RICHMOND, Va.—The postseason CAA Football honors were announced by the conference office on Tuesday afternoon and Villanova was recognized with at least one major award winner for the seventh consecutive season. There are two top award winners for the Wildcats this year as graduate student linebacker Forrest Rhyne (Waynesboro, Pa.) was named the CAA Football Defensive Player of the Year and head coach Mark Ferrante was chosen by his peers as the CAA Football Coach of the Year. An outstanding regular season by the Wildcats was duly recognized in the CAA Football All-Conference Teams as Villanova had 13 players garner all-conference accolades, the most since there were 14 All-CAA honorees in 2010.
 
The selections of Rhyne and Ferrante as the top defensive player and top coach in the league this season are the 19^th and 20^th major awards that the Wildcats have earned. Rhyne joins Curtis Eller (1991, 1992) and Tanoh Kpassagnon (2016) as the only Villanova players to be named the Defensive Player of the Year in the Wildcats history in CAA Football (previously the Yankee Conference and the Atlantic 10). Ferrante is the Coach of the Year for the first time since becoming head coach in 2017. Each of the Villanova award winners were named finalists for national awards earlier this week, with Rhyne being chosen as one of 25 finalists for the STATS Perform FCS Buck Buchanan Award and Ferrante selected as one of 17 finalists for the Stats Perform FCS Eddie Robinson Award.
 
There were eight offensive players and five defensive players from the Wildcats named to the All-CAA Teams, including three first team selections to go along with six second team picks and four third team honorees. Rhyne and senior cornerback Christian Benford (Randallstown, Md.) earned spots on the First Team Defense and senior offensive lineman Michael Corbi (Arnold, Md.) was a member of the First Team Offense. All three players were also first team selections in the Spring and have combined for eight career All-CAA honors (three each for Benford and Rhyne, two for Corbi). Rhyne is the first Villanova defensive player to be a three-time first team All-CAA selection since Darrell Adams and Brian Hulea were each named to the first team in three successive seasons from 2003-05.
 
The second team All-CAA selections from the Wildcats included five players on offense and one on defense. The offensive players are graduate student running back Justin Covington (Bronx, N.Y.); junior wide receiver Rayjoun Pringle (Dumfries, Va.); graduate student tight end Todd Summers (Murrysville, Pa.); senior offensive lineman Colin Gamroth (Mercer Island, Wash.); and graduate student kicker Cole Bunce (San Jose, Calif.) while graduate student defensive lineman Malik Fisher (New York, N.Y.) was the second team defensive selection.
 
Villanova had multiple offensive and defensive selections on the CAA Football Third Team, including graduate student quarterback Daniel Smith (Leesburg, Va.) and junior wide receiver Jaaron Hayek (Wayne, N.J.) on offense. The two defensive selections were senior linebacker Amin Black (Philadelphia, Pa.) and junior TD Ayo-Durojaiye (Damascus, Md.) who has been one of the team's top performers on special teams this season.
 
Rhyne has been one of the top defensive players in the country all season and is averaging double figures in total tackles per game. He finished the regular season with 112 total tackles in 11 contests (10.2 per game), including six total contests and four of the last five games tallying 10 or more total stops. Rhyne is ranked 10^th nationally in tackles per game and has made 36 solo tackles and 76 assisted stops on the year. His season totals include five tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and four quarterback hurries. Rhyne had the biggest outing of his career in one of the Wildcats biggest wins in recent memory when he had a career-high 20 total tackles in a 28-27 road win over then-No. 3 James Madison which snapped the Dukes 15-game winning streak against conference opponents. Rhyne also had 19 tackles against William & Mary and recovered a fumble on a muffed punt in a win over Elon.
 
Before the season even started Rhyne was named to the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List, the STATS Perform Preseason All-America Third Team and the CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team. He was selected twice during the season as the CAA Football Defensive Player of the Week, with those honors coming after the James Madison win and earlier this week in recognition for his 13-tackle performance in a 21-13 win at Delaware which clinched the regular season CAA title for the Wildcats and likely solidified their position as a national seed in the FCS playoffs.
 
