Springfield, Mass. – December 15, 2025 – Graduate student Tyler Pohlman (St. James, N.Y.) of the Springfield College football team has been selected as the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston's Nils V. "Swede" Nelson Award honoree for the 2025 season.

The award is given for excellence in athletics, academics, and sportsmanship. Pohlman is the Divisions II/III recipient of the 79th Annual Swede Nelson Award, while Boston College's Edwin Kolenge and University of Maine's Carter Peevy will share the FBS/FCS Division award. 

Pohlman will be presented with the award at the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston's 2025 College Football Awards Night on December 15 at the Burlington Marriott Hotel.

Pohlman is the first student-athlete from Springfield College to earn the honor since Nick Bainter won the award in 2019 and is the third in program history as Pohlman joins Bainter and Chris Hayden, who earned it in 2017.

Pohlman, who earned his undergraduate degree in physical therapy and is pursuing his master's in business administration from Springfield College, earned a 3.903 grade point average through his senior season, while currently sporting a 4.0 grade point average in graduate school.

Pohlman was a staple to Springfield's defense which ranked among the nation's best in 2025. As a team Springfield ranked fifth in total defense (216.3 yards per game), ninth in scoring defense (13.3 points per game), tenth in third down conversion percentage (51.7-percent), 12th in passing efficiency defense (100.26 QBR) and 13th in rushing defense (71.3 yards per game).

In eight games this fall, Pohlman registered 43 total tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, two interceptions and two pass breakups as a defensive back for the Pride. The graduate student ranked sixth on Springfield in total tackles and ranked second with two interceptions this fall.

Pohlman guided Springfield to another impressive season as the Pride claimed its fifth consecutive conference championship title and earned a spot in the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament once again. This fall, the Pride went 9-3 overall and reached the second round of the NCAA Tournament following a 21-7 opening round win over Cortland back in November. During his five years on campus, the Pride produced an overall record of 45-12 and went 33-0 in NEWMAC play.

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