< PreviousOFFICIAL PARTNER OF THE VILLANOVA WILDCATS GATORADE and G DESIGN are registered trademarks of Stokely-Van Camp, Inc. ©2023 S-VC, Inc.2023 VillanoVa Football Gameday Walter Payton aWard Winners WWW.villanova.com 41 1997 - BRIAN FINNERAN at the 11th annual division i-aa national Football awards Banquet held on dec. 1, 1997, at the official all-star cafe in new york city, villanova University senior wide receiver Brian Finneran (mission viejo, calif.) won the Walter Payton award given to the top player in i-aa. Finneran had a storybook career on the main line from 1994- 97, and was one of the nation’ finest players throughout his four years. during his storied career, he caught 265 passes for 3,872 yards and 34 touchdowns. Finneran currently holds 14 villanova school records including the career marks for receptions, yards and touchdowns. arriving on the main line in 1994 from mission viejo, calif., along with his twin brother and fellow Wildcat football standout Brad, Brian Finneran was on a mission. He immediately began to turn heads as a freshman in 1994, catching 56 passes for 805 yards and seven scores. Finneran set Wildcat class records for most catches and yards receiving in a season by a freshman. For his performance, he was named to the all-yankee conference second team. missing the first two games of his sophomore season due to a separated shoulder. Finneran returned slowly but still caught 32 passes for 471 yards on the year. Finneran’s real breakout season came in 1996, when as a junior, he posted 81 receptions for 1,207 yards and eight touchdowns. the honors came from everywhere, as he received first team all- atlantic 10, all-ecac, and all-american honors. His top campaign would come one year later, as a senior, when he took both himself and the Wildcats to the status of one of the nation’s best. With a perfect 11-0 regular season, villanova was no. 1 in the country and posted the first-ever undefeated, untied full regular season in school history. despite losing a 37- 34 heartbreaker to youngstown state in the second round of the ncaa division i-aa Playoffs, the season was a memorable one for Finneran and the `cats. Finneran finished the year with 96 catches for 1,389 yards and 19 touchdowns. He capped off his career by earning the Walter Payton award, given to the nation’s top division i-aa player. Finneran played 12 years in the nFl, including 10 seasons with the atlanta Falcons from 2000-10. 2001 - BRIAN WESTBROOK villanova University senior running back Brian Westbrook closed out his illustrious collegiate career in fine fashion on december 20, 2001, when he was awarded the Walter Payton award given annually to the national Player of the year in ncaa i-aa football. Westbrook received the award at a banquet held in chattanooga, tennessee. the other two finalists for the award included rocky Butler of Hofstra University and adrian Peterson of Georgia southern. Westbrook received 31 first-place votes and 320 points from the panel of 103 i-aa sports information directors and selected media. Following Westbrook in the voting were Hofstra’s rocky Butler, who earned 22 first place votes and 267 total points, and Georgia southern’s adrian Peterson, who finished in the top three of the voting for the fourth consecutive year. Westbrook became the second player from villanova to win the award. in 1997, former Wildcat and current atlanta Falcon wide receiver Brian Finneran garnered the award. in 11 games in 2001, Westbrook led all of ncaa i-aa in both all-purpose yards with 2,823 and scoring with 176 points (29 tds). the 5-9, 205 pound Westbrook rushed 249 times for 1,603 yards and 22 scores, caught 59 passes for 658 yards and six touchdowns, returned 17 kickoffs for 440 yards and a score, in addition to returning 12 punts for 90 yards during the 2001 campaign. in villanova’s season finale at William & mary on nov. 24, Westbrook set the ncaa all-divisions career all-purpose yards record with 9,512 yards in 44 regular season