PFL Release In PDF Format
ST. LOUIS -- Seven University of Dayton football student-athletes were team named to the Pioneer Football League's 2014 All-Academic Team, which was announced today The Flyers had the most first-team selections (six, tied with Campbell).

Three Flyers were repeat first team selections – quarterback Will Bardo, wide receiver Ross Smith and safety Danny Leach.

This is Bardo's third Academic All-PFL selection.  In addition to being on the first team in 2014 and 2013, he was also a second team pick in 2012.  A four-year starter, Bardo started a school-record 42 games for the Flyers.  The redshirt senior from Highlands High School in Ft. Thomas, Ky. was named Second Team All-PFL after completing 190 of 324 yards passing (.586) for 1,990 yards and 14 TD.  He carries a 3.46 GPA in mechanical engineering.

Redshirt senior wide receiver Ross Smith finished his career with at least one catch in 31 straight games.  A business major from Lewis Center, Ohio (Olentangy Orange High School), Smith led Dayton in receiving this season (57 receptions, 669 yards. 11.7 avg., team-best 7 TD).  He carries a 3.41 GPA.

The third two-time first team selection is junior safety Danny Leach.  Leach carries a 3.80 cumulative grade point average while majoring in education and minoring in business administration.  Leach was third on the team in tackles (67) and tied for second in passes broken up (6).  He also had two interceptions, forced two fumbles, recovered one and had a sack. He is a graduate of South High School in Downer's Grove, Ill.

Also on the team was redshirt sophomore wideout Cory Stuart.  In his first season as a starter, Stuart's 35 receptions were third on the team.  He averaged 10.9 yards a catch and also had three touchdowns, which was second for the Flyers.  He carries an impressive 3.83 as a pre-physical therapy major.  Stuart is from Solon (Ohio) High School.  He was a second team selection in 2013.

Linebacker Christopher Beaschler is one of just seven players who were named First Team All-PFL and First Team Academic All-PFL this season.  He was second in the PFL in tackles per game (10.1).  A product of Ada High School in Ada, Ohio, Beaschler also led UD in solo tackles (48) and had five tackles for a loss, four passes broken up and an interception, a fumble forced and a fumble recovered.  A mechanical engineering major, he has a 3.77 cumulative grade point average.  He was also on the second team last year.

Punter Kyle Pignatiello carries a 3.47 GPA in Sport Management.  A graduate of Tippecanoe High School in Tipp City, Ohio, Pignatiello was third in the PFL in punting average, at 39.8 yards per punt.  That is the best season average by a Dayton non-scholarship player.  In 174 career punts, he has only 13 touchbacks.  He was PFL Special Teams Player of the Week twice in the season's final three weeks.

The Flyer named Second Team Academic All-PFL was redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Zac Morgan (3.52, double major in entrepreneurship & accounting) who was on the second team for the second straight season.

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 academically and have at least a 3.30 cumulative grade point average.