Davidson Lands Four on Academic All-PFL First Team
12/3/2014 12:53:00 PM | Football
2014 Academic All-PFL Team
SAINT LOUIS, Mo. – Davidson defensive backs Bryant Bednarek and Colin Merrill were joined by offensive lineman Josh Daryoush and wide receiver William Morris on the 2014 Academic All-Pioneer Football League First Team, the league office announced Wednesday.
Bednarek and Merrill, both seniors who were named to the Capital One Academic All-District® team last month for a second consecutive year, earned their second consecutive selections to the Academic All-PFL team. Daryoush and Morris, both juniors, are both first-time Academic All-PFL selections. Daryoush was also named to the 2014 Academic All-District team, while Morris was named to the All-PFL First Team Tuesday.
Butler senior defensive back JoJo Ciancio and Drake junior linebacker Taylor Coleman were each named the first Pioneer Football League Scholar-Athletes of the Year. The duo and Davidson's honorees were among 51 Pioneer Football League student-athletes selected to the 22nd annual edition of the team, as selected by the league's sports information directors.
Bednarek (Westerville, Ohio/New Albany), an economics major, led Davidson with 7.5 tackles for loss amongst his 56 total tackles, which ranked third on the team. He also tied for the team lead with two interceptions and made two sacks. Bednarek tallied a season-best 10 tackles (8 solo) against Dayton (Oct. 4). A starter since his freshman season, he finished his stellar career with 226 tackles (133 solo).
Merrill (Circleville, Ohio/St. Charles Prep), a biology major, led the Wildcats with four pass breakups this season and also had an interception against Dayton. He finished fourth on the team with a career-high 55 tackles, making a season-high seven stops twice (at VMI and at Marist). Merrill was a two-year starter at cornerback, starting all 12 games this past season, and he played in all but three games in his career.
Daryoush (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman), who is in Davidson's pre-med program, was a key part of Davidson's improved rushing attack that averaged 142.2 yards per game, the most by a Wildcats team since 2009 and the second most since 1999. He has started nearly every game of his career.
Morris (Dallas, Texas/Highland Park), an economics and religion double major, was not only the top receiver in the PFL, but one of the best in the nation. He finished the season with a school-record 1,224 yards receiving and 98 receptions, the second most in a season at Davidson, to lead the PFL and rank in the Top 10 in the FCS in both categories. His seven receiving touchdowns were seventh-best in the league and 34th in the FCS.
The Academic All-PFL teams are a complement to the Capital One Academic All-America® program presented by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Eleven PFL student-athletes were named to their respective Capital One Academic All-District Teams® this fall. The 2014 Capital One Academic All-America Teams® will be announced Thursday.
Pioneer Football League athletic directors established the Academic All-PFL squads in 1993 as a way to recognize the league's outstanding student-athletes. To be eligible for Academic All-PFL consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00 and reached their second season both athletically and academically at his current institution.
SAINT LOUIS, Mo. – Davidson defensive backs Bryant Bednarek and Colin Merrill were joined by offensive lineman Josh Daryoush and wide receiver William Morris on the 2014 Academic All-Pioneer Football League First Team, the league office announced Wednesday.
Bednarek and Merrill, both seniors who were named to the Capital One Academic All-District® team last month for a second consecutive year, earned their second consecutive selections to the Academic All-PFL team. Daryoush and Morris, both juniors, are both first-time Academic All-PFL selections. Daryoush was also named to the 2014 Academic All-District team, while Morris was named to the All-PFL First Team Tuesday.
Butler senior defensive back JoJo Ciancio and Drake junior linebacker Taylor Coleman were each named the first Pioneer Football League Scholar-Athletes of the Year. The duo and Davidson's honorees were among 51 Pioneer Football League student-athletes selected to the 22nd annual edition of the team, as selected by the league's sports information directors.
Bednarek (Westerville, Ohio/New Albany), an economics major, led Davidson with 7.5 tackles for loss amongst his 56 total tackles, which ranked third on the team. He also tied for the team lead with two interceptions and made two sacks. Bednarek tallied a season-best 10 tackles (8 solo) against Dayton (Oct. 4). A starter since his freshman season, he finished his stellar career with 226 tackles (133 solo).
Merrill (Circleville, Ohio/St. Charles Prep), a biology major, led the Wildcats with four pass breakups this season and also had an interception against Dayton. He finished fourth on the team with a career-high 55 tackles, making a season-high seven stops twice (at VMI and at Marist). Merrill was a two-year starter at cornerback, starting all 12 games this past season, and he played in all but three games in his career.
Daryoush (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman), who is in Davidson's pre-med program, was a key part of Davidson's improved rushing attack that averaged 142.2 yards per game, the most by a Wildcats team since 2009 and the second most since 1999. He has started nearly every game of his career.
Morris (Dallas, Texas/Highland Park), an economics and religion double major, was not only the top receiver in the PFL, but one of the best in the nation. He finished the season with a school-record 1,224 yards receiving and 98 receptions, the second most in a season at Davidson, to lead the PFL and rank in the Top 10 in the FCS in both categories. His seven receiving touchdowns were seventh-best in the league and 34th in the FCS.
The Academic All-PFL teams are a complement to the Capital One Academic All-America® program presented by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Eleven PFL student-athletes were named to their respective Capital One Academic All-District Teams® this fall. The 2014 Capital One Academic All-America Teams® will be announced Thursday.
Pioneer Football League athletic directors established the Academic All-PFL squads in 1993 as a way to recognize the league's outstanding student-athletes. To be eligible for Academic All-PFL consideration, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade-point average of 3.30 on a scale of 4.00 and reached their second season both athletically and academically at his current institution.
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