ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Tyler Moorehead, a fifth-year senior linebacker on the Drake University football team, has been named the 2012 Pioneer Football League Defensive Player of the Year, the league announced Monday.

“It's an absolute honor to even be considered for this award with so many great defensive players in the conference,” Moorehead, a native of Mason City, Iowa,  said. “We've got some great defensive players on our team and they're as much responsible for making this honor possible.”

A four-year stalwart on the Bulldogs' defense, Moorehead captained a unit that ranked second in the PFL in total defense, passing defense and sacks. Individually, he had 64 tackles this season, 36 solo,  seven sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss.

“This is a well-deserved award for Tyler Moorehead,” Drake head coach Chris Creighton said. “It is a team game but he has been the rock of our team and of our defense.  Ever since he started playing in the PFL, teams have had to account for him.  He is an awesome football player and an even better person.  Everyone associated with Drake football is proud of Tyler and all that he has accomplished.”

The honor caps what has been a phenomenal career for Moorehead that has seen him become one of the top defenders in the country over the past four seasons. While in the Blue and White, he has racked up 286 tackles, the ninth most in PFL history and etched his name in the PFL record book in four other categories.

His 186 solo tackles are the third most in PFL history and the sixth most among active FCS players while his 48.5 tackles for loss are the 5^th most in PFL history, the third most by an active FCS players and tied for the fifth most by an active Division I (FBS and FCS) defender. He leads current PFL players in sacks with 21.5, the fifth most in PFL history and are the sixth most by an active FCS player.  In addition to tackling, he has also been one of the most prolific players in separating ball carriers from the ball with nine forced fumbles, a mark that is the most in PFL history and among active FCS players while tying for eighth among active Division I athletes.

Moorehead is the third Bulldog to earn PFL Defensive Player of the Year honors, joining James Adams (2006) and current Drake defensive line coach Dain Taylor (2010).

Other postseason awards announced by the PFL Monday included Matt Lancaster (Butler) as the Offensive Player of the Year, Jeff Voris (Butler) as the Coach of the Year, Jake Huston (Valparaiso) as the Freshman Offensive Player of the Year and Kyle Annis (Butler) as the Freshman Defensive Player of the Year.

The Bulldogs finished the 2012 campaign with an 8-3 overall record and a 7-1 record in PFL play to earn a share of their second straight league title.