VILLANOVA, Pa.—Senior cornerback Isas Waxter (Newark, N.J.) has been recognized on a national level for his success this season. Waxter was named last week to the FCS Football Central All-American Team as a second team selection. The honor follows him being voted a second team all-conference selection last month. Villanova was one of eight CAA Football schools who had one or more FCS Football Central All-America selections, with the conference as a whole earning 17 honors.
 
Waxter started all 13 games this season for a Wildcats squad which won a CAA Football championship and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the FCS playoffs. The defense was a strong point for Villanova for much of the season and Waxter led the team with three interceptions while tying for the team lead with 11 passes defended (three interceptions, eight pass breakups). He recorded 26 total tackles on the year, including 18 solo stops and four tackles for loss.
 
Through the first 12 games played this season the Wildcats defense ranked in the top 20 nationally in five different categories, including total defense (seventh, 296.8 yards allowed per game) and passing efficiency defense (15^th, 115.12) in which Villanova also was the top CAA team. The defense ranked second in the conference and 11^th nationally in opponent third down percentage (32.3%) to go along with being 13^th in the country in scoring defense (18.5) and 17^th in rushing defense (110.4). Final statistical rankings will be released following the conclusion of postseason play.
 
Waxter returned to action in top form in 2023 after missing the previous season. He has now started 18 of the 34 collegiate games he has played in and has career totals of 75 tackles (51 solo, 24 assisted), five tackles for loss, one sack, 14 pass breakups and three interceptions. All three interceptions came this season, including two in back-to-back games versus Delaware in the regular season finale which clinched the CAA title and in the second round of the playoffs against Youngstown State.
 
Villanova finished the season with a 10-3 record and was 7-1 during the regular season CAA slate. The team's second conference championship in the past three years enabled the Wildcats to claim the #8 seed in the Division I Football Championship and earn a first round postseason bye.
 
FCS Football Central is a recently formed partnership between The Bluebloods and Sports Illustrated/Fan Nation.