Ferrante earns Coach of the Year honors after guiding Villanova to a share of its first CAA Football championship and the league's automatic bid to the playoffs for the first time since 2012. The Wildcats have been nationally-ranked all season and are 9-2 on the year, including a 7-1 record during the regular season CAA Football schedule. It is the first time since 2014 that Villanova lost only two regular season games and the fifth time in the Wildcats era as an FCS program (since 1985) with no more than one loss in conference play. Villanova earned the No. 5 seed and a first round bye in the Division I Football Championship. It is the program's second playoff berth in the last three seasons under Ferrante's watch.
 
Villanova defeated three ranked CAA foes during the season – No. 3 James Madison (28-27), No. 18 Rhode Island (44-0) and No. 21 Richmond (34-27) – and suffered its only losses to William & Mary and nationally-ranked FBS foe Penn State. The Wildcats have excelled on both sides of the ball and currently lead the entire nation in team passing efficiency defense while ranking in the top 10 nationally in eight other defensive categories. On the offensive side of the ball, Villanova is ranked second in the CAA in rushing offense, scoring offense and total offense. The Wildcats will open postseason competition on Friday, December 3 at 7 p.m. when they host the winner of a first round contest between Sacred Heart and Holy Cross.
 
Below, in alphabetical order, are capsules of each of the Villanova honorees on the CAA Football All-Conference Teams.
 
 
TD AYO-DUROJAIYE
Junior, Special Teams, Damascus, Md.
Third Team All-CAA (Special Teams)
 
In addition to being a member of the Wildcats running back rotation, Ayo-Durojaiye has been one of the team's top performers on special teams this season. He leads Villanova with nine tackles on special teams, including a team-high seven stops on kickoff returns to go along with two tackles on punt returns. Ayo-Durojaiye scored a special teams touchdown against UAlbany on October 16 when he recovered a blocked punt and returned it 15 yards for a score late in the first half of a 17-10 victory. The touchdown gave the Wildcats a 17-7 lead going into the half and was the first score on a blocked punt return for Villanova since 2005. Ayo-Duorojaiye has at least one special teams tackle in seven of 11 games this year. As an offensive player, he has rushed for 110 yards and a touchdown in addition to accumulating 58 receiving yards.
 
CHRISTIAN BENFORD
Senior, Cornerback, Randallstown, Md.
First Team All-CAA (Defense)
 
Benford is a first team All-CAA selection for the second straight season and an all-conference choice for the third time in his career. The former CAA Football Defensive Rookie of the Year (2018) has developed into one of the top playmakers in the entire country and is leading all FCS players in passes defended this season while ranking second nationally in interceptions. Benford is averaging 2.1 passes defended per game with seven interceptions and 16 pass breakups. His seven interceptions are tied for the third most in a single season in school history and he scored his first career touchdown on a 19-yard return versus Bucknell earlier in the year. Benford has defended two or more passes seven times in 11 outings on the year and he leads the CAA in both interceptions and pass breakups. Benford has also made 36 tackles on the year, including 26 solo stops and 10 assisted tackles.
 
AMIN BLACK
Senior, Linebacker, Philadelphia, Pa.
Third Team All-CAA (Defense)
 
It has been a career year for Black, who leads the Wildcats in tackles for loss and has been one of the team's key personnel in stopping the run. He ranks second on the team with 75 tackles this season and has recorded 58 total stops on rushing plays for a Villanova defense which ranks second in the CAA and 10^th nationally with an average of 93.7 rushing yards allowed per game. Black's 9.5 tackles for loss are a team-high, he has three sacks for a total loss of 22 yards and recorded his first career interception against UAlbany. He has registered four games with double-digit tackles on the year and has set single-game career highs in both total tackles (12 against William & Mary) and tackles for loss (3.0 against UAlbany). This is Black's first career all-conference honor.
 
