NEWS

 

ST. LOUIS, Mo. — Six Davidson Wildcats, including three First-Team selections, have been named to the Academic All-Pioneer Football League teams, which were announced Wednesday afternoon.

Slot Bradyn Oakley, linebacker Jack Wiese and punter Alexander Donald were named to the First Team, while running back Dylan Sparks, receiver Maxwell Weaver and defensive end Jonathan Hammond earned Second Team honors.

It’s the third straight All-Academic honor for Oakley, a senior psychology major who started every game this season. Against Barton on Sept. 10, he rushed for a career-best 74 years on five carries and had a 46-yard run. He’s one of 156 semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is annually awarded to college football’s premier scholar-athlete.

A senior computer science major, Sparks is a two-time All-PFL back and led the nation’s top rushing offense with 823 yards on 155 carries and scored five touchdowns. He turned in a career-high 180 yards on 16 carries in Davidson’s Oct. 1 win over Butler and scored twice against Barton and Stetson.

Weaver, an undeclared sophomore, played in 11 games, led the Wildcats with 313 receiving yards on 15 catches and had the second longest catch in the PFL this season on an 82-yard pass against Presbyterian. Against Dayton on Nov. 19, he scored the game-winning touchdown on a 35-yard pass play as the Wildcats clinched a third consecutive spot in the FCS Playoffs. He also caught a crucial two-point conversion in Davidson’s double-overtime win at Stetson on Nov. 5.

Defensively, Hammond and Wiese secured their second straight All-Academic nods.

Hammond, a junior communications major, is a three-time All-PFL pick and was the 2020-21 PFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He made 44 tackles this year and led the Wildcats with 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. He now ranks fifth in school history with 19 career sacks. In the Oct. 22 win over Drake, Hammond recorded a single-game school record five tackles for loss (including three sacks), which was also the most in an FCS game this year. Hammond also returned an interception for a touchdown in the Sept. 17 win over St. Andrews.

A junior psychology major, Wiese played in every game this season and recorded three tackles for loss. He had a personal-best five tackles in the win at Drake.

Donald, a senior computer science major, averaged 37.2 yards per punt and landed seven inside the 20-yard line. On Nov. 5, he averaged 41.75 yards per punt against Stetson, including a season-long 50-yarder.