ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Pioneer Football League announced First and Second All-League Teams on Tuesday afternoon. Nick Howard, Adam Dolan, Jack Burch and Nick Bafia were PFL First Team selections while Hayden Olmsted, Adam Sturtz and Jeremiah Jackson represented Butler on the Second Team.
 
The Pioneer Football League's head coaches named 68 student-athletes to the league's 32nd All-Pioneer Football League Teams, Tuesday. In addition to the student-athletes recognized on the league's first and second teams, 112 student-athletes received honorable mention recognition.
 
Dolan and Bafia are repeat first-team honorees while Howard and Burch join them for the very first time. Dolan was the anchor of a very good offensive line at BU. A starter in all 12 games at left tackle, Dolan and the Bulldog front five did not allow pressure throughout the 2024 campaign. They led the PFL in fewest sacks allowed and fewest tackles for loss allowed. The Bulldogs had the best scoring offense in the PFL and ranked ninth among all FCS schools averaging 35.6 points per game. They averaged 407 yards of offense per game and nearly led the country in red zone offense.
 
Howard certainly impacted those offense numbers with a successful stint at quarterback for Butler as a graduate transfer. He led the team with 712 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. Howard averaged 5.0 yards per rush and was responsible for 59.3 yards per game. He had 92 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Stetson and matched that effort two weeks later with a season-high 97 yards and three touchdowns in the win over St. Thomas. Howard ranked second in the league in rushing touchdowns and fourth in total rushing yards. He also passed for 519 yards and seven touchdowns giving him 20 total touchdowns as a Bulldog.
 
Burch and Bafia highlighted a Butler defense that limited opponents to just 292 yards per game. They led the PFL in scoring defense (16.3), were second in red zone defense, and came in at third in passing yards allowed (158.9). Burch got after quarterbacks on the defensive line while Bafia patrolled the secondary.
 
Burch had at least one sack in six PFL games. He led the team with 7.5 total and posted multiple sacks in games against Drake and Davidson. The redshirt-junior finished his season with 27 total tackles (19 solo), three quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a blocked field goal.
 
Bafia finished third on the team in total tackles with 43. He started in the first 10 games of the year before missing the final two weeks with an injury. While on the gridiron, Bafia had a team-high seven pass breakups to go along with two interceptions. His first pick came in the season opener against Upper Iowa and the second was in the win over Stetson.
 
Butler's defense also got a lift from Second Team All-PFL picks Adam Sturtz and Jeremiah Jackson. The Bulldogs saw Sturtz lead the team with 68 tackles. He had 11.5 tackles for loss to go along with four sacks. Jackson had 35 tackles, six pass breakups, three interceptions and a blocked field goal in 2024. Joining that duo on the Second Team was offensive lineman Hayden Olmsted. Olmsted called the BU huddle for all 12 games while protecting each BU QB.
 
Six Butler offensive players, four defensive, and two special teamers were added to the honorable mention list this year. Ethan Loss, Luke Wooten, Trevon Brown, Joey Suchy, Nick Schwitzgebel, and Owen Keane were recognized by their peers on offense while Devaon Holman, Danny Orgler, D'Marco Cross, and Justin Anagonye got the call on defense. Jason Hicks proved to be one of the best long snappers in the league and Joey Audia made the cut for his kick return abilities.
 
The 32nd All-PFL Teams follow Monday's announcement of the league's Major Award Winners. Wednesday, the league names its 32nd Academic All-PFL team and its Scholar-Athlete of the Year, concluding the league's awards week.
 
2024 All-Pioneer Football League First Team
All-Purpose Back – Nick Howard
Offensive Line – Adam Dolan
Defensive Line – Jack Burch
Defensive Back – Nick Bafia
 
2024 All-Pioneer Football League Second Team
Offensive Line – Hayden Olmsted
Linebacker – Adam Sturtz
Linebacker – Jeremiah Jackson
 
2024 All-Pioneer Football League Honorable Mention
Devaon Holman, Danny Orgler, D'Marco Cross, Justin Anagonye, Joey Suchy, Jason Hicks, Nick Schwitzgebel, Owen Keane, Luke Wooten, Ethan Loss, Trevon Brown, Joey Audia