VILLANOVA, Pa.—On Monday, Dec. 20, Stats Perform announced its 2021 FCS All-American teams and three Villanova Wildcats earned recognition. Senior cornerback Christian Benford (Randallstown, Md.) and grad student linebacker Forrest Rhyne (Waynesboro, Pa.) garnered first team All-American honors, while senior offensive lineman Michael Corbi (Arnold, Md.) was a second team honoree.
 
Rhyne has been one of the top defensive players in the country all season and finished the year with 154 total tackles for an average of 11.8 per game.  He tallied double figures in tackles in six of the last seven games, including recording 21 total stops in both playoff games versus Holy Cross and South Dakota State. Rhyne ranks third nationally in tackles per game and has made 51 solo tackles and 103 assisted stops on the year. His season totals also include eight tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and five quarterback hurries. For his efforts this past season, Rhyne was named the CAA Defensive Player of the Year.
 
Benford played in all 13 games in 2021 and tallied 39 tackles (27 solo/12 assisted), seven interceptions and 18 pass break-ups. The 18 pass break-ups led all of NCAA FCS Football, while the seven interceptions tied him for third. Benford has defended two or more passes seven times in 13 outings on the year and he led the CAA in both interceptions and pass breakups. Benford also garnered first team All-CAA accolades for the second straight season.
 
Corbi started all 12 games he played this season at left guard and was a first team All-CAA selection for the second straight season. He was one of the top performers on a Wildcats offensive line that gave up just 14 sacks all year. Villanova ranked second in the CAA and ranked 11^th nationally in sacks allowed, while the offensive line helped the team rank second in the CAA with 30.1 points per game and 380.0 yards of total offense per contest. Villanova topped 200 rushing yards in a game five times, scored 22 rushing touchdowns and averaged 170.0 yards per game on the ground.