DAYTON -- The University of Dayton honored the 2015 Flyer football team today at its annual Football Awards Banquet. The banquet, presented by the UD Flyers Club, was at the Kennedy Union Ballroom on campus.

Dayton enjoyed a historic season this fall, finishing 10-2 overall and making the Flyers' first appearance in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.  UD was the co-champions of Pioneer Football League with a 7-1 conference record.  Dayton shared the title with San Diego, but earned the PFL's automatic berth into the playoffs with a 13-12 win over the league preseason favorite Toreros.
It was the Flyers' 12th PFL crown in the 23-year history of the league.

Head coach Rick Chamberlin was named Region 4 FCS Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association, a first for the UD football program.  He was also voted the PFL Coach of the Year for the second time in his eight years as Dayton head coach.

Senior cornerback Cameron Stubbs (St. Louis, Mo.) was named the recipient of the White-Allen Most Valuable Player Trophy.  Stubbs is the first cornerback to be named Dayton's MVP since Sonny Allen in 1971.  Stubbs was a weapon on both on defense and on special teams for the Flyers in 2015.  He was such a weapon that opponents changed their game plans to try and keep the ball away from him.

A First Team All-PFL selection, Stubbs stayed out on an island at left corner, giving the rest of the defense less field to cover.  He still led the Flyers in picks (7) and passes batted away (11).  He was second in the PFL in both categories.  Stubbs was fifth nationally in interceptions and eighth in passes defended.  He also led UD in fumbles forced (2) and tied for team honors in recoveries (2).  In addition, Stubbs was tied for second on the team in TFL (8.5).  He had 58 tackles, including 41 solo. 

Stubbs also led UD in kickoff return average (27.0), which was third in the PFL.  He was 15th in FCS football in kickoff average, even though teams chose to kick away from him over the last month of the season.

The White-Allen Most Valuable Player Trophy is sponsored by Tim White and White-Allen Auto Group, Inc. The award is selected by members of the team. The White Allen Trophy has been awarded annually since 1953. White Allen now sponsors the MVP award for UD's men's and women's basketball, football and volleyball teams.

Senior linebacker Christopher Beaschler (Ada, Ohio) took home the Chief Toscani Hitter Award for the second straight year.  He is the ninth two-time Toscani Award winner since the award began in 1974.  The first was coach Rick Chamberlin in 1977 and 1978.

Beaschler led Dayton in tackles for the second straight season (9.3 per game), and was fourth in the PFL.  A 2015 Flyer co-captain, he also led in solo hits (62), and was credited with 8.5 tackles for a loss, four pass break ups, three QB hurries, two sacks, a fumble forced and fumble recovered. 

He had at least 10 tackles five times in 2015 – 18 vs. Robert Morris (the most by UD player in six years), 13 vs. San Diego, 14 vs. Valparaiso, 11 in the PFL-clinching win over Marist and 14 in the playoffs vs. Western Illinois.

Beaschler was named First Team CoSIDA Academic All-American and the PFL's Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year.  He is just one of two student-athletes in the Pioneer Football League to be named both First Team All-PFL and First Team Academic All-PFL in the last two seasons.

Senior offensive tackle Zac Morgan (Mokena, Ill.) repeated as the presented the Stan Kurdziel Memorial Trophy winner. The Kurdziel Trophy goes to the team's top lineman.  Only one team in the Pioneer Football League had two ballcarriers rush for more than 600 yards this season, and Morgan anchored the line that made that possible.  A two-year starter, Morgan was named First Team All-Pioneer Football League.  He is the sixth two-time Kurdziel winner.

The Sheriff "Beno" Keiter Award, which goes to the senior for the most outstanding contribution to the program over his college career, went to tight end Ian Palin (Milwaukee, Wisc.). Palin has played in every game for the last three year (34 games).  He has 33 pass receptions in that time.  He was named Second Team Academic All-PFL this season.

