ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- The Pioneer Football League announced its preseason all-conference team today and five University of Dayton Flyers were named to the squad. Dayton had three players named on defense, one on special teams and one on offense.
Senior cornerback
Christian Searles was one of two repeat selections for UD. The Chicago Mt. Carmel High School product was tied for second in the PFL in interceptions (5) and was third in passes defended (16) a year ago. The two-time First Team All-PFL cornerback was in on 36 tackles, with 25 of the solo variety. His three interceptions at Jacksonville last year tied the Flyer single-game record.
Linebacker
Jack Crain was a Second Team All-PFL pick in 2016. A Benet Academy grad from Lisle, Ill., Crain has played in every game for the last three years (34 games). In that time he has accumulated 216 tackles, including 79 last season, good for third on the team. He is also a two-time First Team Academic All-PFL selection.
Nick Surges, like Crain, was Second Team All-PFL last season. Also like Crain, he is a Benet Academy alum, hailing from Naperville, Ill. Surges was second in the PFL in sacks per game (0.77 per game) from his defensive end position. He had 46 tackles, 12.0 TFL (second on the team) and a pass batted down, with team highs in quarterback hurries (8) and fumbles forced (2).
Dayton averaged a Pioneer Football League-best 5.1 yards per carry in 2016, and one the reasons was the play of
Ben Gauthier at offensive tackle. From Avon, Ohio and a graduate of Cleveland St. Edward High School, Gauthier Has started all 22 games of his college career. He started 11 as a true freshman at guard in 2015, and then moved to tackle for another 11 starts in 2016. He was Honorable Mention All-PFL last season.
Punter
Sean Smith was the other repeat choice for the Flyers. He led the PFL in punting average for the second straight season (41.4 yards per punt in 2016). 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. Smith is a two-time First Team All-PFL selection. He is from Avondale, Pa., and a graduate of Salesianum High School.
Dayton returns 12 starters – eight offense and four defense -- from last season's team that finished 9-2 overall and 7-1 in the PFL. The Flyers will bring a seven-game win streak into the 2017 season, which is tied for third in the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision. Defending FCS national champion James Madison leads with a 12 game streak, Grambling is second with 11, and UD is tied with Coastal Carolina with seven. The 2017 season is also coach
Rick Chamberlin's 10th as Dayton's head coach.
UD opens the year on Saturday, Sept. 2 at Robert Morris. Dayton's home opener is Saturday, Sept. 9 against Southeast Missouri. For ticket information, please visit DaytonFlyers.com.
