Football
The Valparaiso University football program and head coach Andy Waddle have announced that redshirt junior offensive lineman Niko Paic (Crown Point, Ind. / Crown Point) and junior defensive back Mark Johnson (Nashville, Tenn. / Lipscomb Academy) will serve as captains for the 2025 season.
Paic played in all 22 games over the last two seasons, starting all 11 during the 2024 campaign. He made his collegiate debut in 2022 at FBS foe New Mexico State while redshirting that season.
Johnson appeared in 10 games and made seven starts a year ago, posting 45 tackles including 18 solos, 4.5 tackles for loss and one sack. He was named the Pioneer Football League’s Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 27 after a season-high 10 tackles in the Oct. 26 win at Marist, a matchup during which he delivered the game-winning pass breakup on Marist’s final offensive snap. Johnson has played in 21 games since arriving on campus prior to the 2023 campaign.
The two captains along with preseason all-conference running back Michael Mansaray (Columbus, Ohio / Westerville South [South Dakota]) will be featured in the Valpo football media day press conference on Sunday afternoon along with head coach Andy Waddle. The press conference will be available afterward on ValpoAthletics.com.
Preparation is well underway for Year 1 of the Waddle Era with the team 10 days into fall camp. The Beacons kick off the 2025 campaign with back-to-back home games, hosting Virginia Lynchburg on Aug. 30 at 1 p.m. before Adrian College comes to town on Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. in the Popcorn Fest finale. A fireworks show will take place after the game, and free popcorn will be given away to fans to celebrate Valparaiso’s Popcorn Fest. Season and single-game tickets are available now at https://tickets.valpoathletics.com/.
