March 15, 2007

Don Hansen's Football Gazette recently announced its 2006 All-American teams, and University of Dayton football players Nick Ruhe and John Hoppe earned All-America honors from the Football Gazette for 2006 football season. Both were named to the Gazette's Mid-Major First Team of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision.

Nick Ruhe was named to the first team offense for both wide receiver and punt returner for the Football Gazette NCAA Division I-FCS Mid Major, and was also named second team offense for all-purpose yards. In 10 games for the Flyers this past season, Ruhe accumulated 49 catches for 977 receiving yards for 19.9 yards a catch. He also had an 11.3 punt return average, and a 20.1 kick return average. He also averaged 167.3 total yards a game.

Ruhe had already earned Third Team All-America honors as an all-purpose player from the Associated Press. He had 214 punt return yards and 482 kick return yards to go along with his 977 receiving yards for a total of 1673 yards.

John Hoppe was also named Mid-Major First Team Defense by the Football Gazette. He was named to the team as a linebacker. Hoppe led the team in solo tackles with 40, tackles for a loss with seven and a half, tied for the lead in sacks with two, fumbles recovered and forced with two, and also was second in the team in tackles with 74.

The pair also were named to the Football Gazette's All-America teams for the entire division. Ruhe also earned honorable mention offense for Football Gazette's NCAA I FCS Football teams for the NCAA I-FCS level. Hoppe also earned honorable mention for the Football Gazette's NCAA I-FCS Football teams for the NCAA I-FCS level

The Flyers return 14 of 22 starters from last year's 4-6 team with seven on each side of the ball including Ruhe and quarterback Kevin Hoyng on offense and safety Brandon Cramer and linebacker Brian Kelly on defense.