April 23, 2008
Complete Academic All-PFL Release in PDF Format
The University of Dayton has placed the most student athletes on the Academic All Pioneer Football League squads for the fifth straight year, and for the 13th time in the 15-year history of the league. Eighteen Flyers were picked in a vote of the league's sports information directors.
UD's eighteen selections were twice as many as anyone else in the league. San Diego, who shared the league title with the Flyers, was next with nine players named.
Senior safety Brandon Cramer (Toledo, OH), the 2007 an ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American of the Year was a selection for the third straight year. Senior quarterback Kevin Hoyng (Coldwater, OH), senior linebacker Brian Kelly (Cincinnati, OH) and senior offensive guard Chris Vermillion (Kettering, OH) were also repeat first-team picks.
Junior punter/placekicker Matt Swartz (Columbus, OH) moved up to the first team in 2007, after being named to the second team in 2006. Rounding out the nine Dayton players on the first team were senior tight end Matt Champa (Sagamore Hills, OH), offensive tackle Jim Croghan (St. Louis, MO), junior offensive guard Patrick McCormick (Louisville, KY) and senior defensive end Scott Vossler (St. Marys, OH). all made the second team.
Senior defensive back Tyler Blue (Danville, IL) was on the second team for the second straight year. Joining him were senior center Blake Bikowski (South Bend, IN), sophomore defensive end Bobby Burger (Cincinnati, OH), junior defensive tackle Sean Heenan (St. Joseph, MI), junior defensive tackle Kalen Hemmelgarn, senior nickel Steve McDonald (Newark, OH), junior offensive tackle Ryan Pollock (West Chester, OH), senior fullback Ben Shappie (Versailles, OH) and junior safety Corey Vossler (St. Marys, OH).
Seven of the UD players named are have multiple majors. Five are pre-med students.
The Academic All PFL team was created in 1993 to recognize student athletes who excel on the field and in the classroom. The student athlete must be a starter or important reserve, reached sophomore standing athletically and academically and have at least a 3.00 cumulative grade point average.
Since the team's origin in 1993, nearly 30% (156 of 536) of the PFL All Academic selections have been Dayton Flyers.
