Tuesday, December 15, 2015
by Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations

CHICAGO – Three Pioneer Football League student-athletes were named to the 2015 STATS FCS All-America Team, Tuesday. Stetson defensive back Donald Payne was a second-team All-America selection while tight end Eric Saubert and linebacker John Hugunin, both from Drake, were third-team honorees.

Payne was named the PFL's Defensive Player of the Year for a second consecutive year after leading all Division I FCS defenders with 7.2 solo tackles per game during the regular season, helping him to finish 11th in total tackles (11.4 per game). He also ranked among Division I Top 20 in passes defended (14th, 1.3 pg) and tackles for loss (19th, 1.5 pg).

Hugunin claimed the fourth All-Pioneer Football League (PFL) accolade of his career and his second first team honor earlier this month. The fifth-year senior linebacker set a PFL record with nine forced fumbles while leading the Bulldogs with 116 tackles, ranking 20^th in the nation, to go with 15 tackles for loss.
 
Saubert, a senior tight end, garnered first team All-PFL honors as he led the Bulldogs in receiving with 55 catches for 580 yards and seven touchdowns. He led all FCS tight ends with 5.0 receptions per game and was second in reception yards per game (57.5) and third in touchdown receptions (7).