INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Butler senior defensive back JoJo Ciancio, a standout in the classroom and on the football field, has been named a co-recipient of the first Pioneer Football League Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. He was one of nine Butler players named to the 22nd Annual Academic All-PFL Team, selected by the league's sports information directors.
An honor student majoring in economics and finance, Ciancio shared the PFL's top academic award with linebacker Taylor Coleman of Drake. The Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award was added this year to recognize the PFL's top student-athletes for their performance both in the classroom and on the field.
A starter in all 11 games for Butler, Ciancio led the Bulldogs and ranked ninth in the PFL in tackles with 84. He finished second among the league's defensive backs in tackles with his 7.5 average. The Darien, Ill., native also led Butler and tied for tenth in the PFL in pass interceptions with three. He was named honorable mention All-PFL this season.
Last month, Ciancio was named to the Capital One Academic All-District Team. He's a two-time PFL Academic All-Conference selection, and he's been chosen to the PFL Academic Honor Roll for four straight years.
Ciancio was one of three Butler players named first team Academic All-PFL. Junior quarterback Matt Shiltz and junior tight end Zack Wolfe also earned first team honors. Shiltz, who played in six games before suffering a season-ending hand injury, is an honor student majoring in accounting, while Wolfe is an actuarial science major.
Butler players named to the Academic All-PFL second team were offensive lineman Michael Demos, wide receiver Derek O'Connor, defensive lineman Kyle Annis, defensive back Jacob Balder, linebacker Sean Horan and punter Brian Akialis. Demos, a first team All-PFL performer, is a criminology major, while Akialis, a second team All-PFL player, is a middle/secondary education major. O'Connor is majoring in chemistry/biology, Annis is an actuarial science major, Balder is a business/exploratory major and Horan is an economics/mechanical engineering major.
|
2014 Academic All-Pioneer Football League First Team
|
|
(as selected by PFL sports information directors)
|
|
Student-Athlete
|
School
|
Pos.
|
Class
|
Hometown
|
GPA
|
Major (Minor)
|
|
OFFENSE (12 selections due to a tie in voting)
|
|
Will Bardo (1)
|
Dayton
|
R-Sr.
|
QB
|
Ft. Thomas, Ky.
|
3.46
|
Mechanical Engineering
|
|
Josh Daryoush
|
Davidson
|
Jr.
|
OL
|
Bethesday, Md.
|
3.62
|
Pre-Med
|
|
Dalton Dillon
|
Campbell
|
Jr.
|
RB
|
Colfax, N.C.
|
3.52
|
Business Administration
|
|
William Morris
|
Davidson
|
Jr.
|
WR
|
Dallas, Texas
|
3.36
|
Economics/Religion
|
|
Andy Rice (1)
|
Drake
|
Sr.
|
QB
|
Stevens Point, Wis.
|
3.78
|
Marketing and management
|
|
Will Sawyer
|
Campbell
|
R-Sr.
|
OL
|
Elizabeth City, N.C.
|
3.37
|
Biology
|
|
Matt Shiltz
|
Butler
|
R-Jr.
|
QB
|
St. Charles, Ill.
|
3.92
|
Accounting
|
|
Ross Smith (1)
|
Dayton
|
R-Sr.
|
WR
|
Lewis Center, Ohio
|
3.41
|
Business
|
|
Hunter Somerville (1)
|
Campbell
|
R-Jr.
|
TE
|
Winston-Salem, N.C.
|
3.54
|
Criminal Justice
|
|
Cory Stuart
|
Dayton
|
R-So.
|
WR
|
Solon, Ohio
|
3.83
|
Pre-Physical Therapy
|
|
Dakota Wolf
|
Campbell
|
R-Sr.
|
QB
|
Stanley, Va.
|
3.46
|
Business Administration
|
|
Zack Wolfe
|
Butler
|
Jr.
|
TE
|
Crest Hill, Ill.
|
3.94
|
Actuarial Science
|
|
DEFENSE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Christopher Beaschler (2)
|
Dayton
|
R-So.
|
LB
|
Ada, Ohio
|
3.77
|
Mechanical Engineering
|
|
Bryant Bednarek (1)
|
Davidson
|
Sr.
|
DB
|
Westerville, Ohio
|
3.46
|
Economics
|
|
JoJo Ciancio (1)
|
Butler
|
Sr.
|
DB
|
Darien, Ill.
|
3.83
|
Economics/Finance
|
|
Taylor Coleman (1)
|
Drake
|
Jr.
|
LB
|
Hawthorn Woods, Ill.
|
4.00
|
Finance
|
|
Alex Green (1)
|
Valparaiso
|
Jr.
|
LB
|
Zionsville, Ind.
|
3.53
|
Mechanical Engineering
|
|
Danny Leach (1)
|
Dayton
|
Jr.
|
DB
|
Downers Grove, Ill.
|
3.80
|
Education (Business Administration)
|
|
Troy McClelland (3,1)
|
San Diego
|
Sr.
|
LB
|
San Diego, CA
|
3.89
|
Accountancy
|
|
Colin Merrill (1)
|
Davidson
|
Sr.
