Dec. 14, 2005

Eight University of Dayton football players - highlighted by offensive tackle Ryan Winner being named the Offensive Lineman of the Year - have been named NCAA Division I-AA Mid-Major All-Americans by the Football Gazette, it was announced today.

Winner, a senior co-captain from Greenville, Ohio, had already been named a Sports Network Mid-Major All-America selection. Finishing his career with 31 consecutive starts, Winner was a two-time First Team All-Pioneer Football League performer, and was also named Second Team Academic All-PFL in 2005.

Joining Winner on the Football Gazette first team was cornerback Casey Klaus. Klaus was also First Team All-PFL after leading the Flyers and the Pioneer Football League in interceptions (6). The junior from Delphos (Ohio) St. John's High School also led Dayton with six passes broken up, and was second in solo tackles (32). UD finished third in I-AA in scoring defense (14.1), marking the sixth straight year the Flyers were ranked in the top ten in scoring defense.

Four Dayton players were named to the second team. Senior linebacker John Hoppe (Northbrook, IL), junior tight end Matt Champa (Sagamore Hills, OH), senior offensive guard Ross Mroczek (South Bend, IN) and sophomore safety Brandon Cramer (Toledo, OH).

Hoppe was the Pioneer Football League North Division Defensive Player of the Year. Champa led the Flyers in touchdown catches (6) and was second on the team in receptions (16). Cramer, who was also named a Second Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America, was third on the team in tackles (58).

UD also had a pair of players named Honorable Mention All-America by the Football Gazette, which served as the third team selection. Senior wide receiver Ryan Wrobleski (Northville, MI) and junior defensive tackle Chad Burton (Germantown, OH) were honored.

The Flyers were 9-1 in 2005, and ranked #2 in the Sports Network's Division I-AA Mid-Major rankings. Dayton is one of only five teams in NCAA Division I-AA who finished the year with just a single loss.