The Valparaiso University football team has a trio of representatives on the 2018 Preseason All-Pioneer Football League Team, which was announced on Monday.
Senior linebacker Nick Turner (Gurnee, Ill. / Warren Township), senior offensive lineman Tom Schofield (Chicago, Ill. / St. Rita) and junior return specialist Bailey Gessinger (Napanee, Ind. / Northwood) have all garnered preseason recognition.
Turner, a 2017 All-PFL Second Team honoree, was one of two Valpo players and four players in the entire PFL to exceed 100 tackles last year. He finished the season with 101 tackles, 39 solos and averaged 9.2 tackles per game. Turner set a new career high with 13 tackles on Sept. 30 in a home win over Stetson, then matched that with 13 tackles as Valpo won the Hoosier Helmet on Nov. 11 at Butler. He started all 11 games for the Crusaders.
Schofield figures to be a key cog in an experienced offensive line after picking up Second-Team All-PFL accolades a year ago. He started all 11 games for a line that helped Valpo finish tied for 10th nationally in fewest sacks allowed per game at 0.91.
Gessinger makes the preseason all-league team as a return specialist for the second consecutive season. He also enjoyed All-PFL Second Team honors in both 2016 and 2017. Last season, Gessinger led the team with 12 punt returns for 102 yards (8.5 yards per return) and 32 kick returns for 669 yards (20.9 yards per return). Gessinger surpassed 100 kick return yards in back-to-back games for the first time in his collegiate career on Oct. 7 at Campbell (113) and Oct. 14 vs. Marist (111).
The 2018 PFL Preseason Poll will be announced on Tuesday. The Crusaders, who are coming off their best season since 2003, open the new campaign on Sept. 8 at Duquesne.
2018 Preseason All-Pioneer Football League Team |
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(as selected by PFL head coaches) |
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Pos. |
Player |
School |
Ht. |
Wt. |
Yr. |
Hometown |
OFFENSE (Ties in voting: WR) |
||||||
WR |
Pace Temple (1) |
Butler |
6-2 |
200 |
Sr. |
Geneva, Ill. |
WR |
Steven Doran (2) |
Drake |
6-3 |
212 |
Sr. |
Germantown, Wis. |
WR |
Juston Christian (1) |
Marist |
6-0 |
186 |
Sr. |
Owings Mills, Md. |
WR |
Jarin Higginbotham (2) |
Morehead State |
6-0 |
195 |
RSr. |
Liberty Township, Ohio. |
QB |
Anthony Lawrence (1) |
San Diego |
6-1 |
195 |
RSr. |
La Mesa, Calif. |
TE |
Adam Trautman (2) |
Dayton |
6-1 |
225 |
RSr. |
Williamsburg, Mich. |
RB |
Wesley Dugger (1) |
Davidson |
6-0 |
192 |
So. |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
RB |
Tucker Yinger (1) |
Dayton |
6-0 |
191 |
RSr. |
Columbus, Ohio |
FB |
Zach Nelson (1) |
San Diego |
6-2 |
240 |
RJr. |
Danville, Calif. |
OL |
Bobby Jensen (H) |
Butler |
6-4 |
290 |
RSr. |
Plainfield, Ind. |
OL |
Dakota Sneed (H) |
Butler |
6-3 |
285 |
RSr. |
Edinburgh, Ind. |
OL |
Ben Gauthier (2) |
Dayton |
6-2 |
275 |
Sr. |
Avon, Ohio |
OL |
Jordan Lewinsky (2) |
Drake |
6-5 |
290 |
RSr. |
Mequon, Wis. |
OL |
Daniel Cooney (1) |
San Diego |
6-8 |
315 |
RSr. |
Western Springs, Ill. |
OL |
Tom Schofield (2) |
Valparaiso |
6-3 |
285 |
Sr. |
Chicago, Ill. |
DEFENSE |
||||||
DL |
Nick Surges (H) |
Dayton |
6-3 |
237 |
RSr. |
Naperville, Ill. |
DL |
Nathan Clayberg (1) |
Drake |
6-4 |
282 |
RSr. |
Pella, Iowa |
DL |
Eddie Zinn-Turner (2) |
Marist |
6-1 |
298 |
RJr. |
Malvern, Ohio |
DL |
Connor Spencer (H) |
San Diego |
6-3 |
285 |
RSr. |
Boulder, Colo. |
LB |
Caysaun Wakeley (H) |
Jacksonville |
5-11 |
200 |
Jr. |
Alachua, Fla. |
LB |
Trevor Tufano (2) |
Jacksonville |
5-11 |
210 |
Jr. |
New Smyrna Beach, Fla. |
LB |
Willie Barrett (1) |
Marist |
5-11 |
227 |
RSr. |
Holiday, Fla. |
LB |
Nick Turner (2) |
Valparaiso |
6-1 |
225 |
Sr. |
Gurnee, Ill. |
DB |
David Leisring (H) |
Dayton |
6-1 |
190 |
Sr. |
Cincinnati, Ohio |
DB |
Sean Lynch (1) |
Drake |
5-9 |
181 |
RSr. |
Hawthorn Woods, Ill. |
DB |
Wes Beans (H) |
Marist |
5-10 |
192 |
RSr. |
New Oxford, Pa. |
DB |
JJ Henderson (2) |
Stetson |
5-10 |
161 |
RSo. |
Tampa, Fla. |
SPECIAL TEAMS |
||||||
PK |
Drew Bevelhimer (1) |
Butler |
6-1 |
185 |
Jr. |
Indianapolis, Ind. |
P |
Sean Smith (1) |
Dayton |
6-4 |
222 |
Sr. |
Avondale, Pa. |
RS |
Bailey Gessinger (2) |
Valparaiso |
5-10 |
165 |
Jr. |
Napanee, Ind. |
LS |
Matt Tunnacliffe (H) |
Dayton |
6-3 |
200 |
Sr. |
West Chester, Ohio |
Notes in parentheses: 1-was a first-team selection in 2017, 2-was a second-team selection in 2017, H-was a honorable mention selection in 2017. |
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