ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Drake football stars Sean Allison and Nick Herman were rewarded with two individual accolades as part of the Pioneer Football League's top performance awards. Allison was named the PFL Defensive Player of the Year while Herman collected the league's Offensive Freshman of the Year honor.

Allison, from Hinsdale, Illinois, becomes the sixth Drake athlete to claim the league's Defensive Player of the Year honor. He finished the season with 126 total tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, and two interceptions. Allison led the league and ranked among the FCS Top 12 in both total tackles per game (10.5, 7th in the FCS) and solo tackles per game (5.17, 12th). He led a Drake defense that held PFL opponents to 11.0 points per game and 287.6 yards per game, ranking first and second in the league. Allison had eight double-digit tackle outings, including a five-game streak of such outings to end the regular season.

Chicago-native Herman was the PFL's leading rusher as a freshman, finishing the season with 1,014 rushing yards on 144 carries with six rushing touchdowns and adding 120 receiving yards on 13 receptions. He led the league and ranked fourth in the FCS with 7.04 yards per carry and was 23rd in the FCS with his 84.5 rushing yards per game, which also led the PFL. Herman had four 100-yard rushing performances in 2025, all in PFL play, including a 253-yard outing to close the regular season.

The PFL Awards announcement launches the league's awards week. The PFL will announce its 33rd All-PFL Teams on Tuesday. The league will announce its Scholar-Athlete of the Year on Wednesday, coinciding with the announcement of the 33rd Academic All-PFL teams. 

The entirety of the 2025 PFL Award winners is listed below.

2025 PIONEER FOOTBALL LEAGUE AWARD WINNERS
Offensive Player of the Year – Collin Hurst, QB, Presbyterian
Defensive Player of the Year – Sean Allison, LB, Drake
Special Teams Player of the Year – Emiliano Salazar, K/P, San Diego
Offensive Freshman of the Year – Nick Herman, RB, Drake
Defensive Freshman of the Year – Chase Hatton, DB, Marist
Coach of the Year – Steve Englehart, Presbyterian