DAYTON—The University of Dayton honored the 2016 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 yet another strong season, finishing 9-2 overall with a seven-game win streak to end the season. UD also finished second in the Pioneer Football League with a 7-1 record. This is the second year in a row that the Flyers earned a 7-1 record in the PFL, and as a whole have acquired a 27-7 record over the three two seasons.
Head coach
Rick Chamberlin tied former Flyer coach
Mike Kelly with the most wins in league history, winning 55 in PFL competition.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback
Alex Jeske (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) was named the recipient of the White-Allen Most Valuable Player Trophy. The Flyer signal caller was a dual-threat weapon on offense in 2016, leading the Flyers in rushing yards (676), passing yards (1,936), and touchdowns (29).
These numbers helped Jeske finish lead the PFL in touchdowns responsible for (30), fourth in total offense in the league (2,623), and second in scoring (90 points). These numbers helped Jeske earn Second-Team All-PFL honors. In addition, Jeske was named First Team Academic All-PFL for the second straight 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.
For the third straight season, redshirt senior linebacker
Christopher Beaschler (Ada, Ohio) was named the winner of the Chief Toscani Hitter Award. He is the only student-athlete to have won the award three times. There have been eight two-time winners of the award, including Coach Rick Chamberlain who was the first to do so in 1977 and 1978.
A two-time team captain, Beaschler led Dayton in tackles for a third straight season (88), and was fourth in the PFL. He also led the team in solo hits (56) and was credited with 5.0 tackles for loss, one pass breakup, one QB hurry, and three sacks. He had at least 10 tackles twice in 2016, acquiring 12 tackles in contests against Duquesne and Drake.
Beaschler was named First Team CoSIDA Academic All-American for the second straight year. In addition, Beaschler was named First Team Academic All-PFL for a second consecutive season and First Team All-PFL for a third straight season. In addition, he was PFL Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2015 and 2016.
Redshirt senior offensive lineman
Shane Toub (Chicago, Ill.) was named the Stan Kurdziel Memorial Trophy winner. The Kurdziel Trophy goes to the team's top lineman. A three-year starter and First Team All-PFL, Toub helped pave the way for the Flyers to have over 2,000 yards rushing in 2016. Toub was one of UD's co-captains this season.
The Sheriff "Beno" Keiter Award, which goes to the senior for the most outstanding contribution to the program over his college career, went to linebacker
Jack Crain (Lisle, Ill.). Crain has played in every game for the last three years (34 games). In that time he has accumulated 216 tackles, including a career high of 105 in 2015. This success led Crain to a be Second Team All-PFL Selection in 2016 as well as earning two First Team Academic All-PFL honors.
Crain was also the afternoon's only double winner. He earned the John L. Macbeth Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award for the second straight year. An Accounting major with a 3.89 GPA, he is the 16th two-time Macbeth winner. The award goes to the member of the team with the highest GPA who has completed four semesters.
Senior tight end
Ian Palin (Milwaukee, Wisc.) was this year's recipient of the Emil Karas Memorial Award. The Karas Award is for the most inspirational leadership as chosen by his teammates. Palin has played in every game for the last four years (45 games). A 2016 co-captain, he was named Second Team All-PFL this season.
This season's Most Improved Player Award went to sophomore receiver
Matt Tunnacliffe. A walk-on in 2015, Tunnacliffe worked his way to appear in all 11 games. In that span, he made six receptions for 76 yards and one touchdown.
Taking home the A.J. Cohen Flyer of the Year award for the second consecutive year 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 all 11 games in 2016, recording 80 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, and two interceptions. Hagan was also UD Special Teams Captain in 2016.
True freshman wide receiver
Ryan Skibinski (Geneva, Ill.) was named as the ROTC Cannonball Award winner, which goes to the team's top newcomer. Skibinski made his mark immediately on offense, leading the team in receptions (40) and finishing second in receiving yards (511), less than 30 yards behind team leader
Jack Euritt. His top performance came against Valparaiso, where Skibinski hauled in five catches for 105 yards. He led PFL freshmen in receiving.
Freshman wide receiver
Chris Booker (Saint Louis, Mo.) was named Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year. Freshman defensive end
Kevin Kurasz (Lemont, Ill.) was named Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year.
Senior cornerback
Tommy Fanning (University Heights, Ohio) had already been named the 2016 recipient of the Lt. Andy Zulli Award at halftime of UD's final home game against Valparaiso. The award, one of the most prestigious in the program, is for sportsmanship, character, and leadership.
Coach Chamberlin also recognized the career of placekicker
William Will (Mokena, Ill.). Will, a three-time first Team All-PFL performer, ended his career as the PFL record holder in field goals (55) and points scored by kicking (317). He also finished second at Dayton in career scoring (323 points).
Student-athletes who earned conference awards were also recognized.
Eight additional Flyers were named All-PFL honors. Five of these eight were on the first team, including junior cornerback
Christian Searles, senior cornerback/kick returner
Cameron Stubbs (at both positions), and senior offensive tackle
Jimmy Vogel. The players who rounded out the second team include sophomore defensive end
Nick Surges, offensive tackle
Ben Gauthier, and safety
David Leisring.
Aside from success on the field, numerous Flyers enjoyed success in the classroom in 2016. Of the players not mentioned previously, seven additional Flyers were named to Academic All-PFL teams. Offensive tackle
Jimmy Vogel, running back
Tucker Yinger, and placekicker
William Will were all named to the first team. Defensive end
Mike Gray, offensive guard
Wes Hegemann, running back
Jared Ruffing, and defensive end
Nick Surges were all named to the second team.
Dayton also had three CoSIDA Academic All-America selections in 2016. Beaschler was named to the first team for the second time, while Leisring, and Yinger were on the second team.
Beaschler capped off his stellar career by being named a finalist for the National Football Foundation's Campbell Trophy. The Campbell Trophy is sometime referred to as 'the Academic Heisman." He was one of 12 student-athletes named a finalist. All 12 were flown to New York City and hosted at the NFF Awards Banquet at the Waldorf Astoria. Each finalist was also awarded an $18,000 post-graduate scholarship.
2016 UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON FOOTBALL AWARD WINNERS
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