DAYTON—The University of Dayton honored the 2018 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.

Tucker Yinger, the Flyers' all-time leading rusher, was named the recipient of the White Allen Most Valuable Player Trophy. 

Yinger, a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American who is also a two-time First Team All-PFL selection, was one of four unanimous First Team All-PFL selections this season.  He became the first Dayton runner to post two 1,000-yard seasons when he ran for more than 200 yards in each of his last three games this year and finished with 1,340 yards.  He set the Dayton career records for rushing yards (3,757), yards-per-carry (6.3) and all-purpose yards (4,468).

Yinger also expanded his game, setting career highs in receptions and passing yardage by the season's sixth game.  For the year, he had 22 catches for 390 yards, and his 17.7 yards-per-catch average led the team.  

He led the PFL in yards per carry (7.6, third in FCS) and all-purpose yardage (157.3 yards per game, sixth in FCS), and was second in in the PFL in yards per game (121.8, eighth in FCS.)

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.

Punter Sean Smith was named the recipient of the Sheriff "Beno" Keiter Award, which goes to the senior for the most outstanding contribution to the program over his college career.  

Smith set the single-season Dayton record for punting average as a freshman, and then merely raised it every year of his career.  His average in 2018 of 45.4 broke his previous record by nearly three yards.  If he would have enough punts to qualify, he would have been third in the nation in punting this season. This season 18 of his 30 punts were inside the 20-yard line, with only one touchback.  In fact, Smith had more touchbacks this year on kickoffs (PFL-best 29) than he had in 204 career punts (20).

In the 26-year history of the Pioneer Football League, Smith is one of just six players to be named First Team All-PFL four times.

Senior safety David Leisring was named the winner of the Chief Toscani Hitter Award.  A First Team All-PFL selection in 2018, Leisring led the Flyers in tackles and interceptions for the second consecutive season.  This year he had 90 total tackles and 49 solo hits, with three interceptions.  He also forced a team-high two fumbles and broke up three passes.  Leisring is also a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American and was a semifinalist for the National Football Foundation's Campbell Trophy, which is sometimes referred to as the "Academic Heisman."

Senior offensive tackle Ben Gauthier was named the Stan Kurdziel Memorial Trophy winner for the second consecutive year. The Kurdziel Trophy goes to the team's top lineman. Another First Team All-PFL performer, Gauthier started his very first game as a true freshman on UD's 2015 FCS playoff team, and finished with 45 career starts.  He is the only player to block for the top two rushers in Dayton football history – Tucker Yinger and Connor Kacsor when they were the UD record holder.  Dayton averaged 5.9 yards per carry in 2018.  Gauthier even scored a "big guy" touchdown on a one-yard run on Senior Day.

Redshirt senior defensive end Nick Surges was the recipient of the Emil Karas Memorial Award again in 2018.  The Karas Award is for the most inspirational leadership as chosen by his teammates. A two-year team captain, Surges was three-time All-PFL.  He was named to the first team in 2018.  Surges was first on the team in sacks (5.0) and quarterback hurries (6), and second in tackles for loss (9.5).  He had 33.5 TFL in his career.

Another repeat award winner was senior linebacker Lucas Edwards, who earned the John L. Macbeth Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award. Edwards is a pre-med major with a minor in Spanish with a perfect 4.0 GPA.   

Senior linebacker A.J. Foster was awarded the A.J. Cohen Flyer of the Year award.  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.  While seeing action on special teams, Foster moved wherever the team needed him over his career.  He came to UD as a safety, but then moved to linebacker, defensive end and back to linebacker in his career.  


This season's Most Improved Player Award went to redshirt freshman quarterback Jack Cook.  Cook was the PFL's Offensive Freshman of the Year and is a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award, which goes to the top freshman in FCS football.  He led all FCS freshmen in passing efficiency (155.5, 8th overall) and was ranked third among all FCS freshmen in passing yardage (2,421) and passing touchdowns (20).  At San Diego, Cook threw for a UD-record 432 yards (29 of 40 passing).

 True freshman defensive tackle Mike Stodola was named as the ROTC Cannonball Award winner, which goes to the team's top newcomer. Stodola played in 10 games in 2018.  He was third on the team in sacks (3.0) and TFL (5.0) and was in on 32 tackles.

Freshman quarterback Jack Albers was named Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year. Freshman defensive back Zach Rumpke was named Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year.

One team award had been previously announced.  Senior punter Christopher Papalia was announced as the 2018 winner of the Lt. Andy Zulli Memorial Trophy at halftime of the Senior Day game against Morehead State.

Student-athletes who earned conference awards were also recognized.

Thirteen Flyers earned All-Pioneer Football League honors. Offensive tackle Ben Gauthier, safety David Leisring, Flyer Andrew Lutgens, punter Sean Smith defensive end Nick Surges, long snapper Matt Tunnacliffe and running back Tucker Yinger were named to the first team.   Named Second Team All-PFL for the second time was tight end Adam Trautman.  Five Flyers were also named Honorable Mention All-PFL – kicker Joe Bruni, punt returner Kyle Butz, quarterback Jack Cook, offensive guard Michael Niese and defensive tackle Isaac Sexton. 

Aside from success on the field, numerous Flyers enjoyed success in the classroom in 2018.  A PFL-high 10 Flyers were named Academic All-PFL.  Tucker Yinger named PFL Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and was the first four-time First Team Academic All-PFL selection in league history.  David Leisring was on the first team for the third straight year.  Isaac Sexton and Tim Simon were both named Academic All-PFL for the second time.  Matt Tunnacliffe was named to the first team, and five Flyers -- Anthony Best, Kyle Butz, Ben Gauthier, Nick Surges, and Richie Warfield – were named to the second team.

Dayton also had three CoSIDA Academic All-District selections in 2018.  David Leisring, Isaac Sexton, Tucker Yinger all earned the honor, and all three advanced to the national ballot for Academic All-America, which will be named this week. 
Yinger is also a finalist for the Doris Robinson Award, which is named for the wife of Hall of Fame coach Eddie Robinson and goes to the top scholar-athlete in FCS football.

UD was 6-5 overall and 5-3 in the PFL in 2018.  Three of the five losses came to teams that reached the playoffs this season, and two were to teams that won their first game in the playoffs.

2018 UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON FOOTBALL AWARD WINNERS 
•White- Allen MVP – Tucker Yinger 
• Beno Keiter 4-Year – Sean Smith 
•Chief Toscani Hitter – David Leisring 
•Emil Karis Leadership -- Nick Surges 
•Stan Kurdziel Lineman -- Ben Gauthier 
•A.J. Cohen Flyer of the Year – A.J. Foster 
•ROTC Cannonball Newcomer – Mike Stodola 
•Most Improved – Jack Cook 
• John L. Macbeth Scholar-Athlete -- Lucas Edwards 
 •Scout Offensive -- Jack Albers
•Scout Defensive – Zach Rumpke 
• Lt. Andy Zulli Character – Christopher Papalia