Valpo Football Announces 2025 Team Awards at Postseason Banquet
The Valparaiso University football program gathered to celebrate the 2025 season on Sunday afternoon, announcing the squad’s postseason team awards.
Redshirt sophomore defensive back Nic Lendino (Naperville, Ill. / Neuqua Valley) was named the team’s Defensive Player of the Year, while redshirt junior offensive lineman Niko Paic (Crown Point, Ind. / Crown Point) was named the team’s Offensive Player of the Year, received the Outstanding Four-Year Man Award and earned the Sever Award, presented annually to the squad’s top offensive lineman.
Redshirt junior defensive lineman Matt Molnar (Avon Lake, Ohio / Saint Edward) and redshirt junior quarterback Rowan Keefe (Park Ridge, Ill. / Maine South) were named the team’s Most-Improved Players on defense and offense, respectively. Linebacker Micah Markley (West Chester, Ohio / Lakota West) was tabbed the squad’s Freshman of the Year.
In addition, freshman defensive lineman Emmanuel Olojo (Chicago, Ill. / Niles West) and freshman wide receiver Nolan Teising (Zionsville, Ind. / Zionsville) were named Scout Team Players of the Year on defense and offensive, respectively. Redshirt sophomore wide receiver Micah Mackay (Zionsville, Ind. / Lutheran) was presented with the Koenig Award for outstanding sportsmanship and character. Redshirt junior tight end Max Carter (Camarillo, Calif. / Adolfo Camarillo) was voted the group’s Most Inspirational Player.
Lendino, who received All-Pioneer Football League Honorable Mention, finished 13th in the PFL and second on the team with 86 tackles, averaging 7.2 per game. He tied for ninth in the PFL in passes defended with eight and tied for sixth in the league with three interceptions. Lendino was named the PFL Special Teams Player of the Week after a game-changing blocked punt that helped Valpo rally from 24-0 down for a 32-31 OT win over Stetson. He closed out the season with a career-high 13 tackles including two as part of a goal-line stand on 2nd-and-goal from the 1 and 4th-and-goal from the 1 while also making an interception in the game at Butler.
Paic, a captain and leader of the team, played in all 34 games over the last three seasons, starting all 23 over the last two years including all 12 this season. He also received All-PFL Honorable Mention recognition.
