Three University of Dayton football players -- linebacker Christopher Beaschler, safety David Leisring, and running back Tucker Yinger – were named today to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 5 team.

It was the second academic honor for Beaschler this week.  He was named a finalist for the National Football Foundation's Campbell Trophy on Tuesday.  He is a team co-captain.  Last season, he was named First Team Academic All-America and the Pioneer Football League's Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year. The Ada, Ohio native leads Dayton again this year in tackles (72), solo tackles (44) and is third in sacks (3.0).  He is also fourth in FCS football in career tackles with 368.  A Mechanical Engineering major, Beaschler has a 3.71 GPA.

In his first season as a starter, Leisring has had a big impact on Flyer football fortunes.  He is one of three Dayton defenders with four interception (tying him for third in the PFL).  He is also second on the team in passes broken up (5), third in solo tackles (38) and fourth in total hits (60).  The Cincinnati St. Xavier product has a 3.94 cumulative grade point average while majoring in Finance.

Yinger is an academic all-district selection for the second consecutive year.  One of the top running backs in the PFL, he has battled injuries this season.  He has played in five games, but has only been able to start and finish two of them.  In those two game, he has run for 172 yards (Drake) and 193 yards (Morehead State).  He is still Dayton's top rusher (73 carries, 530 yards, 7.3 yards per carry, 106.0 yards per game).  A Mechanical Engineering major, the Columbus St. Francis de Sales product has a 3.83 GPA. 

All three Flyers will now have their name appear on the national ballot for Academic All-America.

UD has won five straight games and is 7-2 on the season.  Dayton is also 5-1 in the PFL, which puts them in second place.  The Flyers have a big game on Saturday.  UD will host Valparaiso on Senior Day.  Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. ET.