Tuesday, July 26, 2016
by Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations

ST. LOUIS – Thirty student-athletes were named to the 2016 Preseason All-Pioneer Football League Team as selected by the league’s head coaches, Tuesday morning.

Returning players who were selected to the league’s 2015 All-PFL Teams were placed automatically on the 2016 Preseason All-PFL team in order of voting. Fourteen First-Team All-PFL honorees return for the 2016 season. In addition, seven Second-Team All-PFL selections and nine honorable mention recipients from 2015 were elevated to the 2016 preseason squad.

For the second consecutive season both of the league’s Players of the Year return. Stetson safety Donald Payne, a two-time PFL Defensive Player of the Year, returns after finishing second among all PFL defenders in tackles per game (11.5) and tackles for loss per game (1.36). Morehead State quarterback Austin Gahafer, the reigning PFL Offensive Player of the Year, led the league with 291 completed passes for 3,244 yards and 24 touchdowns last season.

Both of the league’s First-Team All-PFL running backs return in Campbell’s De’Shawn Jones and Jacksonville’s Ulysses Bryant. Jones was the league’s leader in both carries (178) and rushing yardage (1,079), the lone 1,000-yard runner in the PFL last season. Bryant was the league’s top two-way threat, combining for 1,141 yards from scrimmage (763 rushing yards, 378 receiving yards). They were joined in the backfield by Valparaiso fullback Griffin Norberg, who had 138 receiving yards last season.

The league’s receiving corps are highlighted by Drake tight end Eric Saubert, a returning First-Team All-PFL pick, who was among the PFL leaders in receptions (5.0 per game) while averaging 52.7 yards per game. San Diego’s Brian Riley and Justin Priest were joined by Marist’s Juston Christian to form its three-member wide receiver group. Christian led all PFL receivers with 91.8 yards per game in his rookie campaign, averaging 23.6 yards per reception. Riley was third in the league in reception yardage (71.1 per game) with eight touchdowns while Priest compiled 533 yards on 37 receptions.

Dayton offensive lineman Jim Vogel, a returning First-Team All-PFL choice, captains the league’s five-member offensive line. Campbell’s Brian Stryffeler and Laurin O’Briant were joined by Morehead State’s Liam Maloney and San Diego’s Miles McArdle.

Payne is one of three returning First-Team All-PFL picks in the preseason defensive backs group. Dayton’s Cameron Stubbs and Christian Searles also return after earning nods on the league’s top team last season. The group is rounded out by San Diego’s Jamal Agnew. Stubbs and Agnew were two of the league’s top ball-hawking defenders, compiling 18 and 15 passes defensed, respectively. Searles nabbed five interceptions last season but led all defenders with 124 interception return yards (24.8 yards per return).

Another Dayton returning First-Team All-PFL pick leads the linebacker corps, with Christopher Beaschler returning after a 112-tackle campaign. Jacksonville’s Grady Redding will look to follow up his own First-Team All-PFL effort that saw him post 100 tackles. Butler’s Sean Horan (72 tackles) and Morehead State’s Ryan Bennett (96 tackles), both Second-Team All-PFL choices in 2015, look to move up the ladder in 2016.

Drake defensive lineman Mack Marrin headlines the league’s defensive line quartet, returning after a First-Team All-PFL campaign that saw him post a league-best 8.5 sacks among 12.5 tackles for loss. San Diego’s Jonathan Petersen returns after earning Second-Team All-PFL honors in 2015 following his league-leading 16.0-tackle for loss (8.0 sacks) campaign. Morehead State’s Colt Briggs (46 tackles, 5.0 sacks) and Stetson’s Davion Belk (14.5 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks) complete the four-man line.

Three returning Dayton First-Team All-PFL choices return to dominate the league’s special teams unit: placekicker William Will (17-23 FG, 33-33 PAT in 2015), punter Sean Smith (PFL best 41.7 yards per punt) and return specialist Christian Searles (PFL best 12.2 yards per punt return). Two long snappers fill out the unit due to a tie in the voting: Davidson’s Conrad Mueller and Butler’s Connor Andras.