Phil Steele's 2023 FCS All-PFL Teams | Official Release
 
CLEVELAND – Phil Steele and the DraftScout.com staff selected Butler running back Jyran Mitchell as the Offensive Player of the Year in the Pioneer Football League as postseason awards continue to be released around FCS football. Mitchell was one of five Bulldogs to land on the All-PFL First Team. Butler also had two second team selections and three fourth team honorees.
 
Jyran Mitchell (RB), Bret Bushka (QB), Adam Dolan (OL), Joey Suchy (FB), and Nick Bafia (DB) represented Butler as First Team All-PFL selections on the Phil Steele release.  Bryan Bystol (OL) and Luka Zurak (K) were Second Team honorees and Ethan Loss (WR), Ryan Lezon (TE) and Jeremiah Jackson (LB) were on the Fourth Team.
 
First Team Selections
RB Jyran Mitchell – Mitchell led the Pioneer Football League in rushing yards (1,268), rushing yards per game (115.3), all-purpose yards per game (133.6), and total touchdowns (15). He played in all 11 games for BU and gained 1,268 yards on 199 carries, gaining 6.4 yards per rush. His longest rush of the season was a 67-yard TD against Valpo and his season-high, single-game rushing total was a 209-yard performance at Stetson. Mitchell had seven 100-yard rushing games and scored a rushing TD in eight-straight games from Sept. 9 to Oct. 28. He also caught 23 passes for 202 yards and three scores.
 
QB Bret Bushka – Bushka passed for 1,789 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023 to lead one of the highest scoring offenses in the Pioneer Football League. He ranked second in the PFL in completion percentage and passing efficiency. He was third in the league in passing touchdowns and fourth in passing yards. A dual threat, Bushka also rushed the ball 106 times for 441 yards and six touchdowns. He averaged 202 yards of offense per game, gaining 40 on the ground and 162 through the air. He tied a single-game school record with five touchdown passes at Morehead State and ended his collegiate career with 5,924 passing yards, the third-most in program history.
 
OL Adam Dolan – Dolan started in all 11 games for Butler at left tackle. He was part of an offensive line unit that helped Butler rank second in in the PFL in total offense (368.4), scoring offense (28.9), and rushing offense (202.1.). Dolan helped open up running lanes for Jyran Mitchell who ended the regular season with 1,268 rushing yards, the fifth-most among all FCS running backs.
 
FB Joey Suchy – Suchy was a short-yardage specialist for Butler in 2023. He carried the ball 41 times to gain 152 yards. Suchy averaged 3.7 yards per carry and gained a season-high 34 yards in the win over Taylor. The junior from Mayfield Heights, Ohio also caught 11 passes for 63 yards.
 
DB Nick Bafia – Bafia led Butler with 65 tackles this season. He made 41 solo stops, made three tackles for loss and broke-up six passes. A starter in all 11 games, Bafia ranked second in the PFL in forced fumbles (3) and returned an interception for a touchdown against Wabash. Bafia ranked 20th in the PFL in total tackles and seventh in the league in tackles among all defensive backs. He had three games with 10+ tackles and was part of a Bulldog defense that led the FCS in red zone defense. Butler's defense also led the PFL and ranked eighth in the FCS in scoring defense (17.5).
 
Second Team Selections
OL Bryan Bystol – Bystol was the man in the middle of the Butler offensive line. He started at center in all 11 games and helped the Bulldog offense average 28.9 points per game. Bystol left his mark on the program as a two-year starter that saw playing time at the beginning of his career in the spring of 2021. He held a 4.0 grade point average during every semester while on campus and was a four-time First Team Academic All-PFL selection.
 
K Luka Zurak – Zurak made 17 field goals for Butler in 2023, just two shy of tying the FCS leader. He connected on 17 of his 20 attempts to lead the PFL in field goal percentage (85%). Zurak was perfect from inside 40 yards and made a season-long 48-yard field goal at Wabash in Week 3. He matched that distance in the season finale nailing a 48-yarder vs. Drake. Zurak was perfect on extra points in 2023 making all 37 of his attempts. He also handled kick-off duties and averaged 59 yards per kick with 13 touchbacks.
 
Fourth Team Selections
WR Ethan Loss – Loss led Butler in receptions (41) and receiving yards (515) in 2023. He averaged 46.8 yards per game and 12.5 yards per catch. After playing in all 11 games, Loss ranked ninth in the PFL in receiving yards and 10th in receiving yards per game. He scored touchdowns against Wabash and Morehead State and had a big-time performance at Dayton with six catches for a season-high 86 yards. Loss caught at least three passes in nine games and topped 50 yards five times.
 
TE Ryan Lezon – Lezon caught 18 passes for 190 yards in his first year with the Bulldogs. He scored four touchdowns and averaged 10.5 yards per reception. Lezon made an immediate impact on the field by catching two passes in the opener for a season-high 55 yards and a score at Montana. Lezon also caught TD passes vs. Presbyterian, Davidson and at Dayton.  
 
LB Jeremiah Jackson – Jackson started in all 11 games this season and ended the year with 60 tackles, including 5.5 behind the line of scrimmage. He was credited with 1.5 sacks and also forced a fumble at Dayton. Jackson had a tackle for loss in four of Butler's first five games and made a season-high 12 tackles against Davidson.