STATS – University of Dayton football players Adam Trautman and Brandon Easterling have been named to the STATS FCS All-America Teams, it was announced today.  Trautman was named to the first team, while Easterling is on the second team.  

This is the third time this week both have been honored together.  Both were named First Team All-Americans by the AP, while HERO Sports had Trautman on its first team and Easterling on its third team.

Earlier this awards season, both were finalists for STATS' major awards.  Trautman was a finalist for the STATS FCS Walter Payton Award, which goes annually to the top offensive player in FCS football.  He was the only tight end on the Payton Award list.  Easterling was a finalist for FCS Stats' Buck Buchanan Award, which goes annually to the top defensive player in FCS football.  He finished eighth in the Buchanan voting and was one of just two defensive backs in the top 10.

Trautman, a tight end who graduated on Saturday with a degree in Electrical Engineering, is the Flyers' all-time leading receiver.  He was UD's Most Valuable Player and the Pioneer Football League Offensive Player of the Year.  He is the first tight end in PFL history to be named the league's top offensive player.  (He is actually believed to be the first of any FCS league's offensive player of the year, but research is not complete.)

He is the FCS's top-rated tight end in receiving touchdowns (14), receptions (6.4 per game), receiving yards (916) and scoring (7.8 points per game). Overall, he is ranked among the FCS's Top 50 in each of those categories, including third in the nation in receiving touchdowns.  He also ranked first or second in the PFL in each of the receiver categories.

The Flyer co-captain finished his Dayton career with the school record for receptions in a season (70), TD catches in a season (14), career receptions (178) and career touchdown catches (31). He also set the Flyer mark for TD catches in a game when he caught four this season against Jacksonville.

The 6-6, 253-pound product of Williamsburg, Michigan has already accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.  

Easterling was First Team All-PFL selection in 2019.  He leads FCS football in total tackles (12.7) and solo tackles (7.5).  He is also tied for second in interceptions per game (0.5) and tied for third in fumbles recovered (3).  His nine turnovers acquired (six interceptions, three fumbles) were the most in FCS football.  

A junior from nearby Fairborn High School, he was First Team Academic All-PFL this season, and was named the winner of Dayton's top defensive honor, the Chief Toscani Hitter Award.

UD was 8-3 overall and 6-2 in the PFL in 2019.  The Flyers finished tied for second in the league this season.