Six members of the Valparaiso University football team received preseason recognition as Phil Steele released the publication's annual Preseason All-Pioneer Football League teams. Redshirt senior return specialist Chris Gundy (Smithfield, Va. / Smithfield) was named to the First Team.
 
After already being selected to the league's Preseason All-PFL Team, redshirt sophomore linebacker Anthony Feltrinelli (Westfield, Ind. / Westfield) and redshirt junior defensive back Nic Lendino (Naperville, Ill. / Neuqua Valley) added Phil Steele Preseason All-PFL Second Team nods. The third-team trio of senior offensive lineman Noah Kline (Loveland, Ohio / Loveland), redshirt sophomore tight end Colin Hayes (Bloomington, Ill. / Bloomington Central Catholic) and senior defensive back Mark Johnson (Nashville, Tenn. / Lipscomb) rounded out the Phil Steele honorees for the Beacons.
 
Gundy was named to the Phil Steele All-PFL Third Team as a return specialist last season after accruing 315 kick return yards and leading the PFL in kick return average at 28.6.
 
Lendino finished 12^th in the PFL and second on the team with 86 tackles in 2025, averaging 7.2 per game. He tied for eighth in the league in passes defended with eight and tied for sixth among PFL defenders with three interceptions. Lendino's strong season helped him earn All-PFL Honorable Mention, PFSN All-PFL First Team, Phil Steele All-PFL Fourth Team and the team's Defensive Player of the Year Award.
 
Feltrinelli burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman last season, when he ranked third in the PFL at 8.5 tackles per game and was one of three players league-wide to eclipse the 100-tackle precipice with 102 including 51 solos. Following his standout statistical season, Feltrinelli was named a Freshman All-American by Stats Perform FCS, FCS Football Central and Phil Steele. He also earned All-PFL Honorable Mention and was named to the Phil Steele All-PFL Fourth Team.
 
Johnson started all 12 games last season and became the first Valpo player in over two decades with an interception, forced fumble and fumble recovery all in the same game. He finished in the top 20 in the PFL in total tackles with 70. Kline has started all 23 games over the last two seasons and has made 32 consecutive starts on Valpo's offensive line dating back to the 2023 campaign. Hayes bookended the 2025 season with touchdown catches in the Aug. 30 opener vs. Virginia Lynchburg and the Nov. 22 season finale at Butler.
 
The Beacons will kick off the season on Aug. 29 vs. Lawrence Tech at Brown Field, the first of five home dates. Season tickets are on sale now at tickets.valpoathletics.com.