games. as a junior in 2000, Westbrook finished third in the Walter Payton award voting behind louis ivory of Furman University who won the award and Peterson who finished second. the most decorated player in school history, Westbrook finished his Wildcat career with 41 school records, 19 atlantic 10 conference marks and five ncaa records. Westbrook became the first player in the history of villanova football to earn first team all-american honors in three different seasons, when he earned first team all-american acclaim from both the sports network and the aFca in 2001. as a sophomore in 1998, Westbrook became the only player in the history of college football at any level to rush for 1,000 yards and receive for 1,000 yards in the same season. Westbrook played for the Philadelphia eagles from 2002-09, and with the san Francisco 49ers during the 2010 season. Brian Finneran was the first Wildcat to win the Walter Payton Award in 1997. Brian Westbrook became Villanova’s second Walter Payton Award winner when he won the honor in 2001. Walter Payton award Winners42 WWW.villanova.com Walter Payton aWard Winners 2023 VillanoVa Football Gameday 2014 - JOHN ROBERTSON Junior quarterback John robertson became the third villanova Wildcat to win the Walter Payton award as the top player in Fcs Football when he was presented with the prestigious award at the Fcs awards Banquet on dec. 15, 2014, during a banquet at the sheraton society Hill in Philadelphia. robertson earned 467 points and 66 first place votes in voting by a nationwide panel of sports information directors, broadcasters, writers and other dignitaries from the division. eastern Washington quarterback vernon adams finished second in the balloting (383 points, 29 first-place votes), while idaho state signal caller Justin arias was third with 220 points and 22 first-place votes. robertson becomes the third villanova player to win the Payton award, with all three winners playing different positions. Wide receiver Brian Finneran won the award in 1997 and running back Brian Westbrook earned the honor in 2001. John Robertson gave Villanova its third Walter Payton Award winner at a third different position in 2014. Walter Payton award Winners44 www.villanova.com FEaTuRE SToRY 2023 VILLANOVA FOOTBALL GAmEdAy Burton Brings Toughness to Cats’ Frontcourt The latest installment of the nova notebook highlights the fifth newcomer to villanova for 2023-24, graduate transfer Tyler Burton. as a massachusetts native, Tyler Burton knew well the exploits of another native son of the Bay State, Jermaine Samuels, before he ever stepped foot on the villanova campus. The two had crossed paths from time to time on the basketball circuit and were friendly. not long after Burton came to villanova in June following a decorated four-year career at the university of Richmond, the two connected again in the Davis center. Burton had a question for Samuels, who recently landed a two-way contract with the Houston Rockets of the national Basketball association. “How long,” Burton asked, “did it take you to learn villanova Basketball?” “i’m still learning to this day,” replied Samuels, who first came to the wildcats in 2017. Burton took those words to heart. “That’s all it is for me,” Burton said. “i just want to come here to be a great villanova Basketball player. To me, Jermaine encompasses villanova’s values both on and off the court. i’ve followed his lead. any questions i have, i hit him with. not just him, but all the alumni. They come back and they’re so helpful and supportive.” Burton’s credentials are impressive. The 6-7 forward has already scored 1,634 points (11th all-time on the Spiders’ scoring list) at the collegiate level and is one of only three players in Richmond history with 1,500 or more career points and 750 or more career rebounds. last season, he averaged 19.