HERO Sports welcomes you to "Two-a-Days", where we will preview every single one of the 125 FCS programs, with two being released each day from June 18 to August 18 (with the final day having three in one day). Today we give you … Dayton.
[divider]MORE: Compare Any Two FCS Players or Any Two FCS Teams[divider]
FCS TEAM BY TEAM PREVIEW: The countdown
FCS PRESEASON TOP 25: The poll
FCS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA: The teams
DAYTON (5-6 IN 2017)
Pioneer Football League (Dayton was 7th in 2017)
COACH: Rick Chamberlin – 11th year (70-31 record)
2017 OFFENSE: 21.6 ppg. (74th in FCS)
2017 DEFENSE: 19.7 ppg. (24th in FCS)
SUM IT UP: Chamberlin has had a ton of success as the head coach for the Flyers. Their season last year wasn't quite up to par, but 2018 looks promising. Dayton has 17 returning starters from last season's team that went 4-4 in conference play. Nine of those are on the offensive side of the ball, including First Team All-Pioneer selection Tucker Yinger at running back. Yinger ran for more than 1,000 yards a season ago. Seven other returning players earned all-conference honors. That's a lot of talent coming back. Dayton's defense was strong a year ago, ranking in the Top 25 in points allowed. The offense needs a jolt, but having experience back on that side of the ball is a positive sign.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO: With the amount of returning starters, Dayton has a great shot to slide into the top half of the PFL standings in 2018. A top three finish is certainly in the cards.
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BEST FCS PLAYER BY NUMBER: We count down, No. 99 through No. 1[divider]
TOP RETURNEE: RB Tucker Yinger (First Team All-PFL)
THE NEXT BEST: QB Alex Jeske (PFL Honorable mention, 1,236 yards passing); OL Ben Gauthier (4-year starter); TE Adam Trautman (Second Team All-PFL, 43 catches); S David Leisring (PFL Honorable Mention); DE Nick Surges (PFL Honorable Mention)
DID YOU KNOW?: The University of Dayton Arena has hosted more Division I Men's Basketball Championship games than any other venue in America.
THE QUOTE: "It was a really good way to wrap up our spring. We've had a competitive spring, and we had some good plays on both sides today." — Head Coach Rick Chamberlin said after the spring game
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SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
THE HASHTAG: #MakingPlays
FOOTBALL TWITTER: @DaytonFootball
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FCS QB TRANSFERS: Who Tops The List?
