Wittenberg's Vallery earns defensive player of the year honor

SPRINGFIELD — Add another award to Eddie Vallery’s growing list of achievements.

The Wittenberg University junior defensive end was recently named the D3football .com Defensive Player of the Year. The Madison Plains High School graduate led the nation with 16½ sacks.

Vallery was joined on the first team by teammate Dillon Hollin, a senior center.

Vallery was also named to the American Football Coaches Association Division III First Team, Associated Press Little All-America First Team, and the North Coast Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Wittenberg finished 12-1 this season. Its only loss came against Wisconsin-Whitewater in the Division III tournament. Wisconsin-Whitewater beat Mount Union in the championship game.