The reward for all of the work that takes place over the course of 353 days out of the year arrives in the form of 12 fall Saturdays for the Valparaiso University football program.

The first of those Saturdays is upon us this week as the Beacons head to Cedar Falls, Iowa to open up the 2024 campaign against UNI at the UNI-Dome. The arrival of Week 1 is reason enough for gratitude, and the excitement is only enhanced by the program's belief that it can flip the script after a 2023 campaign filled with close contests.

Coaching Staff

We're here primarily to tell you about student-athletes, but how can we not start with coaches based on the notoriety of the staff that head coach Landon Fox has assembled?

Michael Brewster (Offensive Line Coach), Gibran Hamdan (Quarterbacks Coach) and Stanford Routt (Cornerbacks Coach) played in the NFL. Marc Hull (Special Teams Coordinator / Safeties Coach) coached in the professional ranks in the United States Football League. Kearstin Schweitzer (Running Backs Coach) has joined the fold after time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and becomes the first female coach in program history.

David Marquis (Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers Coach) and RJ Ghilarducci (Associate Head Coach / Co-Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Line Coach) own significant experience in Fox's system, while Jack Jarnigan (Tight Ends Coach / Recruiting Coordinator) and Evan Matthes (Quality Control / Special Teams) were standout players for the Brown & Gold. Justin Bosch (wide receivers) and Dayven Coleman (nickelbacks) round out the staff. Former Michigan State starting offensive lineman Luke Campbell continues to lead the program' strength & conditioning efforts as Director of Sports Performance.

Fox will have more of a presence on the offensive side of the ball this season. The defensive side of the ball will be led by Marquis, who worked under Fox at Dayton and is in his second season at Valpo, and Ghilarducci, who is Valpo's longest tenured assistant coach entering his fifth year in Fox's system.

Offensive Line

Redshirt freshman left tackle Jake Russell (Glen Ridge, N.J. / Glen Ridge), fifth-year senior left guard Carter Woody (Fort Mill, S.C. / Charlotte Catholic), redshirt senior center Tyler Eberhardt (Barberton, Ohio / Barberton), redshirt sophomore right guard Niko Paic (Crown Point, Ind. / Crown Point) and sophomore right tackle Noah Kline (Loveland, Ohio / Loveland) are projected to start on Valpo's offensive line in the season opener against the Panthers. Woody, Kline and Paic all started over half of Valpo's games last season, and Eberhardt would have been a starter a year ago if it weren't for a season-ending injury in the opener.

"We're excited to have multiple guys who started last year returning to our offensive line," Fox said. "Jake Russell didn't play much last year, but he's had a really good spring and fall camp. He's solidified the position at left tackle. Carter and Tyler are both guys who are in their fifth year in our program."

Tight Ends

Redshirt senior tight end Jake Vickers (Canton, Mich. / Canton) started all 11 games last season, making 16 catches for 88 yards and two touchdowns. He is back for his fifth year in the program. Redshirt sophomore Max Carter (Camarillo, Calif. / Adolfo Camarillo) played in all 11 games a year ago as well.

"Jake is another fifth-year guy who brings experience," Fox said. "Max is a high-effort blocker with an ability to impact the run game."

Quarterbacks

The three returning quarterbacks from the 2023 campaign are all in the mix to start games as the 2024 season gets underway.

Redshirt freshman Caron Tyler (Temecula, Calif. / Chaparral) was the team's Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year last season. Redshirt junior Michael Appel Jr. (Springboro, Ohio / Springboro) started five games and threw for 770 yards and six scores before incurring a season-ending injury last year. Redshirt sophomore Rowan Keefe (Park Ridge, Ill. / Maine South) earned the team's Most-Improved Player Award after playing in five games and making four starts at QB late in the year. He completed 55 passes for 702 yards and six scores.

Either Keefe or Tyler will take the first snap on Saturday at UNI.

"Both Rowan and Caron have shown flashes in fall camp of doing exactly what we are asking them to do," Fox said. "Rowan came in last year and played good football for us. Now, we need him to take that next step. He was a 60-percent passer for us last year and had a tough situation being the third-string guy going into the year. Both of them have all of the tools to be good."

Running Backs

Redshirt junior Ryan Mann (Vernon Hills, Ill. / Vernon Hills [Northern Illinois]) was tabbed to the Phil Steele Preseason All-PFL Third Team after earning All-PFL Honorable Mention and the team's Offensive Player of the Year Award last season. Redshirt junior Barret Labus (Wadsworth, Ohio / Wadsworth) played in four games and made two starts before suffering a season-ending injury last year.

"Ryan was a productive player for us last year," Fox said. "He's very consistent in what he does – running the football, blocking and catching out of the backfield. He's a good all-around back and is very dependable. Barret has been with us for four years and has made plays in a variety of capacities. He's a multi-dimensional guy in terms of being able to run and catch it out of the backfield."

