DAYTON – University of Dayton placekicker Sam Webster, a grad student from Richfield, Ohio, has been named to the Watch List for the Fred Mitchell Award, which goes to the top kicking specialist at the FCS, NCAA Division II, Division III and NAIA levels.

Webster is the first Dayton kicker named to the Mitchell Watch List since William Will in 2016.

The Award is named for Fred Mitchell, the record-setting placekicker, Wittenberg University Athletic Hall of Famer and Chicago Tribune sports columnist.

Webster made 13 of 17 field goals and 29 of 31 PAT in 2022 for a total of 68 points in 2022.

He enters 2023 among the top kickers in Dayton history.  He is 10th in career scoring (all positions) with 213 points, fifth in FG accuracy (75%), fourth in PAT accuracy (96.1%), fourth in career field goals (30) and third in kick scoring.  He is completing his eligibility as a grad student, after graduating Cum Laude from UD last spring.

Phil Steele's College Football named Webster Second Team Preseason All-Pioneer Football League.  

The breakdown of the 34 placekickers on the watch list is as follows:
•    By Collegiate Division – 13 FCS, 9 Division II, 7 Division III, 4 NAIA and 1 NJCAA
•    By State – The student-athletes play at schools located in 25 different states
•    By Year – 1 Graduate Student, 17 Seniors, 14 Juniors and 2 Sophomores

UD returns 13 starters (six offense, seven defense) from the 2022 season.  On special teams, the primary kickoff and punt returners are back, along with both long snappers and Webster.

Dayton was picked to finish third in the Pioneer Football League for the 2023 season in a preseason vote of the league's coaches.  The Flyers have 12 league championships to its credit in the PFL's 30 seasons.   .  UD was 8-3 overall in 2022, including 6-2 in the PFL, which tied for second place in the league.

UD will kick-off the 2023 campaign on Saturday, Sept. 2 at Illinois State.