Northwestern State linebacker Jomard Valsin named FCS Spring Football All-American

NATCHITOCHES – For the third time in as many seasons, the adjective All-American can placed in front of a Northwestern State football player’s name.

Linebacker Jomard Valsin was selected to the American Football Coaches Association’s FCS Spring All-America Second Team, announced Friday.

Valsin led the Demons with 54 tackles in six spring games, including eight for loss.

The Port Arthur, Texas, native recorded three sacks and forced three fumbles as a versatile linebacker who was a force against the run and the pass.

“Jomard has an ability to make plays because of his great knowledge of the game,” said NSU coach Brad Laird. “We’ve seen his play-making ability increase over the last couple of years after he came in as a true freshman and has made plays from the start.

“He understands football and defense and what (defensive coordinator) Mike Lucas wants. We can do a lot of things with him because he delivers the punch to stop the run, drop into space in coverage and make plays in space. He’s the leader of our defense and of this football team.”

The All-Southland Conference First Teamer accumulated double-digit tackles three times in six games, tallying 13 against Nicholls and 11 each against Sam Houston and UIW on a Demon defense that held its own against powerful Southland offenses (four of six opponents scored 27 or fewer points).

Valsin joins receivers Quan Shorts and Jazz Ferguson as NSU All-Americans in the past three seasons.

Shorts was picked to the STATS FCS All-American Third Team and Ferguson earned four different All-America honors.

Valsin is the 48th All-American in school history and joins Gary Reasons, Jamall Johnson and Derek Rose as NSU All-American linebackers.

He’s the first NSU defensive All-American since cornerback Imoan Claiborne in 2014 and the first linebacker since Rose earned consecutive nods in 2010 and 2011.