Nov. 14, 2005

The University of Dayton has placed five Flyer football players on the 2005 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV Team, it was announced today. The five Dayton players on the team were the most of any other school in the district for the fifth straight year, and included two first-team selections.

Senior center Ryan McNulty (Cleveland, OH) and sophomore safety Brandon Cramer (Toledo, OH) were named to the first team.

The ESPN The Magazine Academic 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 ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America national ballot.

Linebacker John Hoppe (Northbrook, IL), tight end John Schmall (Columbus, OH) and tailback Steve Verhoff (Wellington, OH), all seniors, were named second team all-district

The district team is made up of student-athletes from Division I-A and I-AA schools in Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee. To be nominated, 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) within the district.

Since 1980, UD has had 33 First Team Academic All-America selections, including at least one in each of the last 13 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 9-1 in 2005, and are currently ranked #2 in the Sports Network's Division I-AA Mid-Major rankings.