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per outing as a second team all-atlantic 10 selection. noted wildcats head coach Kyle neptune when Burton officially joined the ‘cats: “at villanova we always prioritize developing complete basketball players. Tyler has already proven to be a complete player at the college level and our staff is fired up to work with him to build on what he’s already put into place. Tyler is a versatile scorer and excellent rebounder who will fit seamlessly in our lineup.” as the son of a former Providence Friar, Quinton Burton (his mom is lynne), Tyler has been around the game for his whole life. He attended games at the Dunkin Donuts center as a youth, so he learned early what BiG EaST basketball is about. Yet at one point, in middle school, he spent more of his recreational energy on baseball than he did hoops. “i was a big fan of baseball,” he said. “it was probably my favorite sport at the time. i was skipping basketball tournaments to go to baseball tournaments.” Burton was a versatile baseball player who started out as a catcher before a growth spurt moved him to the pitching mound and, when wasn’t on the hill, the outfield. Finally, Burton decided as a practical matter, basketball needed to take precedence over baseball. “i just kept growing,” he said, “and i needed a sport with more action.” with his father serving as a guide and mentor – “i definitely wouldn’t be where i am without my dad” - Burton began to spread his wings on the court. no longer did he spurn summer basketball opportunities for baseball. He forged a spot for himself on an aau travel team and enrolled at marianapolis Prep in Thompson, conn. By his sophomore year there, he had received his first offer of a Division i scholarship. “Funny enough, it was from Baker Dunleavy,” stated Burton of the current general manager of villanova Basketball who was then early in his tenure as head coach at connecticut’s Quinnipiac university. ultimately, Richmond edged out Quinnipiac in the battle to land Burton’s signature on the national letter of intent. “it felt like home,” he stated. “i loved Richmond. it’s a great campus with great people. i made it my home for four years. i really grew there on and off the court.” when it came to the next step, Burton assessed his options, including the possibility of a leap directly to the national Basketball association draft. But in the end, he elected to became a grad transfer and was quickly drawn to villanova, seeing in it some of the same qualities he appreciated about his undergraduate campus home. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY2023 VillanoVa Football Gameday Honors and awards www.villanova.com 45 Honors and awards ALL-CONFERENCE 1988 Jim cashman, TE First Team James donaway, oG First Team Peter lombardi, FB second Team John o’Brien, olB second Team mickey watson, ilB second Team Tom withka, PK second Team 1989 Bob Brady, wr First Team Bryan russo, c First Team Tom withka, K First Team Paul Franco, dT second Team mickey watson, lB second Team chris Hunt, dB second Team 1990 curtis Eller, lB First Team damon Green, lB second Team 1991 scott donald, TE First Team randy crane, oG First Team Bill lacey, oT First Team Tim Tarpey, oc First Team willie oshodin, dl First Team curtis Eller, lB First Team/ defensive Player of the Year Kevin long, dB First Team Barry alvis, dB First Team Tom colombo, QB second Team Pat Kennedy, rB second Team chris Grychowski, dl second Team andy cobaugh, lB second Team orin solomon, dB second Team 1992 randy crane, oG First Team curtis Eller, lB First Team/ defensive Player of the Year Bill lacey, oT First Team Tim matas, dl First Team chris Grychowski, dl First Team Bill Hoffman, PK First Team andy cobaugh, lB second Team matt smith, dB second Team Tim Tarpey, oc second Team 1993 Bill lacey, oT second Team Bill Hoffmann, K second Team devian logan, ss Third Team 1994 Tyrone Frazier, lB First Team Jose ramirez, ol First Team andy cobaugh, lB second Team Brian Finneran, wr second Team chris curtis, dl Third Team Frank venezia, P Third Team 1995 curtis dunaway, dB First Team a.J. Burawski, lB