
• Tight Ends Coach / Recruiting Coordinator Jack Jarnigan spent the last two seasons as an offensive line graduate assistant under head coach Jerry Kill at New Mexico State University (FBS). During his playing days, he was a four-year starter at Valpo, where he was a fixture on the offensive line from 2016-2019 after redshirting as a freshman in 2015.
• Evan Matthes, who handles quality control with an emphasis on specialists, is another former Valpo standout. He earned All-PFL First Team honors at punter in 2023 and was a member of the program each of the last two seasons after beginning his playing career at West Virginia from 2018-2021.
• Wide receivers coach Justin Bosch joined the Beacons after spending time as the wide receivers coach at the University of Rochester and Kenyon College. Nickelbacks coach Dayven Coleman joined the Valpo staff after stints at UNLV and Austin Peay.
• Former Michigan State offensive lineman Luke Campbell is back for his second season as Director of Sports Performance. He was a four-year letter winner for the Spartans, for whom he saw action in 43 career games and made 26 starts.
• Head Football Athletic Trainer Nicole Mioduski is back for her seventh season of Valpo football. She is the longest-tenured on-field member of the program. Rose Paul (second season) and JP Ehrman (first season) round out the athletic training staff.
• Sarah Hacker is the program’s Director of Football Operations, while Patrick Oliva is a graduate student equipment manager.

2023 Valpo Football Feats

• Increased the team’s Pioneer Football League win total over a four-year period to 14, the program’s highest league win total in a four-year stretch since 1961-1964.
• Set a program record for PFL Honor Roll members with 64 and tied for the most Academic All-PFL First Team honorees in the league with five, the program’s most since 1998.
• Led the conference and ranked fourth nationally in blocked punts with four and led the PFL and ranked fifth nationally in total blocked kicks with five.
• Led the PFL and ranked 12^th nationally in kickoff return average at 23.16.
• Led the PFL and ranked 25^th nationally in punting average at 38.22.
• Led the PFL and ranked 28^th nationally in rushing defense at 123.3.
• Ranked second in the PFL and 50^th nationally in scoring defense at 24.8.
• Ranked second in the PFL and 22^nd nationally in total defense at 318.5.
• Had the team’s best scoring defense (24.8 ppg) in a traditional fall season since 2000 (21.7).
• Had the team’s best rushing defense in a traditional fall season since 2007. The team has ranked in the top four in the PFL in rushing defense in all five seasons under Landon Fox.
• Had the team’s best total defense (318.5) in a traditional fall season since 2000 (299.1).
• Posted a 3-2 record at Brown Field, the team’s highest home win total since 2017 (4-1).
• Allowed just 175 yards of total offense in a 21-7 win over Dayton on Nov. 4, helping Valpo improve to 2-2 against Dayton under Landon Fox after going 3-25 in matchups with the Flyers that occurred prior to his arrival. The 175 yards of total offense was the fewest permitted by the Valpo defense in a league game since Nov. 15, 2008 at Campbell.
• Landon Fox climbed into a tie for seventh in program history with Dave Cecchini for wins by a Valpo head coach with 17.
• Played seven games decided by seven points or fewer, the program’s most one-score games in a single season since 1976. Entering 2024, Valpo has played 25 one-score games in Landon Fox’s 52 games as head coach. In 2023, the team played five straight one-score games for the first time since 2003.
• Erased a 15-0 deficit to beat Southwest Minnesota State 16-15 on Sept. 30.
• Came within six points of eventual undefeated PFL champion Drake, falling 20-14 on Oct. 7 to an FCS Playoff bound team.