COLE BUNCE
Graduate Student, Kicker, San Jose, Calif.
Second Team All-CAA (Offense)
 
In his first full season with the Wildcats this year Bunce has tied the school's single-season record with 14 made field goals. He is 14-of-16 on field goal attempts and tied the record originally set by Joe Marcoux in 2008. Bunce tied the mark when he made a 39-yard attempt against William & Mary on October 30 in in his seventh game played of the season. He has tallied three games on the year (Lehigh, James Madison and Rhode Island) in which he made a career-high three field goals. Bunce has made five field goals from 40+ yards and his 49-yarder in the season opener at Lehigh was the longest made attempt by a Villanova kicker in 23 years. Bunce is also 31-of-33 on PATs this season and has a team-high 73 points. He is averaging 7.3 points per contest in 10 games played.
 
MICHAEL CORBI
Senior, Left Guard, Arnold, Md.
First Team All-CAA (Offense)
 
Corbi is a first team All-CAA selection for the second straight season after earning his first career all-conference honor during the Spring season. He started all 10 games he played in during the regular season at left guard for a Villanova offensive line which has given up just 11 sacks all year. The Wildcats lead the CAA and rank eighth in the nation in sacks allowed with an average of only one per game. The offensive line has also helped Villanova rank second in the CAA in rushing offense (177.7 yards per game), scoring offense (31.7 points per game) and total offense (389.2 yards per game). The Wildcats have topped 200 rushing yards in a game five times, have scored 18 rushing touchdowns and are averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
 
JUSTIN COVINGTON
Graduate Student, Running Back, Bronx, N.Y.
Second Team All-CAA (Offense)
 
This is the third straight all-conference nod for Covington, who was a second team selection in 2019 and a third team pick in the Spring. He has been the leader of a deep and effective Villanova running back corps and leads the squad with 655 rushing yards in eight games played. Covington has rushed 104 times for 655 yards and four touchdowns to go along with 10 receptions for 42 yards and 2-of-3 passing for 30 yards. He leads the CAA and ranks 15^th nationally with an average of 6.3 yards per carry, while his 655 yards on the ground rank seventh in the conference despite Covington missing three games due to injury. He returned against Stony Brook on November 13 and exploded for 142 yards on 13 carries, including an 83-yard burst which ranks as the seventh-longest run in school history. Covington has two games with over 100 yards this season and eight in his career. During the season he became the 12^th player in school history to top 2,000 career rushing yards and he currently ranks seventh in the Villanova record book with 2,241 career yards.
 
MALIK FISHER
Graduate Student, Defensive End, New York, N.Y.
First Team All-CAA (Defense)
 
One of the top performers on the Villanova defense from the very beginning of his collegiate career, Fisher is a first team all-conference selection for the second straight season and garners his third career All-CAA honor overall. He was a preseason Stats Perform All-America selection and has lived up to that billing with a strong regular season. Fisher has started all 11 games and leads the Wildcats with four sacks and seven quarterback hurries. His efforts are one of the reasons Villanova leads the nation in team passing efficiency defense and has not given up a touchdown in any of the last seven games played. Fisher has 46 total tackles on the year, including 16 solo stops and 30 assisted tackles. He has tied a career high with eight tackles on two occasions and his season stats also include 7.5 tackles for loss, one interception and two forced fumbles.
 
COLIN GAMROTH
Senior, Center, Mercer Island, Wash.
Second Team All-CAA (Offense)
 
Gamroth earns his third consecutive all-conference honor after being a second team selection in the Spring and a third team pick during the 2019 season. He has started all 11 games this season at center for a Villanova offensive line which has given up just 11 sacks all year. The Wildcats lead the CAA and rank eighth in the nation in sacks allowed with an average of only one per game. The offensive line has also helped Villanova rank second in the CAA in rushing offense (177.7 yards per game), scoring offense (31.7 points per game) and total offense (389.2 yards per game). The Wildcats have topped 200 rushing yards in a game five times, have scored 18 rushing touchdowns and are averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
 
JAARON HAYEK
Junior, Wide Receiver, Wayne, N.J.
Third Team All-CAA (Offense)
 
