AKRON — The 2012 Times-Union Defensive Player of the Year actually cites an offensive play as his highlight of the year. Leading Bremen 7-6 in the third quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on Aug. 25, Tippecanoe Valley junior Nolan Sponseller hauled in a 73-yard touchdown pass from junior Tanner Andrews. “That was probably my overall highlight,” Sponseller said. “That was pretty fun.” That score led the Vikings to a 21-7 win over the Lions on the home field of the Indianapolis Colts, but it was his defense that helped the Vikings go 8-3 this season and earn a share of the Three Rivers Conference title. As a running back on the team, Sponseller ran for 202 yards and six touchdowns, while also catching 13 passes for 244 yards and two more scores. As a safety on the defense, Sponseller orchestrated a unit that gave up 12.8 points per game and recorded three shutouts. “Nolan Sponseller has been a young man that has excellent smarts and a nose for the football,” Valley coach Jeff Shriver said. “He knows what we’re trying to do and does it. “This year, he really got us together and directed traffic for us as coaches,” he added. “He knew what to do in certain formations.” While hitting is what most defensive players prefer, it’s positioning of his teammates that Sponseller likes. “You’re kind of like the general out there,” he said about playing safety. “You’re calling out the coverages for secondary, and some weeks, the linebackers need to know what the secondary is doing, so I’m communicating with the linebackers – trying to get them where they need to be. It is sort of like being the quarterback on defense.” At 5-foot-10, 160 pounds, Sponseller relies on his intelligence instead of physical power, as he led the Vikings with 60 solo tackles, while assisting on another 19. “It’s studying film throughout the week, because I’m definitely not the biggest guy out there,” the student with a 3.97 grade point average on a 4.0 scale said. “I have to make up for that in other ways. “I usually try to get in at least two hours a week,” he added about studying film. “We have a program that enables us to look at the packet from home, so I’m always looking at it throughout the week. It shows what plays they like and what I need to be looking for.” Along with his tackling prowess, Sponseller also forced one fumble, picked off two passes and deflected four more. But it’s his knowledge of the game that impresses Shriver. “He’s one of those consistent players,” Shriver said. “There’s some games when coaches cringe to see safeties leading the team in tackles, but in some ways he’s our safety net.” Ranked second in a class of 140 students, Sponseller shows he can also do it in the classroom, but does it modestly. “I give all the glory to God,” he said. That kind of attitude extends to the field, where he shares the limelight. “As a unit, we definitely had a great season,” he said. “We really meshed as a team. Individually, I really wasn’t that excited about my season. I thought it was kind of a let down after my sophomore season. But for this season, I’ll take wins over individual accolades.” As a sophomore, Sponseller was a Class 3A all-state honorable mention selection after getting 67 solo tackles, 32 assists, three forced fumble and two picks, as Valley went 6-4. Even though it was a long touchdown catch on the field of a professional team that was his highlight of the year, his game against Manchester was his game of the year. In that 51-14 win on Aug. 31, Sponseller posted 13 solo tackles and assists on three more while also deflecting a pass. “It seemed that I was in on every tackle, I was just around the ball,” he said. “I really didn’t get tricked. I just seemed to always know where the ball was going to go.” And it’s those kind of games that make his choice of which side he prefers to play on an easy one. “I definitely prefer defense, just because it’s a lot more intense out there,” he said. “On offense, maybe you’re not always going to be in on the play.”
