DAYTON – The University of Dayton football program and head coach Trevor Andrews have announced the latest additions to the Flyer Family ahead of the 2026 fall season.

"This class is a representation of the growth and direction that the University of Dayton Football program strives for," said Coach Andrews. "Our coaching staff did an outstanding job identifying, evaluating, and ultimately signing this group of outstanding student-athletes."

"We were able to put together a deep and talented incoming class of young men who are a great 'fit' for UD and our football program. They are a talented group and we are looking forward to working with them on the field come August."

"When you look at the 2026 recruiting class in its entirety, there are multiple state champions and several All-State performers on the field as well as the classroom.  It is a well-rounded group of student-athletes that we are proud to have represent the University of Dayton.  These guys are all talented, they are competitive, they have proven leadership skills, and they understand the expectations of a winning culture." 

"Included in the group are 16 team captains and five incoming players who come from Flyer Football lineage, having fathers, grandfathers, or brothers that have worn the UD uniform.  It is another deep and balanced class that we expect to come in and get right to work."

2026 Dayton Football Commitments
NAME – POS – HT – WT – HOMETOWN / HIGH SCHOOL
Drew Balogh – Safety – 5-11 - 180 - Springboro, Ohio / Springboro
• Served as team captain and member of Panther Athletic Council two years; Earned GWOC Scholar Athlete Award
Charlie Barkmeier – Linebacker – 5-10 – 195 - Oak Lawn, Ill. / Brother Rice
• Earned All-Conference and Conference Defensive Player of the Year; Named team captain; Led team to state title
Isaiah Carranza – Cornerback – 5-11 – 180 - Milford, Ohio / Milford
• Was team captain and named to All-Academic team twice; National Honor's Society
Chris Chang – Safety – 6-1 – 192 - Lake Zurich, Ill. / Lake Zurich
• Earned First Team All-State honors; Was three-time Academic All-State and All-Conference; Named All-Lake County twice
Colten Florence – Defensive Line – 6-4 – 220 - Cadiz, Ohio / Saint Clairsville
• Earned First Team All-State, All-District, All-Conference, Buckeye 8, and All-Valley in 2025; Chosen for North/South All-Star game and Ohio vs West Virginia All-Star game; Season and career sacks record holder
Nick Hachigian – Linebacker – 6-2 – 215 – Park Ridge, Ill. / Maine South
• Earned All-Conference in 2024 and 2025; Named All-Area Honorable Mention as a senior; Led team to four conference titles; Named Academic All-State twice
Franky Hayse – Linebacker – 6-0 - 205 - Whiteland, Ind. / Center Grove
• Named 6A All-State; led team to state title in 2024; Was five-time player of the week; Inducted into Center Grove's Wall of Fame
Brady Hines – Defensive Line – 6-1 – 215 – Monroe, Mich. / Saint Mary Catholic Central
• Earned First Team All-State, All-Region, and All-League in both 2024 and 2025; Finished with 161 tackles, 33 TFLs, and 17 sacks; Grandson of 1963 Zulli Award Winner and former Flyer Tom LaBeau
Andrew Lipp – Offensive Line – 6-5 – 260 – Harrison, Ohio / Badin
• Earned GLC First Team and Southwest Ohio Second Team honors; Led team to conference titles all four years; Named team's Offensive Lineman MVP and didn't allow a sack as a senior
Marty Loncar – Linebacker – 6-1 – 205 – Concord Township, Ohio / Lake Catholic
• Named First Team All-Ohio, NCC Defensive Player of the Year, Lake County DPOY, and team captain in 2025; Earned Third Team All-Ohio in 2025 and First Team All-District twice; National Honor's Society
Conor Malenock – Offensive Line – 6-6 – 325 – Chicago, Ill. / Saint Patrick's
• Earned First Team All-Conference as junior and senior; Was two-time team captain; Named Academic All-State and four-time academic honor roll recipient; National Honor's Society
Grant Nurre – Quarterback – 6-4 – 225 – Cincinnati, Ohio / Kings
• Received First Team All-ECC, First Team All-Ohio, and First Team All-District in 2025; Named Second Team All-ECC as sophomore and junior; Finished with 6,921 passing yards and 52 touchdowns
Shane O'Leary – Tight End – 6-4 - 235 – Westlake, Ohio / Saint Ignatius
• Finished with career-highs in yards and receptions last season; Son for former NFL player Dan O'Leary
David Piotrowski – Defensive Line – 6-4 – 240 – Park Ridge, Ill. / Maine South
• Named All-Conference and Conference Lineman of the Year; Four-time conference champion
Andrew Smith – Safety – 6-3 – 195 - Maryville, Tenn. / Maryville
• Named All-State, All-Region, and All-Daily Times as a senior; Finished fourth all-time in career interceptions (10) and set school record with most in a game (3); Led team to regional title
Oliver Thulin – Wide Receiver – 5-10 – 175 – Downers Grove, Ill. / Downers Grove North
• Earned First Team All-Conference, All-Country, and All-Area; Served as team captain; Received Academic All-Conference; Finished with 1,995 yards and 23 touchdowns; Brother of current Flyer Ethan
Luke Vanderwiel – Athlete – 5-9 – 180 - Crystal Lake, Ill. / Prairie Ridge
• Earned First Team All-State, Academic All-State, and All-Conference as a senior; Named All-Conference all four years; Named Northwest Herald Player of the Year in 2025; Finished with 73 touchdowns
Gabe Wilburn – Cornerback – 5-11 – 180 - Loveland, Ohio / Loveland
• Named Best Defensive Back in 2025; Led team to conference title; Finished with three TFLs and 43 tackles
Jaden Workman – Athlete – 6-4 – 235 - Lewis Center, Ohio / Olentangy Orange
• Led team to Ohio State Championships in 2025; Finished season with 35 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks; On academic honor roll 4 years
Henry Duda – Running Back – 6-0 – 200 – Elmhurst, Ill. / York
• Earned First Team All-State, All-Conference, All-County and Conference Co-MVP as a senior; School records for career rushing yards (2,722) and yards per game (166.5); Academic All-Conference
Colson Lair – K/P – 5-7 – 175 – Fort Mitchell, Ky. / Beechwood
• Named All-State 2A, All-District, All-Northern Kentucky, and Academic All-State twice each
Ehren Dammann – Offensive Line – 6-2 – 275 – Arlington Heights, Ill. / John Hersey
• Earned All-Conference Honorable Mention accolades; Named Academic All-State; Younger brother of current Flyer Gus Dammann
Michael O'Connor – Defensive Line – 6-3 – 260 – Oak Lawn, Ill. / Marist
• Earned All-Conference Honorable Mention as a senior; Led team to conference title; National Honors Society and Dean's List honoree
Ben Guilliams – Offensive Line – 6-2 – 277 – Ironton, Ohio / Ironton
• Named First Team All-State and two-time First Team All-Conference; Earned Honorable Mention All-State and All-Tri State accolades; Team Captain and top 5 recruit in West Va.; National Honors Society
Nick Barrett – Offensive Line – 6-3 – 270 – Orland Park, Ill. / Sandburg
• Earned Academic All-State honors; Led team to conference title and All-Conference honors
Brayden Homoki – Linebacker – 6-0 – 220 – Grafton, Ohio / Midview
• Named First Team All-Ohio, All-County, All-District, and All-SWC as a senior; School record holder for tackles in a season and career
Kolyn Ogletree – Defensive Back – 5-11 – 197 – West Chester, Ohio / Lakota West
• Earned First Team All-Conference as a senior and Second Team as a junior; Finished with 94 tackles and three interceptions; Named Academic All-Conference; State champion in track.
 
