Senior Bowl Invite Caps UD Football Star Adam Trautman’s Legendary Career

Atticus Hughes
Sports Staff Writer

Redshirt senior Adam Trautman (cover photo) is the first UD football player to earn an invitation to the senior bowl in almost fifty years. Courtesy of Atticus Hughes 

As fall has come and gone for Flyer football fans, so has senior tight end Adam Trautman’s time in a Dayton uniform. The unmissable 6-foot-6-inch tight end from Williamsburg, Michigan played in his final game with the Flyers in a win over Butler on Nov. 23, capping off his prolific Flyer career. 

From his humble beginnings to his final snap, Trautman was a playmaker for the Flyers. The accolades began early on for Trautman as he started his career with Dayton as a true freshman on scout team, earning himself the title of Scout Team Player of the Year. His career was a steady marathon and not a sprint; Trautman got better every year of his Dayton career.

In 2016, Trautman’s redshirt freshman season, he caught three touchdown passes and had 238 receiving yards. Both of these numbers rose in each of his years at Dayton. In 2017, Trautman had five touchdowns and 537 receiving yards. He followed that up with nine touchdowns and 604 receiving yards in 2018.

All of this progression accumulated in a stellar final season. Trautman finished the 2019 season with 70 catches for 914 yards and 14 touchdowns; playmaker may be an understatement. 

Now, as a redshirt senior, Trautman holds the University of Dayton record for career receptions (178)  and touchdowns (31) as well as a coveted invitation to participate in the Reese’s Senior Bowl.

The last Dayton Flyer to participate in the Senior Bowl? Running back Gary Kosins in 1972. The 47-year drought has come to a deserving end with Trautman personally receiving his invitation from Senior Bowl Executive Jim Nagy. For Trautman, this will be his last chance to strap up his Dayton helmet and represent the Flyers on one of the most respected stages in college football. 

Not only will Trautman be playing for the Flyer Faithful that support him, but also for an opportunity to showcase his skills even further for professional scouts. Trautman’s career is far from finished yet as he is projected to be a third round pick in this year’s NFL draft. Trautman looks to be the first Flyer selected in the NFL draft since Bill Westbeld was taken with the 281st pick in 1977.

Trautman was more than just a football player for the Flyers. During the course of his record- breaking career, the electrical engineering major was named to the Pioneer Football League Academic Honor Roll four times. With PFL awards being handed out in the coming weeks, don’t be surprised to see Trautman’s name mentioned often, and don’t forget to tune in Saturday, January 25th to watch Adam Trautman play in the Senior Bowl.

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