Villanova University

July 28, 2010

Photo Gallery

The Colonial Athletic Association held its football media day on Wednesday, July 28, at M&T Stadium in Baltimore, Md., where it was announced that the Villanova Wildcats were chosen to win the league's regular season championship. The defending national champion Wildcats garnered 17 of the 20 first place first votes in the preseason poll. New Hampshire earned two first place votes and Delaware one. Villanova also earned numerous individual honors highlighted by senior wide receiver Matt Szczur and senior linebacker Terence Thomas.

Szczur earns preseason CAA Offensive Player of the Year accolades after winning both the CAA Offensive and Special Teams Player of the Year Awards in 2009. As a junior last year, Szczur tallied 51 receptions for 610 yards and four touchdowns, 108 carries for 813 yards and 10 scores and 30 kickoff returns for 816 yards and one touchdown. Earlier this summer, Szczur was named to the Walter Payton Award preseason Watch List. He was also named to the All-CAA preseason team as a wide receiver and return specialist.

Thomas is the preseason CAA Defensive Player of the Year after being named first team All-Conference in 2009. Thomas, who has started all 39 games of his career, led the Wildcats in tackles last season with 116 to go with 11 tackles for loss and 8.5 quarterback sacks. Thomas also earns a spot on the preseason All-Conference team.

In addition to Szczur and Thomas, four other Wildcats have been named 2010 preseason All-Conference including senior quarterback Chris Whitney, senior offensive linemen Ben Ijalana and Brant Clouser and sophomore kicker Nick Yako.

Whitney is coming off a junior campaign in 2009 where he completed 159-of-247 for 1,936 yards to go with 18 touchdowns and five interceptions, in addition to rushing for a team-high 987 yards on 203 carries (4.9 yards per rush) and six touchdowns. For his efforts last year, Whitney was named first team All-CAA.

Yako had an outstanding rookie campaign last year when he led Villanova in scoring with 95 points. He connected on 12-of-16 in field goal attempts and 59-of-60 in extra points.

Ijalana is a two-time first team All-CAA honoree who has been named to both the 2010 Outland Trophy Watch List and the Walter Payton Award Watch List. Clouser was named third team All-CAA in 2009 after starting 15 games at guard. Ijalana and Clouser have started all 39 games of their collegiate careers.

2010 CAA PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH

1. VILLANOVA (17)

2. William & Mary

3. New Hampshire (2)

4. JMU

5. Delaware (1)

6. Richmond

7. Maine

8. Massachusetts

9. Rhode Island

10. Towson