Springfield, Ohio — As a collegian, Eddie Vallery, class of 2011 from South Solon, Ohio, broke the mold for Wittenberg University football players. He became the first Tiger to earn national Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2009, and he was just the second student-athlete in program history to earn back-to-back All-America awards from the American Football Coaches Association.

Vallery has continued to pursue his gridiron dreams and blaze a new trail for Tiger football players. He has signed with an agent and has been working out regularly at D1 Sports Training in Columbus, a facility co-owned by former Ohio State players Mike Vrabel and A.J. Hawk. Those connections and his collegiate accomplishments earned Vallery the opportunity to participate in a National Football League (NFL) Pro Day hosted by Ohio State on March 11.

Few "small college" student-athletes harbor professional aspirations by the end of their collegiate careers. Vallery knows the odds are against him, but he feels good about his decision to continue playing football.

"Not very many people get the opportunity that I am in, and I've told myself that I'm going to give it a shot," Vallery said. "I'm probably going to be turned down more than once, but the main thing is I have a great support system in my family and friends, and I'm going to need them to keep going and trying.

"The one thing that I have learned about the NFL is that it's not easy to get into, but if you keep trying somebody from one of the 32 teams will give you a shot. That's what I'm playing for, just a shot."

Vallery, a physics major, has managed to balance a challenging final semester in the classroom with preparations for the Pro Day. He has gained 10 pounds since the end of the 2010 season while working on drills and training exercises intended to improve his strength and speed.

Eddie Vallery (47) finds a gap against Washington University in September 2010.

"It has taken a lot of time management to be able to get to training sessions, do homework and complete my community service graduation requirement," said Vallery, who was named Defensive MVP of the All-American Bowl on Dec. 18 in Minneapolis, Minn. "The experience has been great. I get to meet a lot of NFL players at the training facility, and I have been involved in some great experiences, including the Ohio State Pro Day."

He knows it is unlikely that he will hear his name called during the NFL Draft, scheduled for April 28-30 in New York City, despite the fact that the league's owners recently declared an impasse in negotiations with the NFL Players Union and initiated a lockout. With only seven rounds in the annual draft, however, many players in the league start out as free agents.

It helps that Vallery, a three-year starter at defensive end for Wittenberg, is willing to play different positions at the next level, including special teams. But the lockout and fierce competition for NFL roster spots combine to create a lot of uncertainty for Vallery.

"Unknowns are what worry me most," he said. "I know I've set myself up well with my degree and football career, but the worry is always there.

"I really don't know what's next, but all I can do is take it one day at a time, one experience at a time, and see where it takes me. At this point I'm committed to playing the football scenario out.

Hiram's offensive line had a difficult time slowing Eddie Vallery (47) down during this 2009 game.

Vallery won every award and made every All-America team possible 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. In 2010, Vallery overcame a 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.

Vallery led the Tigers to a 6-0 record in the NCAC in 2010 to win the program's league-best 10th title in 22 years as a member. Wittenberg also finished 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.

"Being a part of the Wittenberg program has done a lot for me," Vallery said. "Wittenberg provided a good foundation to build off in my pursuit of the next level. I've met a lot of people that in some way are connected to the program, and it allows them to relate to the passion and love I have for football.

"A number of alumni have reached out to me to tell me good luck and that they are proud of what I'm doing. Wittenberg football has prepared me for the road that is ahead and I thank all the coaches and players that took part in that preparation."

Written By: Ryan Maurer
Photos By: Erin Pence

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