2023 Individual Achievements

• Evan Matthes tied for third in program history in single-season punting average at 43.2.
• Micah Mackay became the 26^th player in program history with a punt return for a touchdown.
• Max Samuel blocked three kicks, tied for the fifth most in a single season in program history.
• Jashon Butler led the PFL and ranked fourth nationally in kick return average at 30.8.
• Tyler Geiman led the PFL and ranked third nationally with 1.6 passes defended per game.
• Evan Matthes led the PFL and ranked 13^th nationally in punting average at 43.2.
• Max Samuel led the PFL and ranked third nationally in blocked kicks with three.
• Samuel had two blocked punts in the same game on Nov. 11 vs. Stetson, one of only eight players in the FCS nation with multiple blocked kicks in the same game in 2023.
• Sam Hafner finished the season with 63 tackles, the second most nationally by a defensive lineman.
• Solomon Davis had 10 receptions on Sept. 23 vs. Marist, the first Valpo player with a double-figure reception total since Tanner Kuramata in 2014. Davis had 175 receiving yards in that game, the most by a Valpo player in a single game since Kuramata in 2013.

2023 Awards & Honors

• Evan Annis, PFL Scholar-Athlete of the Year (first Valpo student-athlete to win the award since it began in 2014)
• Evan Matthes, FCS Punter of the Year Award Semifinalist
• All-PFL First Team – Solomon Davis, Sam Hafner, Evan Matthes
• All-PFL Second Team – Evan Annis, Jashon Butler
• All-PFL Honorable Mention – Max Franco, Tyler Geiman, Mohamed Kamara, Ryan Mann, Kevin Spelman and Carter Woody
• Academic All-PFL First Team – Evan Annis, Tytus Ragle, Sam Hafner, Kurt Kessen, Evan Matthes
• Academic All-PFL Second Team – Ryan Mann
• Phil Steele All-PFL First Team – Solomon Davis, Sam Hafner, Evan Matthes, Jashon Butler
• Phil Steele All-PFL Second Team – Evan Annis
• Phil Steele All-PFL Third Team – Kurt Kessen, Tyler Geiman
• College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District – Kurt Kessen, Sam Hafner, Evan Annis, Tytus Ragle, Ryan Mann
• Weekly Awards – Max Samuel (PFL Special Teams Player of the Week 11/12), Evan Matthes (PFL Special Teams Player of the Week 11/5)

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 28 states are represented. Illinois is the state most represented on Valpo’s roster as 26 players hail from the Land of Lincoln. Other states in double figures are Indiana (19), Ohio (14) and California (10).

Who’s Back?: The 2024 Beacons boast seven returning starters on offense and five on defense.

Family Tree

• 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.
• LB Hayden Bedell’s cousin is former Valpo offensive lineman Drew Parrish.
• 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).
• QB Caron Tyler’s father is rapper Aaron Tyler, better known by stage name MC Eiht.
• DB Mark Johnson’s father Mark played football at Vanderbilt from 1986-91.
• RB Amir Simmons is the cousin of Taco Charlton, who played at Michigan and was a 2017 first-round NFL draft pick.
• OL Noah Gargano’s uncle Greg Murphy played at Penn State from 1970-1974 and was selected in the 12^th round of the 1975 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers before playing with the Patriots (1976), Jets (1977-78) and Oilers (1979).
• TE Brayden Welch is the son of Joshua Welch, part of MMA Team Quest for 17 years.
• The parents of DB Kyle Patenaude – Allison Prado and Jerry Patenaude – both played rugby at Chico State.
• DL Betrand Berry II is the son of former Notre Dame defensive end Betrand Berry, who went on to play 12 years in the NFL for the Indianapolis Colts, St. Louis Rams, Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals. He was Second-Team All-Pro and a Pro Bowl selection in 2004.
• WR TJ Caldwell’s father Tracy played football at the University of Arkansas from 1990-1993.
• DL Max Munoz is the nephew of James Oesterle, who played football at Valpo from 1991-92.
• TE JT Gawrys is the son of Steve Gawrys, who played baseball at BYU from 1987-1991 and went on to play semi-pro ball.

Did You Know? #BeaconBits

• 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.
• 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.
• TE Evan Jernegan has built out the biggest Lego set, the UCS Millennium Falcon.
• K Ryan Hawk is a certified advanced scuba diver.
• OL Noah Kline’s extended family is so large that at one point he had a relative living in every state except Maine.
• DL Cole Muilenburg’s family was all born on either the 15^th or 21^st of the month.
• WR Tyler Threat was born and raised in Dallas as a huge Cowboys fan. During a youth football season in Texas, he played against Coach Deion Sanders’ team and executed very well on both sides of the ball. His team won and Coach Prime came up to him after the game and gave him a high five.
• WR Ryan Ricketti trains MMA.
• QB Clayton Mains went to the same high school that produced Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney
• OL Nathan Snedegar is a second-degree blackbelt in Taekwondo.

