Villanova Football: Four Wildcats Make CAA First Team; Mace Named POTY

Villanova Football saw four players earn CAA First Team honors for their performance this season, including kick returner/running back Ja’briel Mace, the conference’s Special Teams Player of the Year.

Mace had a pair of return touchdowns on the season, helping to spark an eight game win streak from Villanova.

Blocking for a running game that picked up more than 2,000 yards, offensive linemen Stephane Voltaire and Temi Ajitotutu also landed on the first team offense, while linebacker and FCS Defensive Player of the Year nominee Shane Hartzell made the first team defense. Hartzell made 74 total tackles, 41 of them solo stops, along with 6.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss.

The honors don’t stop there for the No. 9/No. 6 Wildcats, who clinched their third consecutive bid to the FCS playoffs and will host Harvard at 12 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 29. Leading receiver Luke Colella landed on the second team offense, while defensive lineman Obinna Nwobodo and safety Christian Sapp made the second team on the other side of the ball.

Third team selections include running back David Avit, who missed much of the past three games to injury, punt returner Braden Reed, and cornerback Zahmir Dawud.