AFI’s All-Pandemic Team: Defensive end – Ville Valasti, Helsinki Wolverines

The AFI All-Pandemic Team selections were tough in many positions but not defensive end as Helsinki Wolverines Ville Valasti was another unanimous pick by the six-man committee.

He joins Wroclaw Panthers defensive end Thiadric Hansen who was also a unanimous selection.

Valasti was a true leader on a Wolverines defense that helped the team reach the Finnish final, the Maple Bowl.

The 27 year old, Valasti, 6’5″, 250 pounds, a native of Helsinki, Finland was the anchor of the line of scrimmage for the Wolverines recording 23 tackles, 9 tackles for loss and six sacks in five regular season games. In the playoffs, he had 10 tackles and five tackles for loss as well as a sack in the two games, including the title game.

Valasti spent four years playing college football in the United States, the final two at Eastern Michigan where he played in 17 games. In 2018, he was named to the Academic All-Mid-American Conference Football Team.

Wolverines head coach Michael Mattingly:

“Ville was a pleasure to coach. His mix of size, speed and strength gave the opposing offensive lines havoc all season long. There is no question in my mind that he is deserving of this and one of the best DL in all of Europe.”