SV grad Tkatch continues to solidify Dayton’s offensive line
DAYTON, Ohio —Graduating from Seneca Valley a few years ago after serving as football team captain and becoming a Butler Eagle Sweet 16 all-star selection, David Tkatch wasn’t bothered by change.
In fact, he thrived by it.
After playing left guard and left tackle with the Raiders, the 2019 SV graduate moved on to the University of Dayton and has become a fixture at right tackle. He started 10 games there his freshman year and has anchored that position ever since.
“It was a good academic school and there’s a lot of tradition in that football program,” Tkatch said. “There’s a sense of community on campus here that I really enjoy.”
Tkatch weighed 265 pounds his senior season at Seneca Valley. He is returning to Dayton as a fifth-year senior in 2023, standing 6-foot-2 and weighing 291 pounds.
The Flyers have yet to win the Pioneer Conference during Tkatch’s collegiate career. He’s accomplished pretty much everything else during him time there.
He’s carrying a 3.9 grade point average as a finance major. He’s been first team all-academic in the conference both of the past two years. He was first team all-conference in football this season after attaining honorable mention honors last season.
The Flyers have finished 8-3, 6-4 and 8-3 in his three years on the field. Dayton did not play football in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The team won 17 of 24 Pioneer Conference games over the past three years.
“We came real close to winning the league last year,” Tkatch said. “My biggest goal in 2023 is to leave everything I have out on that field, be a leader, help bring along the younger linemen and help us win the conference championship.”
He’s already been doing a lot of that.
“David and Brian Stevens were our only two starting offensive linemen back from the previous year,” now-retired Dayton coach Rick Chamberlin said. “Even our back-up linemen were all new. David became a leader of that whole group. He brought the younger guys along.
“He led by example as much as by talking tio them. His caliber of play led to him being named all-conference.”
Dayton rushed for 2,463 yards while throwing for 1,458 in 2022. Running back Jake Chisolm rushed for more than 1,000 yards and set the school’s career all-purpose yardage record.
“Jake was our best player and you want the ball in the hands of your best player,” Chamberlin said. “We had a red-shirt freshman quarterback and we didn’t want to put too much on him. We relied on our running game and our offensive line.”
Tkatch threw a “pancake” block that sprung Chisolm for a 23-yard game-winning touchdown run against Valparaiso this past season.
Tkatch lauded the impact Chamberlin had on him, but is also looking forward to another change in his career. He will be playing for new head coach Trevor Andrews and new offensive coordinator Greg Whalen in 2023.
“Coach Chamberlin played at Dayton, was an assistant and head coach ... He was here for 45 years,” Tkatch said. “He’s an amazing guy and had an incredible career. We’ve been meeting with the new coach and coordinator every week and I’m excited about the tweaks they’re making.
“We’re going to play at a higher speed, condense the playbook, it’s going to be fun. Coach wants to use our athleticis up front and I’m excited about that.”
Dayton’s previous offensive coordinator, Josh Hendershot, was an offensive lineman when he played. The same is true for new coordinator Whalen.
“David and the other linemen will benefit from that,” Chamberlin said. “I know this much. The new coach was very, very happy when David decided to return for one more season. And I don’t blame him.”
