Valpo football adds slew of offensive playmakers in '26 class
Part I: Quick backs and big linemen highlight Valpo's incoming offensive class
When Andy Waddle took over the Valparaiso football program in late 2024, the former Marietta coach had little time to settle in.
He had to move from Ohio to Indiana, build a coaching staff, meet his current roster and begin planning for the 2025 season. Oh, and he had to build a recruiting class in less than two months. It was a lot.
Now entering his second offseason, Waddle and his staff, which is slated to return intact this fall, have had a full year to focus on recruiting after getting established in Valparaiso.
The difference, Waddle said, has been striking.
“We certainly feel stronger about the evaluation having had the ability to go out and watch guys in a high school game,” Waddle said. “Recruiting them for longer, having them at camp and other things. A year ago we were just trying to cram everything into a month and a half.”
With the bulk of 2026 recruiting now in the books, the Beacons are set to bring in a class of 46 new players, including 37 high school recruits and nine transfers. The class has a local flavor with 12 players hailing from Indiana and another 10 coming from Illinois. It spreads from coast to coast as there are four players from California, two from Washington and one each from Maryland and Florida.
Starting with a look at the offense and continuing later this week with defense and transfers, The Victory Bell takes a look at the newcomers who will be suiting up for the Beacons.