CAA FOOTBALL ANNOUNCES 2009 ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
2009 CAA Football Players of the Year
2009 All-CAA Football First Team Offense
2009 All-CAA Football First Team Defense
2009 All-CAA Football First Team Special Teams
2009 All-CAA Football Second Team
2009 All-CAA Football Third Team
RICHMOND, Va. (November 23, 2009) -- After logging the highest number of postseason berths by any one conference in the 2009 NCAA Division I Football Championship field, CAA Football announced its 2009 All-Conference teams Monday.
The awards, voted on by the 12 CAA Football head coaches, were handed out following an exciting 2009 season which included a record four wins over FBS foes and as many as eight squads were ranked among the FCS Coaches’ Top-25 poll.
Villanova junior wide receiver/running back Matt Szczur was chosen as the 2009 CAA Football Offensive Player of the Year and the 2009 CAA Football Special Teams Player of the Year. The league’s Defensive Player of the Year honor went to James Madison defensive lineman Arthur Moats, while Villanova head coach Andy Talley was named the league’s 2009 Coach of the Year. Talley guided the Wildcats to the No. 2 overall seed in this season’s NCAA Division I Football Championship. James Madison redshirt freshman quarterback Justin Thorpe was named the league’s top Offensive Rookie, while William and Mary defensive back B.W. Webb picked up CAA Football’s 2009 Defensive Rookie of the Year honor.
2009 CAA Football Champions Richmond and Villanova led the way by each garnering six selections to the All-CAA Football First Team. William and Mary was not far behind with five on the First Team, while both Massachusetts and Delaware logged four. James Madison and New Hampshire each had two First Team selections, while Hofstra, Maine and Northeastern also had one on the league’s First Team.
Szczur, who head coach Andy Talley called the best player he has had on the Mainline since Brian Westbrook, was a do-it-all threat for the Wildcats’ offense logging touches as a wide receiver, running back and quarterback. The junior was the only player in all of major college football (FBS and FCS) to log touchdowns as a receiver, rusher, returnman and quarterback. Szczur, who logged 68 carries for 467 yards and five touchdowns for Villanova, also caught 36 balls for 358 yards. Used as a Wildcat-formation quarterback, Szczur was perfect on three pass attempts during the regular season including two for touchdowns. The Erma, N.J., native ended the regular season ranked third in the league in scoring touchdowns with a 5.5 points/game average on a total of 10 touchdowns in 2009.
As a returnman, Szczur proved his capabilities by totalling 629 yards and a touchdown on 23 returns in the 2009 regular season. His average of 27.3 yards per return heading into the playoffs ranks second in CAA Football and fourth among the FCS national leaders. Szczur’s 1,454 all-purpose yards in 2009 is second-best in the league standings, while his average of 132.2 all-purpose yards per game ranks as a Top-20 national mark.
Moats received Defensive Player of the Year honors after leading the league in sacks, tackles for loss and defensive linemen tackles. The Portsmouth, Va., native made 90 tackles in 11 games this season for a mark of 8.2 per game. His 2.14 tackles for loss per game not only leads the league, but also ranks as the best regular-season mark in all of major college football (FBS and FCS). Moats, who is listed on the Buck Buchanan Award ballot, totalled a league-best 11 sacks on the year and is tied with William and Mary defensive end Adrian Tracy in the category.
Talley, now in his 25th season at Villanova, garnered his first Coach of the Year honor since earning the award in 1997. He guided the Wildcats to a share of the CAA Football title and the league’s automatic bid into the 2009 NCAA Division I Football Championship. Talley, who led Villanova to its first league title since 2001, ranks as CAA Football’s winningest league-game coach after notching his 107th conference win Saturday over Delaware. The 30-year coaching veteran also moved into esteemed company in 2009 when he garnered his 200th collegiate head coaching win. With the Wildcats’ win over Rhode Island (Oct. 24), Talley joined a group of just 55 other NCAA football head coaches which have reached the 200-win plateau.
