After enjoying a breakout junior season in 2018, Valparaiso University football senior Jamari Booker (Kentwood, Mich. / East Kentwood) has received Preseason All-Pioneer Football League recognition in advance of the 2019 campaign.

Booker earned All-PFL Honorable Mention last season after starting all 11 games and accruing 91 tackles, second on the team and the most among returnees for 2019. He tied for fourth in the PFL with 8.2 tackles per game.

The highlight of Booker’s junior season came on Sept. 29, when he racked up 20 tackles in a game against Davidson. The Valpo defensive back was the only player in the PFL with a 20-tackle out in 2018 and was one of just six players in the FCS nation to achieve that feat. He also became the first Valpo player since at least 2002 with a 20+ tackle performance.  

Booker contributed to a pair of forced turnovers on Nov. 10 vs. Jacksonville, causing a fumble and making an interception. He had picks in consecutive contests on Nov. 3 (at Marist) and Nov. 10 (vs. Jacksonville) and recorded forced fumbles in back-to-back games on Nov. 10 (vs. Jacksonville) and Nov. 17 (at Stetson).

The PFL will unveil its preseason coaches’ poll on Tuesday.

2019 Preseason All-Pioneer Football League Team

(as selected by PFL head coaches)

Pos. Player School Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown

OFFENSE

WR Michael Bandy (1) San Diego 5-11 190 Sr. La Mirada, Calif.

WR Steve Burdette (2) Stetson 5-11 168 Sr. Sardis, Miss.

WR Steven Doran (2) Drake 6-3 216 Grad. Germantown, Wis.

QB Calvin Turner Jr. (H) Jacksonville 6-1 195 Jr. Savannah, Ga.

TE Adam Trautman (2) Dayton 6-0 231 RSo. Williamsburg, Mich.

RB Wesley Dugger (1) Davidson 6-0 192 Jr. Henrico, Va.

RB Emilio Martinez (2) San Diego 5-9 190 Jr. Salinas, Calif.

FB Garnett Nicolas (1) Jacksonville 6-2 225 So. Florida, N.Y.

OL Ethan Steinbacher (2) Davidson 6-2 278 Sr. Concord, N.C.

OL Dane Cordell (H) Jacksonville 5-10 285 RJr. Plano, Texas

OL Michael Niese (H) Dayton 6-5 273 Sr. Chesterfield, Mo.

OL Dan Wittekind (H) Marist 6-2 290 Sr. Chester, N.Y.

OL Josh Poe (H) Morehead State 6-4 303 RSr. Salyersville, Ky.

DEFENSE

DL Gavin Dineen (1) Drake 6-3 284 Sr. Algonquin, Ill.

DL Nick Friedel (1) San Diego 6-3 235 RJr. San Ramon, Calif.

DL Bryce Perry-Martin (2) Davidson 6-1 266 Sr. Spring Lake, N.C.

DL Erin Morgan (2) Drake 6-2 234 Grad. Aurora, Ill.

LB Andrew Lutgens (1) Dayton 6-3 205 Sr. Brentwood, Tenn.

LB Colby Duncan (1) Stetson 6-2 208 RSr. Jacksonville, Fla.

LB Mason Brunner (2) Butler 6-0 215 Sr. Harrison, Ohio

LB Kama Kamaka (2) San Diego 6-1 195 Jr. Kailua, Hawaii

DB Will Warner (1) Drake 6-3 201 Sr. Pella, Iowa

DB JJ Henderson (2) Stetson 5-10 164 RJr. Tampa, Fla.

DB Luke Sennett (2) Butler 6-1 200 RSr. West Chester, Ohio

DB Jamari Booker (H) Valparaiso 6-0 185 Sr. Kentwood, Mich.

SPECIAL TEAMS

PK Drew Bevelhimer (2) Butler 6-1 185 Sr. Indianapolis, Ind.

P Tanner Kuljian (2) San Diego 5-10 170 RJr. Temecula, Calif.

RS Michael Armstead (1) San Diego 5-11 175 Sr. Monterey, Calif.

LS Mason Brunner (2) Butler 6-0 215 Sr. Harrison, Ohio

Notes in parentheses: 1-was a first-team selection in 2018, 2-was a second-team selection in 2018, H-was an honorable mention selection in 2018.