Eddie Vallery Earns Second Straight AFCA All-America Award

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Eddie Vallery

Springfield, Ohio — For the second straight year, Wittenberg University football standout Eddie Vallery, class of 2011 from South Solon, Ohio, has earned a prestigious All-America award from the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).

Vallery is just the second Tiger to claim the award twice in his collegiate career. Wittenberg has now had 17 different players earn recognition from the AFCA since the inception of its All-America program in 1945, earning a total of 19 All-America designations (Eric Horstman, class of 1989, and Vallery are the only two-time award-winners). That puts the Tigers on equal footing with Mount Union, which has had 18 players/19 All-America awards, and Augustana with 17 players/19 All-America awards.

Vallery was the national defensive player of the year in 2009 after recording 73 tackles, including 22 for a loss, which ranks second in school history. He led the NCAC and all of NCAA Division III with a school record 16.5 sacks, in addition to forcing two fumbles and blocking two kicks. He became the first Wittenberg player to earn North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Defensive Player of the Year honors since Juan Howard in 2001.

In 2010, Vallery overcame a significant preseason injury to finish third on the team with 76 tackles, including 10.5 for loss and six sacks. He finished his collegiate career ranked in the top five in program history in career tackles for loss and sacks.

The Tigers went 6-0 in the NCAC to win the program's league-best 10th title in 22 years as a member, and 10-0 in the regular season, the 19th undefeated regular season in program history. The outright title advanced the Tigers to their 14th NCAA Division III Tournament since its inception in 1973, where they suffered a 37-14 road loss to Ohio Northern in the first round.

Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photos By: Erin Pence

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