Wide Receivers

Redshirt sophomore Devin Yeats (Hampshire, Ill. / Hampshire), sixth-year Jack Coulson (Boca Raton, Fla. / Olympic Heights [Kent State / Holy Cross], redshirt sophomore Chris Gundy (Smithfield, Va. / Smithfield), senior Semaj Bolin (North Las Vegas, Nev. / Coronado [Portland State]), senior Brandon Jimenez (Suffern, N.Y. / Don Bosco Prep [Albany]) and freshman Gary Givens III (Tampa, Fla. / Jesuit) all factor into Valpo's wide receiving corps entering Week 1. 

Jimenez played in 11 games and made nine starts last year, totaling 19 catches for 288 yards and two touchdowns. Gundy had 195 receiving yards on 12 catches in 2023, while Yeats is also a returning member of the program. Bolin (Portland State) and Coulson (Kent State) are both transfers, while Givens is the only true freshman on Valpo's Week-1 two-deep.

"Devin may have had the best fall camp in the position group," Fox said. "Givens did a really good job being here in the summer, which gave him an advantage in understanding the program and the offensive system. Gundy made some big plays for us last year, and you'll continue to see that trend moving forward. Jack is a bigger-bodied receiver who uses his body well and is a good blocker. Jimenez has an ability to get open and understands coverages and running routes. Bolin has good speed and the ability to stretch defenses."

Defensive Line

Redshirt senior Sam Hafner (Green Bay, Wis. / De Pere) is one of the stalwarts of the program and figures to remain a leader of the Valpo defense. He has earned a slew of preseason accolades including Preseason All-PFL honors.

Other projected starters on the defensive line include redshirt junior Kevin Spelman (New Lenox, Ill. / Providence Catholic), redshirt freshman Isaiah Fowler (Gary, Ind. / Chesterton) and junior Onye Nwosisi (Indianapolis, Ind. / Cardinal Ridge [Muskingum]). Fowler played in two games and redshirted last season. Spelman has been a mainstay on the Valpo defensive line and was on the watch list for the Jerry Rice Award during his redshirt freshman campaign in 2022. 

"Sam is a very consistent, all-conference player for us," Fox said. "Fowler is a local kid who will get the chance to start at tackle as a redshirt freshman; he holds up on the interior better than anybody despite a size disadvantage and has an ability to take on blocks. Onye has good size and an ability to rush the passer while remaining physical enough to play the run."

Linebackers

Projected starters at linebacker include sophomore Max Samuel (Edina, Minn. / Edina), redshirt junior Jake Birmingham (River Forest, Ill. / Oak Park and River Forest) and senior Jimmy Pouba (Chicago, Ill. / Lyons [College of the Sequoias]). Among the others in the mix are senior Rylan Woods, redshirt junior Hayden Bedell (Orland Park, Ill. / Carl Sandburg) and sixth-year Marquette Harris (Woodbridge, Va. / Wise [Bowling Green / Ventura / Alderson Broaddus]).

"Max Samuel has moved from nickel to Will linebacker," Fox said. "He's aggressive and fast with the ability to make plays. Jake Birmingham is a perfect picture of what you want in terms of a guy sticking with the program. He understands exactly where to be and is always in the right spots. He has big shoes to fill in the leadership role. Pouba saw action for us last year and continued to improve during spring and fall camp. He has the ability to do everything you ask of someone at the nickel position."

Defensive Backs

The secondary includes familiar names like senior Colin Graves (Seattle, Wash. / Bishop Blanchet), senior Max Franco (La Habra, Calif. / La Habra) and sixth-year Austin Chilton (Windermere, Fla. / West Orange). Redshirt freshman Nic Lendino (Naperville, Ill. / Neuqua Valley) is projected to start in the secondary as well.

"Austin and Colin have played a lot of football for us and will be in the right spots," Fox said. "They've been around and have been productive players for us. We anticipate Nic having a good year for us as a physical corner after he played in four games last year. Franco saw a lot of time last year and is another experienced player."

Sophomore Mark Johnson (Nashville, Tenn. / Lipscomb Academy), redshirt sophomore Connor Dickson, redshirt senior Trey Ortega (Broomfield, Colo. / Broomfield [Colorado]) and redshirt junior Caleb Rao (Liberty Township, Ohio / Lakota West]) are all part of the mix in the Valpo secondary as well.

Specialists

Redshirt junior Ryan Hawk (Columbus, Ohio / Bishop Hartley) has solidified kickoff duties, while Hawk and sixth-year transfer Grant Ross (Liberty, Mo. / Liberty [Truman State]) have been in a tight battle for field goal and PAT responsibilities. Redshirt senior Sam Johnson (Nashville, Tenn. / Lipscomb Academy) has made Valpo his third collegiate stop and figures to continue the program's recent tradition of punting excellence.

"Ryan has a strong leg and was 10^th in the country in touchbacks last year," Fox said. "Grant has solid accuracy. Sam has a chance to be one of the best punters in the league this year."