|
DB
|
Circleville, Ohio
|
3.44
|
Biology
|
|
Brett Park
|
Drake
|
5th-Sr.
|
DL
|
Olivette, Mo.
|
3.70
|
Finance
|
|
Donald Payne
|
Stetson
|
So.
|
DB
|
Fayetteville, Ga.
|
3.41
|
Finance
|
|
Lucas Smith (2)
|
Campbell
|
R-Sr.
|
DL
|
Lebanon, Va.
|
3.74
|
Physical Education
|
|
SPECIAL TEAMS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pat DiSalvio
|
Morehead State
|
So.
|
P
|
Cincinnati, Ohio
|
4.00
|
Biomedical Science
|
|
Adam Lutz (1)
|
Campbell
|
Sr.
|
P/K
|
Waxhaw, N.C.
|
3.58
|
Graphic Design
|
|
Kyle Pignatiello
|
Dayton
|
Sr.
|
P
|
Tipp City, Ohio
|
3.47
|
Sport Management
|
|
Notes in parentheses: 3 – player is a three-time first-team Academic All-PFL selection; 1-was a first-team selection in 2013; 2-was a first-team selection in 2013.
|
|
2014 Academic All-Pioneer Football League Second Team
|
|
Student-Athlete
|
School
|
Class
|
Pos.
|
Hometown
|
GPA
|
Major (Minor)
|
|
OFFENSE
|
|
Stuart Barkley
|
Valparaiso
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
Overland Park, Kan.
|
3.73
|
Mechanical Engineering
|
|
Jack Beck
|
Drake
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
Whitefish Bay, Wis.
|
3.59
|
Marketing
|
|
Ben Bolling
|
Campbell
|
R-Jr.
|
WR
|
Knightdale, N.C.
|
3.36
|
Exercise & Sports Science
|
|
Brandon Bornhauser
|
Morehead State
|
R-Sr.
|
SB
|
Cincinnati, Ohio
|
3.50
|
Business Administration
|
|
Michael Demos
|
Butler
|
Jr.
|
OL
|
Glenview, Ill.
|
3.39
|
Criminology
|
|
Fletcher Eldemire
|
Stetson
|
Jr.
|
C
|
Longwood, Fla.
|
3.55
|
Pre-Med/Biology
|
|
Jake Hutson
|
Valparaiso
|
Sr.
|
RB
|
Blanchard, Mich.
|
3.62
|
Mechanical Engineering (Electrical Engineering)
|
|
Aaron Johnson
|
Drake
|
Sr.
|
OL
|
Iowa City, Iowa
|
3.62
|
Law, politics and society
|
|
Brian Lang
|
Valparaiso
|
So.
|
OL
|
Chicago, Ill.
|
3.89
|
Accounting
|
|
Zac Morgan
|
Dayton
|
R-So.
|
OT
|
Mokena, Ill
|
3.52
|
Entrepreneurship & Accounting
|
|
Derek O'Connor
|
Butler
|
Sr.
|
WR
|
Bourbannais, Ill.
|
3.45
|
Chemistry/Biology
|
|
DEFENSE
|
|
Kyle Annis
|
Butler
|
Sr.
|
DT
|
Hilliard, Ohio
|
3.55
|
Actuarial Science
|
|
Jacob Balder
|
Butler
|
R-Fr.
|
DB
|
Deerfield, Ill.
|
3.57
|
Business/Exploratory
|
|
Davion Belk
|
Stetson
|
So.
|
DE
|
Chicago, IL
|
3.44
|
Marketing
|
|
Devyn Bryant
|
San Diego
|
So.
|
CB
|
San Diego, CA
|
3.56
|
Mechanical Engineering
|
|
John Guilford
|
Valparaiso
|
Jr.
|
DE
|
Spencer, Ohio
|
3.31
|
Mechanical Engineering
|
|
Una Hamala
|
San Diego
|
Sr.
|
LB
|
Inglewood, CA
|
3.39
|
Business Admin.
|
|
Sean Horan
|
Butler
|
R-So.
|
LB
|
Kings Mills, Ohio
|
3.94
|
Economics/Mechanical Engineering
|
|
Luke Keller
|
Morehead State
|
Jr.
|
LB
|
Lucasville, Ohio
|
3.35
|
Exercise Science
|
|
David Lazear
|
Stetson
|
So.
|
LB
|
Newark, Del.
|
3.66
|
Economics & Chemistry
|
|
Drew Ormseth
|
Drake
|
Sr.
|
DB
|
Lake In The Hills, Ill.
|
3.71
|
Health sciences
|
|
Andrew Yost
|
Campbell
|
R-Jr.
|
LB
|
Huntersville, N.C.
|
3.55
|
Athletic Training
|
|
SPECIAL TEAMS
|
|
Brian Akialis
|
Butler
|
R-Jr.
|
P
|
Buffalo Grove, Ill.
|
3.56
|
Middle/Secondary Education
|
|
Ryan Belden
|
San Diego
|
So.
|
P
|
Diamond Bar, CA
|
3.30
|
Undeclared
|
|
Spencer Lee
|
Drake
|
R-Sr.
|
K
|
St. Louis, Mo.
|
3.62
|
Health sciences
|
