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Springfield, Ohio — If Wittenberg University football standout Eddie Vallery, class of 2011 from South Solon, Ohio, had his preference, he would have been hoisting the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl trophy on Saturday, Dec. 19, in Salem, Va. Right about the time that the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater did just that, however, Vallery claimed a significant consolation prize, becoming the first Wittenberg player to earn national Defensive Player of the Year honors from d3football.com.
Vallery was joined on d3football.com's All-America first-team by teammate Dillon Hollin, class of 2010 from Prospect, Ky. Vallery started all 13 games at defensive end, while Hollin made 12 starts at center, missing one game due to injury midway through what turned out to be a 12-1 campaign in 2009.
The award capped an amazing junior season for Vallery, who was named North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) and Great Lakes Region Defensive Player of the Year as well. He made first-team All-NCAC, first-team all-region (d3football.com) and first-team All-America (d3football.com and American Football Coaches Association).
Finally, Vallery became the first Wittenberg student-athlete since Ken Pope in 1998 to earn "Little" All-America honors from the Associated Press. "Little" All-America honors go to players from NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA.
Vallery recorded 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 NCAC Defensive Player of the Year honors since Juan Howard in 2001.
Hollin anchored an offensive line that cleared the way for an offense that averaged 36.7 points and 442.4 yards per game in 2009, both of which ranked among the best in not only the NCAC but all of NCAA Division III. According to his coaches, Hollin's offensive lineman grade was consistently in the "mid-80s."
After two second-team All-NCAC honors, Hollin moved up to first team in 2009. The d3football.com All-America was the first national award of his career, coming on the heels of his first-team All-Great Lakes Region honor last month.
Wittenberg tied a school record with 12 wins in 2009. The Tigers compiled records of 12-1 overall and 7-0 in the NCAC to win the program's ninth title in 21 years in the league and advance to the program's 13th NCAA Division III Tournament since its inception in 1973. Wittenberg defeated Mount St. Joseph in the first round and Trine in the second round before losing at No. 2-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater, 31-13, in the national quarterfinals on Dec. 5.
Written by: Ryan Maurer