Player-by-Player Quick Hits – Projected Offensive Starters
*Based on two-deep, starters subject to change

• WR #47 Devin Yeats, R-So. – 2022 Scout Team Player of the Year… Played in seven games in 2023.
• LT #77 Jake Russell, R-Fr. – Did not see game action in 2023… Had a good spring and fall camp to earn the top spot on the depth chart… Also competed in wrestling in high school.
• LG #62 Carter Woody, 5^th – Started all 12 games in 2022 and all 11 games in 2023… Earned the 2023 Sever Award, presently annually to the team’s top offensive lineman… 2023 All-PFL Honorable Mention… 2024 Phil Steele Preseason All-PFL Third Team.
• C #60 Tyler Eberhart, R-Sr. – Suffered a season-ending injury in the 2023 season opener at Youngstown State… Earned 2023-24 Leadership Playbook Collegiate Male Student-Athlete of the Year honors… 2023 team captain… Played in all 12 games on Valpo’s offensive line in 2022.
• QB #2 Rowan Keefe, R-So. – Entered the Oct. 21, 2023 game at Davidson in the second half and threw three touchdowns passes against no interceptions while completing nine of his 12 passes for 187 yards in his collegiate debut... Became the first Valpo quarterback since 2013 to complete a pair of 60+ yard passes in the same game during his dazzling debut... Went 11-of-19 for 172 yards in his first collegiate start on Oct. 28 at Butler… Named the 2023 Team Most-Improved Player after playing in five games and making four starts at quarterback.
• QB #1 Caron Tyler, R-Fr. – 2023 Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year… Saw action in two games in 2023, retaining four years of eligibility.
• RG #50 Nico Paic, R-So. – Was converted from defensive line to offensive line prior to the 2023 campaign… Played in 11 games and made six starts in 2023.
• RT #70 Noah Kline, So. – Played in nine games, all starts in 2023… Team captain in both football and track & field during his senior season.
• TE #89 Jake Vickers, R-Sr. – Made seven catches for 105 yards and one touchdown while playing in nine games in 2022... Started all 11 games and made 16 catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns in 2023.
• WR #9 Chris Gundy, R-So. – Played in all 11 games in 2023 and racked up 195 receiving yards on 12 catches… Had six kick returns for 105 yards and three punt returns for 27 yards in 2023, bringing his all-purpose yard total to 331.
• WR #8 Brandon Jimenez, Sr. – Joined the program prior to the 2023 season as a transfer from Albany... Caught a 68-yard pass from Rowan Keefe for Valpo’s longest play of the season from scrimmage to date on Oct. 21, 2024 at Davidson, when he had a season-high 77 receiving yards… Played in all 11 games and made nine starts in 2023, totaling 19 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns.
• RB #34 Ryan Mann, R-Jr. – Played in all 12 games in 2022 after transferring from Northern Illinois... 2024 Phil Steele Preseason All-PFL Third Team, 2023 All-PFL Honorable Mention, 2023 Academic All-PFL Second Team, 2023 Team Offensive Player of the Year, 2023 CSC Academic All-District… Played in 10 games and made eight starts in 2023… Ran for 487 yards on 106 carries and three touchdowns while adding nine receptions for 85 yards and one score in 2023.

