The University of Dayton honored the 2011 Flyer football team today at its annual Football Awards Banquet. The banquet, presented by the UD Flyers Club, was at the Kennedy Union Ballroom on campus. 

Dayton finished 6-5 overall and 4-4 in the Pioneer Football League this season.  It was UD’s 34th winning season in the last 35 years.

Senior running back Taylor Harris (Centerberg, OH) was named the recipient of the White-Allen Most Valuable Player Trophy.  The first running back to be named White-Allen MVP since Gino Mattioda in 2003, Harris was one of three Flyer football players to be named First Team All-Pioneer Football League this season.

Despite missing the last game-and-a-half with a hamstring injury, Harris gained 899 yards on 132 carries and scored nine touchdowns.  The Highland High School graduate was the second-leading rusher in the PFL, and his 6.8 yards-per-carry led the league.

Harris’ 899 yards were the most by a UD runner since Cliff Sachini gained 1,042 yards in 2003.

The White Allen Most Valuable Player Trophy is sponsored by Tim White and White Allen Auto Group, Inc. The award is selected by members of the team. The White Allen Trophy has been awarded annually since 1953. White Allen now sponsors the MVP award for UD's men's and women's basketball, football and volleyball teams.

Redshirt senior defensive end Devon Langhorst (Sidney, OH) was named the recipient of the Chief Toscani Hitter Award.  Langhorst was among the PFL’s leaders in sacks (2nd, 1.23 per game), tackles for loss (3rd, 1.64) and tackles (5th, 7.09).  He was also seventh in the Football Championship Subdivision in sacks. Langhorst had 31 solo hits (2nd on the team), eight QB hurries (double anyone else on the team), a fumble recovered and a fumble forced.

A two-time FCS All-American, Langhorst finished his career with 27.5 sacks, the second-most in school history.

Redshirt senior offensive tackle Dan Prindle (Fairborn, OH) was presented the Stan Kurdziel Memorial Trophy. The Kurdziel Trophy goes to the team's top lineman. A three-year starter, Prindle closed his playing days with 32 starts.  He was named Second Team All-PFL in 2011.

Senior wide receiver Tyler Hujik (Kenosha, WI) was this season’s winner of the A.J. Cohen Flyer of the Year Award.  It is presented in memory of Cohen, a former Flyer wide receiver who left his mark on the program with his everyday positive attitude and team-first approach.  The team’s top newcomer in 2008, Hujik missed the 2009 season with an injury but came back to be the only underclass starter in the receiver corps in 2010 and the veteran of a young group in 2011.

The Tremper High School product led the team in punt returns (15 for 6.6 avg.) and was third in receptions (23). 

Another fifth-year player, redshirt senior offensive guard Justin Griffis (Sidney, OH) was this year’s winner of the Emil Karas Memorial Award. The Karas Award is for the most inspirational leadership as chosen by his teammates.   Griffis started the last 33 games of his career at center or guard. 

The Sheriff "Beno" Keiter Award, which goes to the senior for the most outstanding contribution to the program over his college career, went to cornerback Matt Pfleger (Knoxville, TN).  A wide receiver his first two seasons in the program, Pfleger was moved to corner in 2010 and led the team in interceptions (4) and pass breakups (10).  He was also third in solo tackles (35). 

With injuries shaking up the rest of the secondary in 2011, Pfleger still produced.  He intercepted three passes (second on the team), broke up six passes (tied for first) and had 43 tackles.

This season's Most Improved Player Award went to redshirt sophomore linebacker Colin Monnier (Chicago, IL). In his first college action, Monnier played in all 11 games and was second on the team in tackles (64) and tackles for loss (9).  He also filled the most stat categories of and Dayton defender with two sacks, two interceptions, two passes broken up, and a QB hurry and a fumble forced.

Senior Matt Brockberg (Troy, MI) was the only repeat winner of the day, earning the John L. Macbeth Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award for the second straight year.  A Pre-Med major at UD, Brockberg carries a 3.83 cumulative GPA.  The Macbeth Award goes annual to the UD football player who has the highest cumulative grade point average over at least four semesters.

Freshman cornerback Matt Bianco (Strongsville, OH) won the ROTC Cannonball Award, which goes to the team's top newcomer.  Bianco was back to return the first punt of the season, was injured in that first game but still saw prime action in seven games.  In his only start, Bianco was the leading tackler at Jacksonville with eight solo hits.  

Senior quarterback Jared Phillips had already been named the 2010 recipient of the Lt. Andy Zulli Award at halftime of UD's final home game against San Diego.  The award, one of the most prestigious in the program, is for sportsmanship, character, and leadership. 

Freshman running back Anthony Davis (Indianapolis, IN) was named the Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year.  Freshman defensive end Austen Alber (Brookville, OH) was awarded the Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year award.

Along with honoring the individual award winners and the players receiving letters, UD also acknowledged the players who received conference and national awards.

UD placed nine players on the All-PFL teams which were determined by a vote of the PFL's head coaches.  Three were named to the first team. Linebacker Bryan Bailin (Naperville, IL), Harris and Langhorst were all named to the first team.

Prindle was named to the All-PFL Second Team.  Wide receiver Luke Bellman (Ottawa, Ohio), redshirt freshman wide receiver Branden Johnson (Lexington, Ky.), Griffis, redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Brannon Dunn (Brookville, Ohio) and Monnier were all named Honorable Mention All-PFL.

Redshirt senior safety Steve Wirkus Wingeier was named a Capital One First Team Academic All-American, bringing the number of Academic All-Americans the Dayton football program has produced since the 2000 season to 22. That's the most at any level of college football.

In the history of the Academic All-America program, UD football has had 52 Academic All-Americans. Among schools currently playing Division I football, only Nebraska (101), Penn State (59) and Notre Dame (55) have had more. UD has had at least one football player named an Academic All-American in 25 of the last 27 years.  In all sports, Dayton has had at least one Academic All-American for 28 straight years.

For the eighth straight year, and the 17th time in the 19-year history of the league, the University of Dayton Flyers had the most student-athletes on the Pioneer Football League All-Academic teams.  Dayton tied Butler and San Diego with eight players named Academic All-PFL.  USD and UD matched Campbell and Davidson with four first-team selections. 

Named to the first team were Langhorst (Sidney, OH), Wirkus, Prindle and senior wide receiver Tyler Schutz (Mentor, OH).  On the second team were Bailin, Johnson, senior punter Nate Miller (Medina, OH) and senior center Bill Petraiuolo (Highland Heights, OH).

Langhorst was also a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's Campbell Trophy, which is sometimes called the "Academic Heisman."  He was the fourth Flyer named a semifinalist in the last five years.

2011 UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON FOOTBALL AWARD WINNERS

White-Allen Most Valuable Player Taylor Harris

Chief Toscani Hitter Devon Langhorst

Sheriff "Beno" Keiter Award Matt Pfleger

Emil Karas Inspirational Leadership Justin Griffis

Stan Kurdziel Outstanding Lineman Dan Prindle

A.J. Cohen Flyer of the Year Tyler Hujik

John L. Macbeth Scholar-Athlete Matt Brockberg

Most Improved Player Colin Monnier

Lt. Andy Zulli Memorial Trophy Jared Phillips

ROTC Cannonball Award Matt Bianco

Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year Anthony Davis

Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year Austen Alber