Third Team 1996 Brian Finneran, wr First Team mark Kiefer, PK First Team clint Park, QB second Team matt mcKnight second Team deon Jackson, dB second Team chris okano, ol Third Team curtis dunaway, lB Third Team shannon riley, dB Third Team 1997 Brian Finneran, wr First Team/ offensive Player of the Year chris Boden, QB First Team Jason Tenner, ol First Team George Freiberger, ol second Team mark Kiefer, PK second Team shaun lyons, lB Third Team mitch mccrimmon, ol Third Team shannon riley, ss Third Team Josh dolbin, wr Third Team ryan Knight, ol Third Team chris machovina, dl Third Team andy Talley coach of the Year 1998 Brian westbrook, rB First Team casey Hannon, PK second Team ryan Knight, ol second Team Hezekiah lewis, dB second Team chris machovina, dE second Team Jason Tenner, dl second Team shaun lyons, lB Third Team 1999 chris Boden, QB First Team ryan Knight, ol First Team murle sango, wr First Team Kwesi solomon, dl First Team stan Bennett, dl second Team casey Hannon, PK second Team Joe Kavanaugh, TE second Team Hezekiah lewis, dB second Team shaun lyons, lB second Team ducarmel augustin, rB Third Team david Heckard, lB Third Team delonne Kelly, dB Third Team 2000 Brian westbrook, rB/rs First Team/ offensive Player of the Year Brett Gordon, QB second Team stan Bennett, oT second Team Kwesi solomon, dT Third Team chris Birch, P Third Team 2001 Brian westbrook, rB First Team/ offensive Player of the Year Eamonn allen, ol First Team casey Hannon, PK First Team matt chila, TE second Team Kwesi solomon, dl second Team chris Birch, P Third Team Brett Gordon, QB Third Team robert richardson, ol Third Team murle sango, wr Third Team Jamison Young, lB Third Team 2002 Brett Gordon, QB First Team/ offensive Player of the Year matt chila, TE First Team Brian white, wr second Team mike Finn, ol Third Team sean mccarthy, ol Third Team Brian Hulea, lB Third Team Jamison Young, lB Third Team Gary Johnson, dB Third Team Terence Taylor, dE Third Team 2003 darrell adams, dl First Team matt chila, TE First Team mike Finn, ol First Team Brian Hulea, lB First Team J.J. outlaw, wr First Team raymond ventrone, dB First Team Jamil Butler, dl second Team clarence curry, dB second Team Terry Butler, rB Third Team moe Gibson, rs Third Team Jason saks, ol Third Team Terence Taylor, dl Third Team 2004 darrell adams, dl First Team Jamil Butler, dE First Team Brian Hulea, lB First Team Terence Taylor, dE second Team Terry Butler, rB second Team Jeremy morgan, dB Third Team J.J. outlaw, wr Third Team 2005 darrell adams, dE First Team Brian Hulea, lB First Team J.J. outlaw, wr First Team allyn Bacchus, dB second Team rodney Badger, dB Third Team christian Gaddis, ol Third Team adam James, P Third Team 2006 allyn Bacchus, dB First Team christian Gaddis, oc First Team deQuese may, rB second Team michael costanzo, oG Third Team 2007 matt sherry, TE First Team Tim Kukucka, dT second Team matt dicken, rB Third Team osayi osunde, lB Third Team 2008 Ben ijalana, oT First Team Greg miller, dl First Team osayi osunde, lB First Team aaron Ball, rB second Team izzy Bauta, oT second Team marquis Kirkland, lB second Team Tim Kukucka, dl second Team matt szczur, wr second Team Phil atkinson, wr Third Team angelo Babbaro, Kr Third Team Brian Brannigan, ol Third Team david dalessandro, dl Third Team salim Koroma, dB Third Team Joe marcoux, PK Third Team darrel Young, safety Third Team2023 VillanoVa Football Gameday Honors and awards www.villanova.com 47 Honors and awards 2009 matt szczur, wr, Kr First Team/ caa offensive Player of the Year; caa special Teams Player of the Year Ben ijalana, oT First Team Tim Kukucka, dl First Team Terence Thomas, lB First Team chris whitney, QB First Team Brandyn Harvey, wr second Team Phil matusz, dl second Team osayi osunde, lB second Team aaron Ball, rB Third Team Brian Brannigan, oc Third Team Brant clouser, oG Third Team John dempsey, dB Third Team marquis Kirkland, lB Third Team James Pitts, dB Third Team 2010 Brant clouser, oG First