2022 Valparaiso Football

[Pgmado]

Thought I'd start a thread for the 2022 Valpo football season.

Here are the links to the first few stories from The Victory Bell.

The Waiting Game - A look at Robert Washington's pro aspirations along with a review of Valpo's incoming recruits.

https://thevictorybell.substack.com/p/the-waiting-game?s=w

Q&A: Will Fleming - A discussion with Valpo's new offensive coordinator

https://thevictorybell.substack.com/p/q-and-a-will-fleming?s=w

Previewing Valparaiso Football Spring Practice - a position-by-position look at the roster

https://thevictorybell.substack.com/p/previewing-valparaiso-football-spring?s=w

Starting quarterback remains beautiful mystery - breakdown of Valpo's four quarterbacks

https://thevictorybell.substack.com/p/starting-quarterback-remains-beautiful?s=w

[NotBryceDrew]

Has the recruiting strategy changed from bringing in transfers to get competitive quick to developing recruited HS talent or is it just a factor that coaches with the ability to pull in transfers are gone? Because all those great transfers we pulled in the past few years are now graduated and it doesn't seem like they have pulled any transfers in the last cycle or so.

[valpofb16]

Not Bryce I'm glad you asked !

Transfers can confirm so far:

Dawson Pierson - TE - Eastern Tennessee State

Ryan Mann - RB - Northern Illinois

Dawson Rye - OLB - East Coast Prep

Evan Mathes - P - West Virginia

Transfers I think are in the program

Ben Hines - LB - Washington University

Transfers waiting on

Keylan Chapman - RB - Fort Hays State / Oregon

Jake Dennis - LS - Midland

Dahmir Pross - RB - St John Fisher

[historyman]

It does seem that at this time in college sports, no matter what sport, if you can't recruit transfers you will be dead in the water because 50% or greater of your recruited freshmen are going to leave whether it's for reasons of being unhappy with the facilities, staff, coaches, etc. or trying to find a more successful program or a lower level program where a college athlete will get more playing time or being closer to home (which seems to be used as an excuse because the college athlete doesn't want to embarrass someone who recruited the college athlete in the first place).

[NotBryceDrew]

Looks like I haven't been paying close enough attention. Glad we have Valpofb16 here to get us all the details

[valpofb16]

Can confirm we have landed Chapman, will always take a former P5 running back

[NotBryceDrew]

Chapman does look good but he isn't  replacing Washington. Nothing anywhere shows him at Oregon except the bio at his last school a little odd he's not on the past roster or any recruiting index but it happens.

[valpofb16]

Agreed. Washington was a big time grab. But Chapman adds an older presence where team was a bit thin. Think Lane, Labus, Mann and probably one of the freshman all get carries this season.

Strength of the team is really in the receivers. Would take VU top 4-5 against anyone in the PFL.  Now getting them the ball.....

[IndyValpo]

Agreed. Washington was a big time grab. But Chapman adds an older presence where team was a bit thin. Think Lane, Labus, Mann and probably one of the freshman all get carries this season.

Strength of the team is really in the receivers. Would take VU top 4-5 against anyone in the PFL.  Now getting them the ball.....

Interestingly the new WR coach had a tweet asking looking for 1 grad transfer to consider Valpo.

[JD24]

Chapman does look good but he isn't  replacing Washington. Nothing anywhere shows him at Oregon except the bio at his last school a little odd he's not on the past roster or any recruiting index but it happens.

I think a call to the Ducks football program to let them know he was part of their program at some point is in order.

That said...he looks like he can help.

[historyman]

Chapman does look good but he isn't  replacing Washington. Nothing anywhere shows him at Oregon except the bio at his last school a little odd he's not on the past roster or any recruiting index but it happens.

I think a call to the Ducks football program to let them know he was part of their program at some point is in order.

Let's just hope he doesn't have to DUCK the question about his involvement with the Oregon football program and what it actually entailed. 

[valpofb16]

Tbh Indyvalpo, I think Fox tries to keep roster relatively balanced age wise (as much as you can in non scholarship football).

Hopefully Bingham, Ross both are five year guys. The class below them has Maxwell, Contreras , Del Castillo, Livingston. I think Grguric and Hunter are the only two below them. Always good to have as many adults in the room as possible

[IndyValpo]

Where do we stand on filling coaching openings?

[valpo tundra]

valpofb 16 - You have missed Hunter Nabers who is a linebacker transfer from Fresno State.

[valpofb16]

I don't see anything social media wise confirming it (same with Hines), but if we got both those guys the linebacker and DB room look great.

Really really young on the DL

[JD24]

I don't see anything social media wise confirming it (same with Hines), but if we got both those guys the linebacker and DB room look great. Really really young on the DL

Nabers redshirted last season and would have 4 years of eligibility. Was a recruit of Valpo the year prior.

[valpofb16]

Able to confirm Hunter Nabers at linebacker from Fresno State. We also picked up Jalen Jones at tight end from Lincoln University.

Still waiting on confirmation on Hines from Washington. Wouldn't be surprised to see a DL or WR added in next two weeks

[valpofb16]

It appears that another returning starter on the Offensive Line has left the program. #75 RSSO Jon Stone looks like he will b attending Grand Valley State

[Pgmado]

It appears that another returning starter on the Offensive Line has left the program. #75 RSSO Jon Stone looks like he will b attending Grand Valley State

I don't believe Stone was on the spring game roster.

[valpofb16]

Confirmed transfers

Aaron Dawson-RB-Central Connecticut State

Ryan Mann-RB/DB-Northern Illinois

Keylan Chapman-RB- Fort Hays State

Hunter Nabers- LB - Fresno State

Ben Hines - LB - Washington

Ousmane Dabo - DB - Eastern Kentucky

Expect most if not all to play a role this season

[IndyValpo]

Confirmed transfers

Aaron Dawson-RB-Central Connecticut State

Ryan Mann-RB/DB-Northern Illinois

Keylan Chapman-RB- Fort Hays State

Hunter Nabers- LB - Fresno State

Ben Hines - LB - Washington

Ousmane Dabo - DB - Eastern Kentucky

Expect most if not all to play a role this season

Dawson gained almost 900 yards with 13 TDs as a soph. Played less the next two seasons.

[NotBryceDrew]

Dawson set a D1 record in 2018 with 308 rushing yards in a half and garnered pretty much every award you can get that week. Following season he had 12 touches at hasn't played since. Is there any background here? Cause if we have the 2018 version we could be in business.

[JD24]

Dawson had a foot injury early in 2019 which wiped out his season.

2021 he had 400 yards 98 carries

CCSU didn't play in 2020

[usc4valpo]

With all these promising transfers, Will Valpo football evolve to being good instead of just being a program that just exists as we have seen in the past few decades? It would be great to see them progress into something the university can truly follow.

[valpofb16]

Valpo would be a sleeping giant in small town football as it's the only show in town much like Wabash in Crawfordsville or DePauw in Greencastle.

Problem is the administration has always pushed for Basketball to be breadwinner. But they haven't been near top of conference going on 8 years.

University did Pony up the money to extend Cecchini after 7 win season to their credit . He just so happen has gone about 6-40 since and spurned them on signing day