Jan. 12, 2005

Senior safety Doug Jones and junior tailback Steve Verhoff have been named ESPN The Magazine Second Team Academic All-America. This is the second-straight season for Jones to be named an Academic All-American (he was first team last season), and the first such honor for Verhoff.

Jones was UD's leading tackler in 2004 (88 hits) and he tied for team honors in passes broken up (5). He was named First Team All-Pioneer Football League and was the PFL North Division Defensive Player of the Year. He carries a 3.48 GPA with a double major of Accounting and Finance.

Verhoff led the Flyers in rushing this season in his first year as a starter. He gained 612 yards on 160 carries (3.8 yards per carry average) with four touchdowns. He also was Dayton's second-leading receiver, with 18 catches for 118 yards. He is majoring in Adolescent-Youth Adult Education, and has a 3.43 GPA.

To be nominated for the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America Team, student-athletes must be a starter or important reserve, and carry a cumulative grade point average of 3.20 or higher. Team members are selected by a vote of members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Since 1980, UD has had 32 First Team Academic All-America selections, including at least one in each of the last 12 years. Overall, UD has had 43 football Academic All-Americans. Among schools currently playing Division I football, only Nebraska (80) and Notre Dame (44) have had more.

The Flyers were 7-3 in 2004. They were ranked #5 in the Football Gazette NCAA Division I-AA Mid-Major rankings, and sixth by the Sports Network.