Player-by-Player Quick Hits – Projected Defensive Starters
*Based two-deep, starters subject to change

• DE #90 Sam Hafner, R-Sr. – Started all 11 games in 2023… 2024 Preseason All-PFL, 2024 Phil Steele Preseason All-PFL First Team, 2024 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team Nominee, 2024 Campbell Trophy Nominee… 2023 All-PFL First Team, 2023 Academic All-PFL First Team, 2023 Team Defensive Player of the Year, 2023 CSC Academic All-District, 2023 Preseason Phil Steele All-PFL Second Team… 2022 Academic All-PFL First Team, 2022 All-PFL Second Team, 2022 CSC Academic All-District, 2022 Phil Steele All-PFL Third Team… Finished the 2023 season second nationally in tackles by a defensive lineman with 63.
• DT #91 Kevin Spelman, R-Jr. – Was the only PFL player and one of 25 players nationally named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List for the honor presented annually to the nation’s top FCS freshman in 2022… Tied for fifth in the PFL in sacks and was one of nine players in the league with multiple forced fumbles in 2022... Ranked fourth in the nation in sacks by a freshman in 2022... Earned All-PFL Honorable Mention at both defensive line and long snapper in 2022… 2023 All-PFL Honorable Mention (long snapper)… 2024 Preseason All-PFL (LS)… Appeared in 10 games and made nine starts in 2023.
• NT #59 Isaiah Fowler, R-Fr. – Played in two games and redshirted in 2023… Northwest Indiana native and a Chesterton High School product.
• DE #9 Onye Nwosisi, Jr. – Played in all 11 games and made three starts in his first season at Valpo in 2023 after transferring from Muskingum… Had 32 tackles including 15 solos, 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks in 2023.
• LB (Will) #43 Max Samuel, So. – 2023 Team Newcomer of the Year… Blocked two punts on Nov. 11, 2023 vs. Stetson, finishing the season as one of only eight players in the FCS nation with multiple blocked kicks in the same game. He was named PFL Special Teams Player of the Week following that contest… Blocked three kicks during the 2023 season, tied for the fifth most in a single season in program history.
• LB (Mike) #44 Jake Birmingham, R-Jr. – Played in all 11 games in 2023 and all 12 games in 2022… Had 40 tackles in 2022 and 17 in 2023… Had 36 of his 40 tackles in 2022 over the final four games of the season including three straight double-figure tackle outputs.
• LB (nickel) #15 Jimmy Pouba, Sr. – Played in eight games and made one start in his first season at Valpo in 2023 after transferring from College of the Sequoias… Tied for the team lead with a career-high nine tackles in Week 1 at UNI.
• CB #14 Nic Lendino, R-Fr. – Played in four games in 2023, retaining four years of eligibility… Was a 7v7 national champion with the Midwest Boom.
• S #20 Austin Chilton, 6^th – Named the PFL Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 23, 2021 and College Sports Madness PFL Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 23, 2021… Played in 10 games and made nine starts in 2023.
• S #7 Colin Graves, Sr. – Started all 11 games in 2023, posting 70 tackles including 35 solos… Has played in each of the team’s 23 games over the last two seasons… Tied for the team lead with nine tackles in Week 1 at UNI.
• CB #5 Max Franco, Sr. – Had an interception and a 34-yard return on Nov. 12, 2022 at Marist… 2024 Phil Steele Preseason All-PFL Third Team… 2023 All-PFL Honorable Mention… 2023 Team Most-Inspirational Player… Played in all 23 games over the last two seasons… Had 30 tackles, 22 solos, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and eight pass breakups in 2023.

Specialist Quick Hits – Projected Starters

• K #37 Ryan Hawk, R-Jr. – Made a 47-yard field goal in Week 2 of 2023 at Indiana Wesleyan on the first attempt of his collegiate career... Kicked a go-ahead, 34-yard field goal in overtime that stood as the difference in the 23-20 win over Stetson on Nov. 11, 2023… Played in all 11 games in 2023… Had 42 kickoffs for 2,405 yards, averaging 57.3 yards per kick while booting 21 touchbacks in 2023… Went 4-for-7 on field-goals and 10-for-11 on PATs last year.
• P #46 Sam Johnson, R-Sr. – Joined the program prior to the 2024 season after previously playing at Alabama and Jackson State… Walk-on who made the start at punter for the first four games of the Crimson Tide’s 2020 season… Won one SWAC Championship at Jackson State and an FBS national championship and two SEC crowns while at Alabama… Averaged 48.4 yards per punt on eight botts in Week 1 at UNI.