Wednesday, July 31, 2013
by Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations

ST. LOUIS – Butler quarterback Matt Lancaster, the 2012 Pioneer Football League Offensive Player of the Year, headlines the 26-man 2013 Preseason All-PFL squads, the league announced Wednesday.

Returning players who were selected to the league’s 2012 All-PFL teams were automatically selected to the 2013 preseason team in order of voting. Thirteen preseason selections were first-team selections last season.

Lancaster returns to lead the league’s preseason offensive lineup after ranking ninth nationally in point responsibility (16.18 per game) with 29 total touchdowns and 3,116 total offensive yards. He is joined on offense by a trio of wide receivers which were second-team All-PFL honorees last season: San Diego senior Sam Hoekstra (54 receipts, 788 yards, 4 TDs), Butler senior Brendan Shannon (62 receipts, 864 yards, 8 TDs) and Drake redshirt senior Nick Rosa (54 receipts, 804 yards, 6 TDs). Davidson senior tight end Reese Williams (51 receipts, 522 yards, 4 TDs) returns after his first-team All-PFL campaign.

The PFL featured two 1,000-yard rushers in 2012 and both return in 2013: Butler senior running back Trae Heeter (1,103 yards, 10 TDs) and Morehead State redshirt junior running back Rees Macshara (1,013 yards, 6 TDs). They will be joined in the backfield by San Diego redshirt fullback Lawrence Larivee (83 all-purpose yards, 2 TDs).

The league’s preseason offensive line is anchored by Marist redshirt senior Phede Celestin, the only two-time All-PFL first-team selection on the preseason squad. He is joined on the line by Jacksonville junior Dan Bostick, San Diego redshirt senior Cody Tescher, Butler redshirt sophomore David Tiwari and Jacksonville redshirt junior Tramell Williams.

The league’s defensive unit features seven returning first-team All-PFL selections, including four that compose the league’s defensive line. Dayton senior Pat Dowd (36 tackles, 10 TFL, 8½ sacks), Marist redshirt senior Terrence Fede (63 tackles, 12½ TFL, 9 sacks), Jacksonville senior Juan Pimienta (43 tackles, 12½ TFL, 8 sacks) and Butler senior Jeremy Stephens (71 tackles, 14 TFL, 8½ sacks) will each seek to repeat their first-team performances.

Dayton redshirt senior Colin Monnier (92 tackles, 12 TFL) is the lone returning first-team selection returning to the league’s five-member preseason linebacker corps. He is joined by a quartet of second-team selections: Jacksonville redshirt junior Tre Davis (53 tackles), Morehead State junior Jordan Hendrix (123 tackles) and Drake juniors John Hugunin (99 tackles) and Travis Merritt (98 tackles, 3 fumbles forced).

The league’s four-man secondary is highlighted by two returning first-team honorees: Jacksonville redshirt senior Jordan Dewhirst (57 tackles, 7 passes defensed) and Butler redshirt senior Sean Grady (84 tackles, 10 passes defensed, 2 INTs). Drake redshirt senior Mike Ratelle (44 tackles, 2 INTs) and Dayton redshirt senior Kyle Sebetic (52 tackles, 15 passes defensed, 3 INTs), join that pair after earning second-team honors in 2012.

The league’s three-person specialists unit will not feature a player that earned first-team All-PFL honors last season. San Diego’s Sam Hoekstra (434 total return yards) makes his second appearance on the preseason list with his selection at return specialist. Jacksonvile senior placekicker Dylan Lynch (14-19 FGs, 31-33 PATs) and Campbell punter Adam Lutz (67 punts, 40.4 yards per punt) assume the league’s top spots at their positions after second-team All-PFL campaigns in 2012.

A tabular listing of the league’s 2013 Preseason Teams is available below.

-PFL-