The UD Football Program also announced the addition of four transfers who enrolled in January and are already on campus and participating in the winter workout program.
Jaz Boykin – Cornerback – 6-1 – 185 - Fishers, Ind. / Fishers
• Earned All-Conference as a junior and Honorable Mention as a senior; transfer with stops at Indiana and Hampton.
Ross Coppock – Safety – 6-2 - 200 – Centerville, Ohio / Centerville
• Earned Third Team All-State as a senior, honorable mention as a junior; Finished with 203 tackles and 13 interceptions; National Honor's Society and Dean's List; Transfer from Gardner-Webb
Carter Sheehan – Offensive Line – Pa. / Bishop Gulifoyle
•   Transfer from Temple; Redshirt in 2025
Jace Schaefer – Defensive Line – Ohio / Saint Mary's Memorial
•  Transfer from Ohio Dominican where he was Second Team All-GMAC last season.

Dayton finished the 2025 season with a 7-4 record overall and 5-3 PFL mark. The Flyers highlighted the season with a five-game winning streak and a victory over then No. 16/19 Presbyterian at home.

UD recently announced its 2026 schedule and will open up the season at home on Saturday, Aug. 29 against Fairmont State. Here is a link to the full schedule.

For more information regarding the Dayton Football program, check back at DaytonFlyers.com.

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