DAYTON – After 32 wins in the last four seasons, the University of Dayton Flyer football program is bringing in another strong recruiting class according to head coach Rick Chamberlin.

While NCAA regulations and University policies preclude the release of the individuals who have committed at this time, Chamberlin sees them carrying on the Dayton tradition of success on the field and in the classroom.  The entire class will be released at a later date.

"I'm very proud to say the quality of the young men who are joining our program is as good as ever," Chamberlin said.  "Our staff is really looking forward to working with them for the next four years.  They are quality students, quality athletes and quality leaders.

"It's a typical Dayton football recruiting class, in terms of their accomplishments in the classroom and on the football field.  But it is not typical at all in terms of where they come from.  For the first time in our history, we have a 'coast-to-coast' recruiting class.  We have our first-ever recruit from North Carolina, and our first incoming freshman from California in at least 30 years.

"The character and commitment of this class has served them well in their high school careers, and I expect them to be a very successful group here at the University of Dayton."

Among the highlights for the Flyer Football Class of 2022 are:
• 3.50 average high school GPA
• 27 average score on the ACT
• 13 team captains
• 8 National Honor Society members
• 3 members of state championship teams
• 8 offensive players
• 14 defensive players

The members of the Class of 2022 hail from nine states.

California, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin

In addition, Chamberlin announced the following seniors have indicated they will return in the fall for their fifth season in the Flyer football program:  quarterback Alex Jeske, defensive end Nick Surges, wide receiver Matt Tunnacliffe and running back Tucker Yinger.

Jeske is a three-year starter at quarterback.  As a redshirt freshman in 2015, he guided the Flyers to 10 straight wins, a PFL championship and UD's first-ever appearance in the FCS playoffs.  He followed that up with an MVP season, completing 56.2% of his passes and leading UD in rushing.  Last year he missed the first five games with an injury before leading the Flyers to four wins in their last six games.

Heading into his final season, Jeske is already third at UD in career completions (432), third in passing yards (5,224) and total offense (6,224).  He also has exactly 1,000 career rushing yards.  As a starter, Jeske has a 22-5 record.

Surges, who like Jeske, was a 2017 team captain, is a two-year starter at defensive end.  He has 14 career sacks, 24 career quarterback hurries and 25 career tackles for a loss in his three seasons. Tunnacliffe was the 2017 Zulli Award winner.  He started every game last year, and was third on the team in receptions (21 for a 12.5 yards per catch average).  He is also the team's long snapper.

Yinger is a two-time Academic All-American.  He was named First Team All-Pioneer Football League in 2017 after his first 1,000 yard season this year.  He was third in the PFL in rushing (98.9 yards a game) with seven 100-yard games.  He is now sixth in career rushing at Dayton with 2,417 yards and has a yards-per-carry average of 5.8.

The majority of UD's new recruiting class will be in attendance when the Flyers play the annual Spring Game on Sunday, April 15.

Dayton will open the 2018 season on Saturday, Sept. 1 at home against Robert Morris.