Senior slot receiver Kyle Sess (Cincinnati, Ohio) was the recipient of the Emil Karas Memorial Award.  The Karas Award is for the most inspirational leadership as chosen by his teammates.  A three-time member of the PFL Academic Honor Roll, Sess has played quarterback, running back and receiver for the Flyers He saw action in eight game this season before an injury cut short his season. 
This season's Most Improved Player Award went to redshirt freshman quarterback Alex Jeske (Glen Ellyn, Ill.).  Jeske entered camp third on the depth chart, but was inserted into the lineup late in the first half and led UD to 10 straight wins.  A First Team Academic All-PFL selection, Jeske completed 194 of 327 passes for 2,052 yards and 10 TD's.  He also ran for six scores.  Jeske is a finalist for two national Freshman of the Year Awards.

Taking home the A.J. Cohen Flyer of the Year award was senior Flyer Chris Hagan (Lansing, Mich.). It is presented in memory of Cohen, a former Flyer wide receiver who left his mark on the program with his everyday positive attitude and team-first approach.  Hagan played in 11 of this year's 12 games, and had 21 tackles from the Flyer position and on special teams.  His contributions and examples on the practice field and in the locker room earned him the award.

Redshirt sophomore Jack Crain (Lisle, Ill.) earned the John L. Macbeth Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award.  An Accounting major with a 3.91 GPA, Crain was First Team Academic All-PFL this season, and Honorable Mention All-PFL.  He was second on the team in total tackles (105) and third in solo hits (41).

True freshman punter Sean Smith (Avondale, Pa.) was named as the ROTC Cannonball Award winner, which goes to the team's top newcomer.  Smith averaged a school-record 41.7 yards per punt in 2015.  He was the only freshman named First Team All-PFL this season.  He led the league yards per punt (41.7) and punts inside the 20 yard line (23, against just five touchbacks).  He was the only punter in the PFL with more than eight punts of 50 yards or longer, and he had 15.  Nationally, Smith was second among true freshmen in punting average.

Freshman tight end Adam Trautman (Williamsburg, Mich.) was named Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year.  Freshman linebacker Christian McDermott (Newark, Ohio) was named Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year.

Senior running back Owen Williams (Lake Forest, Ill.) had already been named the 2015 recipient of the Lt. Andy Zulli Award at halftime of UD's final home game against Marist.  The award, one of the most prestigious in the program, is for sportsmanship, character, and leadership.

The Flyers had four individual school records set in 2015.  In addition to Smith's single-season punting average record (41.7, redshirt senior running back Connor Kacsor finished his career as UD's all-time leading rusher, with 3,543 yards.  Senior placekicker William Will tied two records.  He became the eighth Flyer kicker to go perfect on PAT's (33-33), and he joined Jesse Obert as the only Dayton kicker to convert 17 field goals in a season.

Student-athletes who earned conference awards were also recognized.

Redshirt senior cornerback and special teams captain Nick Kaczkowski was named PFL co-Special Teams Player of the Year.
Beaschler, Morgan, Smith, Stubbs, sophomore cornerback Christian Searles, senior offensive tackle Jimmy Vogel and senior kicker William Will were all selected First Team All-PFL in a vote of leagues coaches.  Searles was also the first team return specialist.

Six other Flyers earned All-PFL accolades as well.  Long snapper Robert Delaney and running back Tucker Yinger were selected Second Team All-PFL.  Crain, Palin, safety Danny Leach and wide receiver Cory Stuart were Honorable Mention All-PFL.

Beaschler was co-PFL Student-Athlete of the Year.  He was joined on the PFL All-Academic First Team by Crain, Jeske, Leach, Vogel and Yinger. Named to the second team were Morgan, Palin, Brett Bass and Alex Kenner.

Dayton had five CoSIDA Academic All-District selections in 2015, which tied for the most in Division I.  They were Bass, Beaschler, Stuart, Vogel and Yinger.

2015 UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON FOOTBALL AWARD WINNERS

White-Allen Most Valuable Player...Cameron Stubbs

Chief Toscani Hitter...Christopher Beaschler

Sheriff "Beno" Keiter Award...Ian Palin

Emil Karas Inspirational Leadership...Kyle Sess

Stan Kurdziel Outstanding Lineman... Morgan

A.J. Cohen Flyer of the Year...Chris Hagan

John L. Macbeth Scholar-Athlete...Jack Crain

Most Improved Player...Alex Jeske

Lt. Andy Zulli Memorial Trophy...Owen Williams

ROTC Cannonball Award...Sean Smith

Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year...Adam Trautman

Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year...Christian McDermott