Monday, August 1, 2016
by Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations

CHICAGO – Drake senior tight end Eric Saubert, Stetson senior defensive back Donald Payne and Dayton junior return specialist Christian Searles were the Pioneer Football League student-athletes named to the STATS FCS Preseason All-America Teams, Monday.

Saubert and Payne were both first-team selections while Searles was a third-team honoree. They were among a group of 99 NCAA Division I FCS student-athletes named to the three-team list.

Payne, the PFL’s returning two-time Defensive Player of the Year, was a second-team STATS FCS All-American last season. He led all FCS defenders with 7.2 solo tackles per game last season and was 11th in total tackles (11.4 per game). Payne also was among the FCS Top 20 in passes defended (14th, 1.3 pg) and tackles for loss (19th, 1.5 pg).

Saubert, a returning first-team All-PFL pick, was a third-team STATS FCS All-America pick after the 2015 season. He led all FCS tight ends with 5.0 receptions per game and was second at his position in reception yards per game (57.5) and touchdown receptions (seven).

Searles actually pulled double duty for the Co-PFL Champion Flyers last season, earning first-team All-PFL honors at both defensive back and return specialist. In his special team’s duties, Searles was among the FCS’ best punt returners, finishing the season ranked eighth in punt return yardage (12.2 yards per return).

The upcoming 2016 season marks the 24th year for the Pioneer Football League – the nation’s only non-scholarship, football-only NCAA Football Championship Subdivision conference. The league will feature 11 teams each playing an eight-game schedule to determine the league champion and recipient of the automatic bid to the 2015 NCAA FCS Championship.

The 2016 schedule gets underway Thursday, Sept. 1 when Campbell hosts Bluefield. Nine of the league’s 10 remaining teams kick off the season two days later while Jacksonville will wait until Week 2 to begin its slate. The PFL regular-season race gets underway in Week 4 with five games on the Saturday, Sept. 24 slate, including a matchup of the league’s 2015 co-champions when Dayton travels to San Diego.