Wednesday, September 2, 2020
by Dayton Athletics Media Relations

STATS PERFORM – Even though the University of Dayton will not play games this fall, two Flyers were recognized among the top players in FCS football on the Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Team.

Senior safety Brandon Easterling was named to the first team, while junior running back Jake Chisholm was an all-purpose selection on the third team.  Easterling and Chisholm were the only two players named preseason All-America by Stats Perform from the Pioneer Football League.

Easterling is coming off a junior season where he led FCS football in solo tackles (7.5) and was second in total tackles (12.7).  He was second by 0.058 tackles per game to Montana's Dante Olson.   Easterling also tied for second in interceptions per game (0.5) and tied for third in fumbles recovered (3).  His nine turnovers acquired (six interceptions, three fumbles) were the most in FCS football. 

The three-year letterwinner also etched his name in the record books with a 100-yard interception return at Drake on Nov. 16.

Easterling was named a 2019 FCS All-American by HERO Sports, the Walter Camp Foundation, the Associated Press and STATS FCS. He was a finalist for FCS Stats' Buck Buchanan Award, which goes annually to the top defensive player in FCS football.  He finished eighth in the Buchanan voting and was one of just two defensive backs in the top 10.

A 2017 graduate of nearby Fairborn High School, he was First Team Academic All-Pioneer Football League in 2019, and was named the winner of Dayton's top defensive honor, the Chief Toscani Hitter Award.

This is Easterling's third preseason All-America honor.  He was previously named First Team All-America by Athlon and HERO Sports.

Chisholm led FCS football all-purpose yardage as a sophomore in 2019, averaging 204.3 yards per game.  He averaged 112.9 yards a game rushing, 23.6 yard per kick return on 29 returns, and caught 21 passes for 230 yards.

He did not start until the last five games of the season, and yet he was second in the Pioneer Football League in rushing.  His 7.4 yards per carry average led the PFL and is second in FCS.  He finished 2019 with five consecutive 100-yard rushing games, including a 35-carry, 268-yard effort against Morehead State.

Hailing from Union, Ky., Chisholm was named Second Team Academic All-America by CoSIDA last season.   He was also First Team Academic All-PFL.

UD was 8-3 overall and 6-2 in the PFL in 2019.  The Flyers finished tied for second in the league last season.