Beacons reload defensively in 2026 recruiting class
Part II: A restocked defensive line and lengthy defensive backs highlight newcomers
There are any number of reasons why the 2025 Valparaiso football team struggled.
Injuries at key positions hurt the Beacons throughout the season, and an inability to establish the run limited the offense in more ways than one.
Aside from a struggle to put points on the board, Valparaiso struggled to keep its opponents from doing the same. The Beacons surrendered 427 points in 2025 for an average of 35.58 points per game. It rivals the 35.64 points allowed in 2018 for the most in the last decade and the total is the most since the 2015 squad allowed 432 points in 10 games.
When second-year coach Andy Waddle and his staff sat down to evaluate recruiting needs for the 2026 season, getting better defensively was a priority.
In Part II of a three-part series highlighting Valparaiso’s 2026 recruiting class, The Victory Bell takes a look at the defense. The offense was profiled on Feb. 23 and the transfers will be featured on Mar. 9.