ST. LOUIS – Four University of Dayton football players – quarterback Will Bardo, defensive end Pat Dowd, running back Connor Kacsor and placekicker William Will – were named Preseason All-Pioneer Football League, the PFL office announced today.

A four-year starter at quarterback, Bardo was Dayton's MVP last season.  He moved into second place on UD's career total yardage list last year (6,730 yards). The lefty from Highlands High School in Ft. Thomas, Ky., completed 144 of 262 yards passing (.550) for 1,920 yards and 13 TD. He also gained 519 yards on 96 rushing attempts (5.4 avg.) and scored nine touchdowns, all second on the team. Over the last six games he played, he was 79 of 129 (.612) for 1,127 yards and nine scores.

Dowd is the only active two-time All-Pioneer Football League selection.  A product of Cleveland St. Ignatius High School, he led UD and was third in FCS football in sacks (1.05 per game). For the second straight season, all but one of his sacks were in PFL action (7.5 in 2012, 10.5 in 2013). Dowd tied an FCS record with six sacks at Drake.  The redshirt senior was also tied for team honors in tackles for a loss (12.5) and fumbles forced (2) in 2013.

The leading returning rusher in the PFL, Kacsor gained 966 yards and scored 10 TD's despite missing one game and all but two plays of another a year ago.  The Leo (Ind.) High School grad averaged 119.6 yards a game in PFL action.  He gained over 100 yards in four straight games in the middle of the season, beginning with 244 yards against Davidson.   A true senior, Kacsor has eight 100+ yard games in 19 career games.

In a matter of 15 months, Will went from being an unrecruited walk-on to the 2014 First Team All-Pioneer Football League placekicker. In his first year of collegiate action, the redshirt freshman was 10 of 12 on field goals and 41 of 43 in PAT's. He was five-of-six in field goals from beyond 30 yards and was Dayton's leading scorer with 71 points. He is from Mokena, Ill., and graduated from Lincoln Way East High School.

Bardo and Dowd are the 2014 Flyer co-captains.

College Sports Madness also announced a preseason All-PFL team.  Named to its first team were Dowd, Will and linebacker Christopher Beaschler.  Defensive tackle Austen Alber was selected to the third team.

In a vote of the PFL's coaches, Dayton was picked to finish second on the league this season.

The Flyer football team will report to campus for preseason camp on Monday, August 11.  UD will kick-off the 2014 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 6 at 1:00 p.m. ET at home against Georgetown University.