Dec. 14, 2009

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Villanova football members Matt Szczur and Ben Ijalana have been named to the 2009 Football Championship Subdivision All-American Team, as announced on Monday. The awards come after the Wildcats earned their first-ever trip to the FCS Championship in Chattanooga, Tenn. where they will face the Grizzlies from Montana for a chance to win the national championship. Honorees are selected by the head coaches and sports information directors of the FCS schools.

Szczur, a junior wide receiver, has totaled 1,969 all-purpose yards, including 654 rushing yards, 542 receiving yards and 773 yards in kickoff returns for the 2009 season. He also leads the team with 13 touchdowns. He is the only Division I player (FBS or FCS) to have a rushing touchdown, receiving touchdown, kick return touchdown and also pass for a touchdown in 2009.

Ijalana, a junior offensive linesman, has started all 38 games of his three-year career and has helped a Villanova offense average 32.0 points per game and 377.9 yards per game in 2009. He has also helped the Wildcats establish a new record in rushing yards for the season, totaling 3,253 yards through 14 contests.

In all, players from eight different conferences and 22 institutions were represented on the 2009 Walter Camp FCS All-America team. The Colonial Athletic Association (7) has the most selections, followed by the Big Sky (6) and Missouri Valley Conference (5). Four schools had multiple players selected, led by Appalachian State with three. Villanova, Weber State and Southern Illinois each placed two players on the 2009 Walter Camp All-America team.

Walter Camp, "The Father of American Football," first selected an All-America team in 1889. Camp, a former Yale University athlete and football coach, is also credited with developing play from scrimmage, set plays, the numerical assessment of goals and tried and the restriction of play to eleven men per side. The Walter Camp Football Foundation, a New Haven based all, volunteer group, was founded in 1967 to perpetuate the ideals of Camp and to continue the tradition of selecting All-American teams for the Football Bowl and Championship subdivisions.

2009 Walter Camp Football Championship Subdivision All-America Team

OFFENSE

WR Terrell Hudgins# Elon Sr. 6-2 236 Rocky Mount, NCWR Marc Mariani Montana Sr. 6-0 185 Haure, MTWR Matt Szczur Villanova Jr. 5-11 195 Cape May, NJTE Clay Harbor Missouri State Sr. 6-4 243 Dwight, ILOL Matt McCracken Richmond Sr. 6-3 300 Pittsburgh, PAOL Mario Acitelli Appalachian State Sr. 6-2 275 Charlotte, NCOL Jeff Hansen Montana State Sr. 6-4 292 Great Falls, MTOL Benjamin Ijalana Villanova Jr. 6-4 320 Hainesport, NJC Kyle Mutcher Weber State Sr. 6-3 300 Park City, UtahQB Armanti Edwards* Appalachian State Sr. 6-0 184 Greenwood, SCRB Pat Paschall North Dakota State Sr. 6-0 198 St. Louis, MORB Deji Karim Southern Illinois Sr. 5-11 205 Oklahoma City, OKPK Matt Bevins Liberty Soph. 6-2 185 Newport News, VA

DEFENSE

DL Arthur Moats James Madison Sr. 6-2 250 Portsmouth, VADL Adrian Tracy William & Mary Sr. 6-4 243 Sterling, VADL Tim Knicky Stephen F. Austin Sr. 6-4 235 Cedar Park, TXDL Danny Batten South Dakota State Sr. 6-4 250 Gilbert, AZLB J.C. Sherritt Eastern Washington Sr. 5-10 210 Truckee, WALB Brandin Jordan Southern Illinois Sr. 5-11 230 Kenner, LALB Matt Cohen Lehigh Sr. 6-1 230 Allentown, PADB Mark LeGree* Appalachian State Jr. 6-0 200 Columbus, GADB Josh Morris Weber State Sr. 6-0 180 Ada, OKDB Terrell Whitehead Norfolk State Sr. 6-2 200 Virginia Beach, VADB Charles Graves Delaware Sr. 6-0 195 Raleigh, NCP Jon Vandenwielen Idaho State Sr. 6-3 220 Upland, CAKR LeRoy Vann* Florida A&M Sr. 5-9 185 Tampa, FL

2007 and 2008 Walter Camp FCS All-America selection (#)

2008 Walter Camp FCS All-America selection (*)