Thorpe, who began the 2009 season as part of a two-quarterback system at James Madison, was called on midway through the season to be JMU’s starter after an injury ended Drew Dudzik’s season. Thorpe responded by finishing the season with 1,260 passing yards and six touchdowns to go with 654 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 148 carries. Thorpe, a Richmond, Va., native, finished the regular season ranked sixth in the conference’s passing efficiency numbers with a mark of 130.8. The redshirt freshman also was ninth among CAA Football’s total offense leaders with 174.0 yards/game.
Webb, who began his redshirt-freshman campaign with a three-interception performance in a win at Virginia, is the first-ever William and Mary player to win the league’s Defensive Rookie of the Year honor. Webb, who was one pick shy of the league’s single-game interceptions mark against the Cavaliers, was given the FWAA/Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week honor following his standout performance. The Newport News, Va., native finished the regular season tied atop the league’s interception leaders with five, including 102 yards in interception returns and one touchdown.
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2009 CAA Football Major Awards (as voted on by the head coaches)
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Matt Szczur, Villanova, Jr., WR/RB, Erma, N.J.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Arthur Moats, James Madison, Sr., DL, Portsmouth, Va.
SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR -- Matt Szczur, Villanova, Jr., KR, Erma, N.J.
OFFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR -- Justin Thorpe, James Madison, Fr., QB, Richmond, Va.
DEFENSIVE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR -- B.W. Webb, William and Mary, Fr., DB, Newport News, Va.
COACH OF THE YEAR -- Andy Talley, Villanova, 25th Season
| 2009 All-CAA Football First Team (as voted on by the head
coaches) |
| OFFENSE |
|
|
|
| Position |
Player |
School |
Class |
| QB |
Chris Whitney |
Villanova |
Junior |
| RB |
John Griffin |
Northeastern |
Junior |
| RB |
Jonathan Grimes |
William and Mary |
Sophomore |
| FB/HB |
Chris Zardas |
Massachusetts |
Senior |
| WR |
Victor Cruz |
Massachusetts |
Senior |
| WR |
Mark Duncan |
Delaware |
Senior |
| WR |
Matt Szczur |
Villanova |
Junior |
| WR |
Landis Williams |
Maine |
Senior |
| TE |
Scott Sicko |
New Hampshire |
Senior |
| OL |
Dorian Brooks |
James Madison |
Senior |
| OL |
Vladimir Ducasse |
Massachusetts |
Senior |
| OL |
Ben Ijalana |
Villanova |
Junior |
| OL |
Matt McCracken |
Richmond |
Senior |
| OL |
Michael Silva |
Richmond |
Senior |
| PK |
Tom Manning |
New Hampshire |
Senior |
| KR |
Matt Szczur |
Villanova |
Junior |
| PR |
Derek Hatcher |
Richmond |
Senior |
| |
|
|
|
| DEFENSE |
|
|
|
| Position |
Player |
School |
Class |
| DL |
Brandon Gilbeaux |
Delaware |
Senior |
| DL |
Tim Kukucka |
Villanova |
Senior |
| DL |
Sean Lissemore |
William and Mary |
Senior |
| DL |
Arthur Moats |
James Madison |
Senior |
| DL |
Adrian Tracy |
William and Mary |
Senior |
| LB |
Luke Bonus |
Hofstra |
Senior |
| LB |
Eric McBride |
Richmond |
Junior |
| LB |
Collin McConaghy |
Richmond |
Senior |
| LB |
Terence Thomas |
Villanova |
Junior |
| CB |
Justin Rogers |
Richmond |
Junior |
| CB |
Anthony Walters |
Delaware |
Junior |
| S |
David Caldwell |
William and Mary |
Senior |
| S |
