SAN DIEGO – San Diego football's sophomore kicker/punter Emiliano Salazar was picked Pioneer Football League Special Teams Player of the Year Monday morning following a tremendous 2025 season.

An Orange, Calif. native, Salazar finished the season making 15-of-18 field goals and all 40 of his PATs while also averaging 44.76 yards per punt with 13 of his 37 punts going for 50-plus yards and also handled kickoff duties for the Toreros. He was the Toreros' kickoff and PAT specialist for the season's first four games before taking over all kicking duties including punting through conference play to the end of the season. Even still, 'Smooth-E' – as nicknamed by his teammates – finished the season second in punting average among PFL punters, thanks to his league-leading 50-yard punt count, and was one of three kickers to score 15 field goals during the season.  

Salazar was twice the PFL Special Teams Player of the Week in the weeks of Sept. 28 and Oct. 26, even earning Stats Perform DI FCS National Player of the Week on Sept. 29 after his week five walk-off winning field goal vs. St. Thomas to cap a game where he went 3-for-3 on kicks, punted twice for an average of 49.5 yards, a long of 57 and 3-for-3 on PATs. 

The sophomore sensation's longest punt of the season was 61 yards, and he twice made season-long field goals from 47 yards out.

Monday's PFL Player of the Year 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.