Villanova center of attention at CAA media day

BALTIMORE - Andy Talley paraded around M&T Bank Stadium on Wednesday, getting props for winning the national championship last year.

Shaking numerous hands and constantly pursued by interview seekers, the Villanova coach was the main attraction at the Colonial Athletic Association Media Day event.

And with just cause.

Villanova wideout Matt Szczur (on offense) and linebacker Terence Thomas (on defense) swept the conference's preseason player-of-the-year honors.

Wildcats quarterback Chris Whitney, who beat out Delaware's Pat Devlin for league honors, is among Villanova's other five preseason all-conference picks.

And Villanova, the reigning Football Championship Subdivision national champion, is the overwhelming choice to repeat as CAA champion. The Wildcats received 17 of the 20 first-place votes in a poll by the league's coaches and media relations directors.

"For all those guys over there to put us as the No.1 team, it probably was easy," said Talley, who returns eight offensive and seven defensive starters from last season's squad that finished 14-1.

"They go, 'Well, who was the national championship team last season? Villanova,' " Talley said. " 'OK, they got 15 starters back. They got 15 starters that are probably pretty good. Bang!' "

In addition to being the preseason pick as offensive player of the year, Szczur is the preseason all-conference return specialist. That didn't come as a surprise, as the two-sport standout swept the same two honors last season.

Just a day earlier, Szczur's was promoted in the Chicago Cubs' farm system. A fifth-round pick in the June draft, the outfielder headed to the single-A Peoria Chiefs after hitting safely in all 18 games with the short-season single-A Boise Hawks. Szczur had a .397 batting average with 16 runs scored, nine doubles and eight RBI.

While Thomas may not be a two-sport standout, the senior all-American is just as valuable - he'll be counted upon to anchor the defense.

Safety John Dempsey, placekicker Nick Yako and offensive linemen Ben Ijalana and Brant Clouser joined Whitney, Szczur and Thomas as all-conference selections.

After leading Villanova to last season's CAA cochampionship with Richmond, Whitney was named the league's first-team quarterback.

Devlin, from Downingtown East, is the only FCS player named to the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award watch list. The award goes to college football's top senior quarterback.