Team Ben ijalana, oT First Team marquis Kirkland, lB First Team Terence Thomas, lB First Team norman white, wr First Team Fred maldonado, dB second Team dominic scarnecchia, P second Team chris whitney, QB second Team aaron Ball, rB Third Team John dempsey, dB Third Team antoine lewis, dl Third Team James Pitts, dB Third Team dan shirey, ol Third Team Thomas weaver, dT Third Team 2011 James Pitts, dB First Team dan shirey, ol First Team dillon lucas, lB Third Team caa defensive rookie of the Year mark Hamilton, P Third Team 2012 rakim cox, dl First Team antoine lewis, dl First Team Eric loper, dB First Team Kevin monangai, rB First Team devon Bridges, lB second Team Josh Bucci, ol second Team marlon Johnson, dl second Team vince Kowalski, ol Third Team Poppy livers, Pr Third Team John robertson, QB Third Team Joe sarnese, dB Third Team norman white, wr Third Team andy Talley coach of the Year John robertson offensive rookie of the Year 2013 rakim cox, dl First Team Josh Bucci, ol second Team don cherry, lB second Team craig James, dB second Team antoine lewis, dl second Team John robertson, QB second Team ross Hall, ol Third Team mark Hamilton, PK Third Team cameron mccurry, dB Third Team Kevin monangai, rB Third Team 2014 John robertson, QB First Team/ offensive Player of the Year don cherry, lB First Team vince Kowalski, ol First Team ross Hall, ol second Team Poppy livers, wr second Team Joe sarnese, dB second Team Pat williams, dl second Team Kevin monangai, rB Third Team Gary Underwood, rB Third Team Jason ceneus, dB Third Team 2015 don cherry, lB First Team Tanoh Kpassagnon, dE First Team Gary Underwood, FB First Team Kevin Gulyas, wr second Team malik reaves, dB second Team austin calitro, lB Third Team Jason ceneus, dB Third Team cameron mccurry, dB Third Team Zach Bednarczyk, QB caa offensive rookie of the Year Jake Prus, ol chuck Boone leadership award 2016 Tanoh Kpassagnon, dE, First Team defensive Player of the Year austin calitro, lB First Team rob rolle, dB First Team Brad seaton, ol second Team aaron Forbes, rB Third Team ryan Bell, TE Third Team Bryan osei, dE Third Team Ed shockley, lB Third Team John Hinchen, Punter Third Team 2017 Ed shockley, lB First Team John Hinchen, Punter First Team malik reeves, cB second Team Ethan Greenidge, ol second Team 2018 aaron Forbes, rB second Team Ethan Greenidge, ol second Team christian Benford, dB Third Team defensive rookie of the Year 2019 Paul Gattan First Team Forrest rhyne First Team nathan Fondacaro First Team dan smith Third Team Justin covington Third Team changa Hodge Third Team colin Gamroth Third Team malik Fisher Third Team drew wiley Third Team Jaquan amos Third Team chucky smith chuck Boone award 2020 (played in the Spring of 2021) michael corbi First Team christian Benford First Team malik Fisher First Team Forrest rhyne First Team Justin covington second Team rayjoun Pringle second Team colin Gamroth second Team dez Boykin second Team Justin covington chuck Boone award CAPITAL ONE ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN 2015 don cherry....................second Team academic all-american district 2 First Team 2014 don cherry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .second Team academic all-american district 2 First Team Jake Prus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .district 2 First Team NCAA POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.000 grade-point average during their collegiate careers and perform with distinction in varsity football. 1988 rich spugnardi, lB 1977 david Graziano, dE GTE COSIDA ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS Since 1952, Academic All-America teams have been selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America. To be eligible, student- athletes must be regular performers and have at least a 3.20 grade-point average. 