DAYTON —The University of Dayton honored the 2019 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.

Adam Trautman, the Flyers' all-time leading receiver, was named the recipient of the White Allen Most Valuable Player Trophy. 

Trautman, this year's Pioneer Football League Offensive Player of the Year, 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, 230-pound product of Williamsburg, Michigan has already accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.  He is a finalist for the STATS FCS Walter Payton Award, which goes annually to the top offensive player in FCS football.  He is the only tight end on the Payton Award list.

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.

Wide receiver Ryan Skibinski 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.  

Skibinski, a unanimous First Team All-PFL selection this season, was a quality performer from the moment he joined the Flyer football program.  His 40 receptions in his first season are the Dayton freshman record.  He finished his career with 150 catches, the most by a wide receiver and the second-most overall.  He also tied for first in career yardage (2,274).

As a senior, Skibinski led UD with a 17.1 yards per reception average, and scored nine of his 10 receiving touchdowns in PFL play.  His 48 catches and 13 total TDs were second on the team.  He was a four-time member of the PFL Academic Honor Roll, and was First Team Academic All-PFL this season.

Junior safety Brandon Easterling was named the winner of the Chief Toscani Hitter Award.  A First Team All-PFL selection in 2019, Easterling leads FCS football in total tackles (12.7) and solo tackles (7.5).  He 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.  He is a finalist for FCS Stats' Buck Buchanan Award, which goes annually to the top defensive player in FCS football.  He was First Team Academic All-PFL this season.

Senior offensive guard Michael Niese was named the Stan Kurdziel Memorial Trophy winner.  The Kurdziel Trophy goes to the team's top lineman. Another First Team All-PFL performer, Niese was the anchor of a superb offensive line.  The Dayton offense is ranked first in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision in scoring offense (42.5 points a game) and red-zone offense (94.5% efficiency).  Flyer ball carriers averaged 6.0 yards per carry, and that includes the PFL leader in per-carry average, Jake Chisholm, who averaged 7.6 yards.  Another measure of the line, particularly the front three (centers and guards) that Niese was a part, is this nugget:  On 23 quarterback sneaks not on the goal line, Dayton averaged 3.6 yards per play.

Senior H-Back Brian Gillen was the recipient of the Emil Karas Memorial Award.  A strong role player on offense and special teams, Gillen has played in 19 game the last two seasons, with one start.  He is a three-year member of the PFL Academic Honor Roll.  The Karas Award is for the most inspirational leadership as chosen by his teammates. 

Redshirt sophomore running back Logan Moews (pronounced Mays) earned the John L. Macbeth Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award.  Moews is a pre-med major with a 3.98 GPA.

Senior offensive guard Zach Jablonski 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.  Serving as a backup on the best offensive line unit in the PFL did not dampen Jablosnki's enthusiasm for the game, and fans got a glimpse of his big-time personality when he took the field and greeted his mom Clara and dad Jeff on Senior Day.

This season's Most Improved Player Award went to redshirt freshman Flyer Zach Rumpke.  Like last year's winner, quarterback Jack Cook, Rumpke was thrown into the fire when an injury in the first game took a Flyer mainstay out of the lineup.  In this case it was co-captain Andrew Lutgens.  Rumpke made the game-winning interception in UD's upset of 14th-ranked Indiana State and never looked back.  For the season, he was third on the team in tackles (66), and led UD in TFL (6) and sacks (3).

 True freshman placekicker Sam Webster was named as the ROTC Cannonball Award winner, which goes to the team's top newcomer. For the season, Webster was 8-for-9 in field goals, and the only field goal he missed was a bad snap-and-hold that caused him to stop-and-start in mid-approach.  He was also 58 of 60 on PATs.  Twenty-four of his 35 kickoffs were touchbacks.  His very first field goal was a 53-yarder at Robert Morris that helped earn him his first of two PFL Player of the Week honors.  Only one freshman in FCS football has kicked a longer field goal than Webster's 53-yarder.  In the PFL, he was second in kick scoring (7.5 points per game) and he was the highest-scoring freshman in the league.

Freshman wideout Sam Bubonics was named Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year. Freshman defensive tackle Sam Schadek was named Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year.

One team award had been previously announced.  Senior wide receiver/kick returner Kyle Butz was announced as the 2019 winner of the Lt. Andy Zulli Memorial Trophy at halftime of the Senior Day game against Butler.

Student-athletes who earned conference awards were also recognized.

Twelve Flyers earned All-Pioneer Football League honors. Tight end Adam Trautman is the first PFL tight end to be named the league's offensive player of the year, and is believed to be the first at any FCS conference.  Trautman, running back Jack Chisholm, safety Brandon Easterling, offensive guard Michael Niese and center Tim Roell were named to the first team. Flyers named Second Team All-PFL were quarterback Jack Cook, offensive tackle Justin Karem, center Dom Sciaretti and placekicker Sam Webster.  Honorable mention selections from Dayton were wideout Kyle Butz and Flyer Zach Rumpke. 

Aside from success on the field, numerous Flyers enjoyed success in the classroom in 2018.  A PFL-high eight Flyers were named Academic All-PFL.  Jake Chisholm, safety Brandon Easterling, safety Tim Simon and punter Allen Waltz were named to the first team.  Linebacker Anthony Best, wideout/punt returner Kyle Butz, defensive end Nate Obringer and wide receiver Ryan Skibinski were named to the second team.

Dayton also had four CoSIDA Academic All-District selections in 2019.  Jake Chisholm, Nate Obringer, Tim Simon and Allan Waltz all earned the honor, and all four advanced to the national ballot for Academic All-America, which will be named this week.  Dayton's four All-District selections were the most in District 5.  Notre Dame, Western Michigan and Kent State each had two.

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

2019 UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON FOOTBALL AWARD WINNERS 
•White- Allen MVP – Adam Trautman
• Beno Keiter 4-Year – Ryan Skibinski
•Chief Toscani Hitter – Brandon Easterling 
•Emil Karis Leadership – Brian Gillen 
•Stan Kurdziel Lineman – Michael Niese 
•A.J. Cohen Flyer of the Year – Zach Jablonski 
•ROTC Cannonball Newcomer – Sam Webster 
•Most Improved – Zach Rumpke 
• John L. Macbeth Scholar-Athlete – Logan Moews 
 •Scout Offensive – Sam Bubonics
•Scout Defensive – Sam Schadek
• Lt. Andy Zulli Character – Kyle Butz