Charles Graves |
Delaware |
Senior |
| S |
Jeromy Miles |
Massachusetts |
Senior |
| P |
David Miller |
William and Mary |
Junior |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| 2009 All-CAA
Football Second Team (as voted on by the head coaches) |
| OFFENSE |
|
|
|
| Position |
Player |
School |
Class |
| QB |
R.J. Archer |
William and Mary |
Senior |
| RB |
Chad Kackert |
New Hampshire |
Senior |
| RB |
Tony Nelson |
Massachusetts |
Senior |
| FB/HB |
Everette Benjamin |
Hofstra |
Junior |
| WR |
Kevin Grayson |
Richmond |
Junior |
| WR |
Brandyn Harvey |
Villanova |
Senior |
| WR |
D.J. McAulay |
William and Mary |
Senior |
| WR |
Aaron Weaver |
Hofstra |
Junior |
| TE |
Rob Varno |
William and Mary |
Senior |
| OL |
Tyler Eastman |
Maine |
Senior |
| OL |
Tom Neill |
New Hampshire |
Senior |
| OL |
Kevin Newhall |
Northeastern |
Senior |
| OL |
Corey Nicholson |
Delaware |
Senior |
| OL |
C.J. Muse |
William and Mary |
Senior |
| PK |
Brian Pate |
William and Mary |
Senior |
| KR |
Scotty McGee |
James Madison |
Senior |
| PR |
Scotty McGee |
James Madison |
Senior |
| |
|
|
|
| DEFENSE |
|
|
|
| Position |
Player |
School |
Class |
| DL |
Sam Daniels |
James Madison |
Senior |
| DL |
Kyle Harrington |
Massachusetts |
Senior |
| DL |
Phil Matusz |
Villanova |
Senior |
| DL |
Martin Parker |
Richmond |
Junior |
| LB |
Tyler Holmes |
Massachusetts |
Sophomore |
| LB |
Osyai Osunde |
Villanova |
Senior |
| LB |
Jake Trantin |
William and Mary |
Sophomore |
| LB |
Sean Ware |
New Hampshire |
Senior |
| CB |
Scotty McGee |
James Madison |
Senior |
| CB |
Dino Vasso |
New Hampshire |
Junior |
| CB |
B.W. Webb |
William and Mary |
Freshman |
| S |
Anthony Bratton |
Delaware |
Junior |
| S |
Terrence Klein |
New Hampshire |
Senior |
| P |
Tim Edger |
Rhode Island |
Sophomore |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| 2009 All-CAA
Football Third Team (as voted on by the head coaches) |
| OFFENSE |
|
|
|
| Position |
Player |
School |
Class |
| QB |
Eric Ward |
Richmond |
Senior |
| RB |
Aaron Ball |
Villanova |
Junior |
| RB |
Justin Forte |
Richmond |
Senior |
| FB/HB |
Kendall Gaskins |
Richmond |
Freshman |
| WR |
Tre Gray |
Richmond |
Sophomore |
| WR |
Shawn Leonard |
Rhode Island |
Senior |
| WR |
Rockeed McCarter |
James Madison |
Senior |
| TE |
Mike Caussin |
James Madison |
Senior |
| OL |
Brian Brannigan |
Villanova |
Senior |
| OL |
Brant Clouser |
Villanova |
Junior |
| OL |
Drew Lachenmayer |
Richmond |
Junior |
| OL |
Derek Moore |
Hofstra |
Sophomore |
| OL |
Theo Sherman |
James Madison |
Junior |
| PK |
Armando Cuko |
Massachusetts |
Senior |
| KR |
Jonathan Grimes |
William and Mary |
Sophomore |
| PR |
B.W. Webb |
William and Mary |
Freshman |
| |
|
|
|
| DEFENSE |
|
|
|
| Position |
Player |
School |
Class |
| DL |
Ronnell Brown |
James Madison |
Junior |
| DL |
Brandon Collier |
Massachusetts |
Senior |
| DL |
Kyle Maroney |
New Hampshire |
Senior |
| DL |
Parker Miles |
Richmond |
Senior |
| DL |
Jordan Stevens |
Maine |
Senior |
| LB |
Rob Damon |
Rhode Island |
Junior |
| LB |
Donte Dennis |
Maine |
Sophomore |
| LB |
Marquis Kirkland |
Villanova |
Junior |
| LB |
Patrick Weldon |
Richmond |
Junior |
| LB |
Pat Williams |
James Madison |
Sophomore |
| CB |
Steven Barker |
Maine |
Junior |
| CB |
Jimmy Pitts |
Villanova |
Sophomore |
| S |
John Dempsey |
Villanova |
Junior |
| S |
Michael Ireland |
Richmond |
Senior |
| P |
Ed Wagner |
Delaware |
Junior |