Feb. 5, 2008

University of Dayton senior Matt Champa has been named to the CollegeSportsReport.com Football Championship Subdivision All-America team. Champa, a tight end for the Flyers, was named to the First Team Offense on the All-American team.

Champa led all FCS tight ends in catches per game (4.92), receiving yards per game (76.8) and touchdowns (9). His 59 catches in 2007 were the third-most in a single season at UD, and his 921 yards were the second-most in a season. Both are Flyer records for tight ends. The nine TD catches tie Jim Currin for the best by a UD tight end, and are the second-highest total by any Dayton player.

On the Flyer career all-time lists, Champa finished second in TD receptions (19), fifth in catches (104) and seventh in yardage (1,588). All are UD tight end career records. Champa was a unanimous First Team All-Pioneer Football League selection.

Dayton was 11-1 in 2007. The Flyers were voted as FCS Mid-Major National Champions after defeating Albany 42-21 in the Gridiron Classic Bowl Game. UD was co-champions of the PFL, the school's ninth league title in the last 15 years. Dayton was also ranked #24 in the final FCS Coaches Poll.

Champa hails from Sagamore Hills, Ohio and is a 2002 graduate of Nordonia High School. He received his University of Dayton degrees in Leadership and Marketing on December 15, 2007.