ST. LOUIS – The Pioneer Football League runner-up University of Dayton football team had seven First Team All-Pioneer Football League selections in an announcement by the league office today.

Two were chosen for the third time, and four more were repeat selections

Redshirt senior linebacker Christopher Beaschler was a first-team pick for the third-straight season.  Redshirt senior placekicker William Will was also named first team for the third time (2013, 2015, 2016).

Appearing on the first team for the second consecutive year were junior cornerback Christian Searles, sophomore punter Sean Smith, redshirt senior cornerback Cameron Stubbs and redshirt senior offensive tackle Jimmy Vogel.

In addition, redshirt senior center Shane Toub was a first team selection. 

Dayton had three of the four special teams selections for the second straight year, but this season it was Stubbs doubling as a first team cornerback and return specialist (it was Searles in 2015).

Beaschler led Dayton in tackles for the third straight season (8.8 per game) with five TFL and three sacks.  Just the sixth two-time Flyer co-captain ever, he was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan FCS Defensive Player of the Year and the National Football Foundation's Campbell Trophy.  Beaschler was a CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American in 2015 and is on the ballot for Academic All-America this year.

Will's 84 points were the most by a kicker in the PFL this season.  He also led the league in field goals per game (1.27).  Nationally, Will was tied for 17th in field goals per game.  Will ended his career as the PFL record holder in field goals (55) and points scored by kicking (317).  He also finished second at Dayton in career scoring (323 points).

Searles was tied for second in the PFL in interceptions (5) and was third in passes defended (16). 

He also had 36 tackles on the season, with 25 solo tackles.

Smith led the PFL in punting average for the second straight season (41.4 yards per punt. His 10 punts of 50 yards or longer were nearly twice as many as anyone else in the league.  He was 25th nationally and among sophomores, he was fifth.  His two season averages of 41.7 and 41.4 are the two best in Dayton football history.

Stubbs' four interceptions were the third-highest total in the PFL.  He also had 47 tackles, 33 unassisted tackles and five passes broken up.  As a kick returner, Stubbs led the league in kickoff return average (28.7).  He was fourth in FCS football in KO return average.   Stubbs ended his career with a 27.5 yards per kickoff return average, second-best in Dayton history.  His only career return for a touchdown (on his very last career return), a 94-yarder, was the longest in the PFL this season.

 Vogel is the only two-time First Team All-PFL lineman this season.  A four-year starter, 32 of his starts came in front of UD's career rushing leader.  Toub was a three-year starter.  Dayton was second in the PFL in scoring offense (32.9) and rushing offense (209.5).   Dayton's top three rushers all averaged at least 5.8 yards per rush in 2016.

Two Flyers were named Second Team All-PFL – senior linebacker Jack Crain and redshirt sophomore defensive end Nick Surges– and four more were named Honorable Mention All-PFL -- wide receiver Jack Euritt, quarterback Alex Jeske, offensive tackle Ben Gauthier and safety David Leisring. 

UD went 9-2 in 2016, with a 7-1 record in the Pioneer Football League.  The Flyers finished in second place in the PFL and closed the year with seven consecutive wins.