2010 . . angelo Babbaro, district 2 First team 2009 . . angelo Babbaro, district 2 First team 2009 . . . . osayi osunde, district 2 First Team 2009 . . . . chris whitney, district 2 First Team 2008 . . angelo Babbaro, district 2 First team 2007 . . . . . . . matt sherry, district 2 First team 2006 . . . . allyn Bacchus, district 2 First team 2003 raymond ventrone, district 2 First team 1996 . . . . . . . . . . deon Jackson, second team 1994 . . . . . . . . . . . Gregg Ziegler, second team 1992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tim matas, First team 1990 . . . . . . . . . Kevin martchek, second team 1988 . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter lombardi, First team 1988 . . . . . . . . . . . robert Brady, second team 1988 . . . . . . . . . . scott rushton, second team 1986 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ron sency, First team NCAA ELITE 88 AWARD Given to the student-athlete with the highest GPa at all of the ncaa championship events. 2009 FCS FOOTBaLL will Thompsonacademybuscharter.com 800-442-7272 PROUDPARTNER VILLANOVAUNIVERSITY ATHLETICS2023 VillanoVa Football Gameday Honors and awards www.villanova.com 49 Honors and awards ALL-ECAC/ALL-EAST The ECAC (Eastern College Athletic Conference) officially began naming all-ECAC teams in 1963. From 1963-69 just one team was named. From 1970-79 the ECAC named a first team offense and defense only. In 1980, the ECAC added second teams for offense and defense. 2015 Gary Underwood First Team don cherry second Team 2014 John robertson First Team/ offensive Player of the Year don cherry First Team vince Kowalski First Team 2013 rakim cox First Team 2012 Eric loper First Team John robertson offensive rookie of the Year 2011 James Pitts First Team dan shirey First Team dillon lucas defensive rookie of the Year 2010 Ben ijalana, oT First Team marquis Kirkland, lB First Team 2008 Greg miller, dl First Team 2007 matt sherry, TE First Team 2006 allyn Bacchus, dB First Team 2005 Brian Hulea, lB First Team 2004 Brian Hulea, lB First Team Jamil Butler, dE Honorable mention 2002 Brett Gordon, QB offensive Player of the Year/ First Team matt chila, TE Honorable mention 2001 Brian westbrook Player of the Year Brian westbrook First Team rB Eamonn allen, ol First Team ol casey Hannon, PK First Team PK 2000 Brian westbrook Player of the Year Brian westbrook First Team rB/rs 1999 shaun lyons, lB First Team murle sango, wr First Team delonne Kelly, dB second Team 1998 ryan Knight, ol First Team chris machovina, dl First Team casey Hannon, PK second Team 1997 villanova wildcats Team of the Year Brian Finneran, wr First team/ offensive Player of the Year chris Boden, QB First Team ryan Knight First Team Jason Tenner, dl First Team shannon riley, ss second Team mark Kiefer, PK second Team chris machovina, dE second Team 1996 Brian Finneran, wr First Team deon Jackson, dB First Team clint Park, QB second Team curtis dunaway, lB second Team 1995 curtis dunaway, dB First Team 1994 Tyrone Frazier, lB First Team 1993 Bill lacey, oT second Team 1992 curtis Eller, lB First Team randy crane, oG First Team Tim Tarpey, oc First Team scott donald, TE second Team Tim matas, nG second Team 1991 willie oshodin, dl First Team Kevin long, dB First Team curtis Eller, lB First Team randy crane, ol First Team 1990 damon Green, lB First Team 1989 Bob Brady, wr First Team Bryan russo, c First Team 1988 Jim cashman, TE First Team Paul Berardelli, oG second Team James donaway, oG second Team Bryan russo, oc second Team 1980 dan Burke, dB First Team Joe arcidiacono, oT First Team 1979 steve duda, dT First Team Paul columbia, TE second Team 1977 Tom walsh, oT First Team Pat o’Brien, QB rookie of the Year 1975 Gary shugrue, dT First Team 1973 Joe miller, oT First Team Frank Polito, dB First Team 1972 Frank Polito, dB First Team 1971 mike siani, wr First Team Ernie messmer, dT First Team Frank Polito, dB First Team 1970 mike siani, E First Team Jack Kasper, T First Team 1969 John Babinecz, c First Team 1968 rich moore, T First Team 1967 Fred levinsky, G First Team 1964 al atkinson, T First Team 1963 al atkinson, T First TeamNext >