Hayek leads Villanova in receptions and receiving touchdowns on the season. This is the first career all-conference nod for the third-year receiver, who ranks third in the CAA with his eight receiving touchdowns and is ninth in the conference with 37 receptions. He has 606 receiving yards on the year and is averaging 16.4 yards per reception while starting all 11 games. Hayek's season highlights include his third career game with two receiving touchdowns against Stony Brook and three games with over 100 yards, including a career-high 127 yards versus Richmond and five catches for 117 yards and a score in last week's win over Delaware which clinched the CAA regular season title. Over the final four games of the regular season against William & Mary, Elon, Stony Brook and Delaware, Hayek combined for 19 catches, 356 yards and five touchdowns.
 
RAYJOUN PRINGLE
Junior, Wide Receiver, Dumfries, Va.
Second Team All-CAA (Offense)
 
After being a second team all-conference pick during the Spring season, Pringle earns a second straight All-CAA honor after continuing to develop into a top playmaker in the conference. He leads the CAA and ranks 10^th nationally with an average of 20.2 yards per reception and has been Villanova's top receiver with 688 yards and seven touchdowns while making 34 catches. Pringle ranks fourth in the conference in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, as well as sixth in receiving yards per game (62.5). He leads the team with 14 receptions of 20 yards or longer and has caught five touchdown passes of at least 20 yards. Pringle has three games with over 100 receiving yards and three other contests with 64 or more yards.
 
FORREST RHYNE
Graduate Student, Linebacker, Waynesboro, Pa.
CAA Defensive Player of the Year
First Team All-CAA (Defense)
 
The career-high 20 tackles Rhyne made at James Madison are the sixth-most in a game by an FCS player this season. Rhyne is the only CAA player with 19 or more tackles in a game on the year and he has achieved the feat twice with the 20 stops at JMU and 19 tackles versus William & Mary. There is no official school record for tackles in a game, but Rhyne's 20 are the most that any player is known to have had based on available data going back approximately the last 20 years. Rhyne is now a three-time honoree on the CAA First Team Defense. Among his accolades for the year are being the Wildcats top tackler on rushing plays. Rhyne has made 96 of his 112 tackles against the run this season for a Villanova defense which ranks second in the CAA and 10^th nationally with an average of 93.7 rushing yards allowed per game.
 
DANIEL SMITH
Graduate Student, Quarterback, Leesburg, Va.
Third Team All-CAA (Offense)
 
Smith is a third team All-CAA selection for the second time in his career after earning the same honor in 2019. He has directed a high-powered Villanova offense which has topped 20 points eight times this season and is averaging 31.7 points per contest. Smith is 159-of-284 through the air for 2,163 yards and has thrown 22 touchdown passes compared to nine interceptions. He has also rushed for 203 yards and a team-high seven rushing touchdowns on the year. Smith has two games with at least two passing touchdowns and at least two rushing touchdowns. He ranks second in the CAA in passing efficiency (139.2), passing touchdowns and points responsible for (176). Smith is third in the league in yards per pass attempt (7.62), fourth in rushing touchdowns and fifth in total offense (215.1 yards per game). During the season he has risen to seventh place in school history in both career passing yards (6,125) and career total offense (6,956 yards).
 
TODD SUMMERS
Graduate Student, Tight End, Murrysville, Pa.
Second Team All-CAA (Offense)
 
This is the first career all-conference honor for Summers, who has been a key player for the Wildcats for both his pass-catching and blocking abilities at the tight end position. Summers has 21 receptions for 259 yards and three touchdowns on the year. He has caught touchdown passes in wins over UAlbany, Rhode Island and Elon. Summers is a big reason why Villanova tight ends have been a big part of the offense in recent years. At least one Wildcats tight end has caught a pass in 43 of the past 45 games. Summers' career totals in 48 games played include 72 receptions for 872 yards and 12 touchdowns. He is the first Villanova tight end to earn all-conference honors since Ryan Bell was a third team All-CAA choice in 2016.