Dayton Flyers

University of Dayton redshirt senior safety Steve Wirkus has been named to the 2011 University Division Capital One Academic All-District V First Team, it was announced Thursday.

Wirkus, an Accounting major, leads the Pioneer Football League and is tied for eighth nationally in FCS football in interceptions (0.5 per game).  He is third at UD in tackles (54) and leads in solo hits (37) in 2010.  After suffering an ankle injury in the Butler game, he missed two games.  He returned for Morehead State win, coming up with 10 tackles (8 solo) in the win. 

The Capital One All-District team is the first step in selecting this year's Academic All-America team. Everyone named to the district first teams appears on the Capital One Academic All-America national ballot.

The District V teams are made up of student-athletes from Division I-A and I-AA schools in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio, along with a select number of Division II schools.  To be nominated, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve, and carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.30 or higher. Team members are selected by a vote of members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) within the district.

The Dayton football program has produced 21 Academic All-Americans since the 2000 season. That's the most by any school at any level of college football, and includes the 2007 Division I ESPN The Magazine All-American of the Year, Brandon Cramer.

In the history of the Academic All-America program, UD football has had 51 Academic All-Americans. Among schools currently playing Division I football, only Nebraska (98), Penn State (59) and Notre Dame (54) have had more. UD has had at least one football player named an Academic All-American in 24 of the last 26 years.  In all sports, Dayton has had at least one Academic All-American for 27 straight years.

Dayton (6-4, 4-3 PFL) plays at Drake Saturday at 2:00 p.m. ET to finish the 2011 regular season.