Maxwell Club honoring 'Nova's Ijalana, Delaware's Keeler
Villanova senior offensive tackle Ben Ijalana and Delaware coach K.C. Keeler have been honored by the Maxwell Football Club. Ijalana, a graduate of Rancocas Valley High in South Jersey, was named Maxwell Club Tri-State player of the year. Keeler, whose Blue Hens will play in the FCS national championship game tonight against Eastern Washington, was selected Tri-State coach of the year.
Villanova senior offensive tackle Ben Ijalana and Delaware coach K.C. Keeler have been honored by the Maxwell Football Club.
Ijalana, a graduate of Rancocas Valley High in South Jersey, was named Maxwell Club Tri-State player of the year. Keeler, whose Blue Hens will play in the FCS national championship game tonight against Eastern Washington, was selected Tri-State coach of the year.
Ijalana started 53 games at Villanova and was a member of the Wildcats' 2009 FCS national championship team. The 6-4, 320-pounder will play in the 2011 Senior Bowl and he is expected to be selected in April's NFL draft. Ijalana's teammate, Matt Szczur, was the winner last year.
Keeler's Blue Hens are in the national title game for the third time in 8 years and were champions in 2003. Delaware (12-2) finished in the top 20 in total offense and total defense this season and won a share of the CAA championship. Keeler, a former linebacker at Delaware, is 162-62-3 in his coaching career that included a stint at Rowan University.
The Maxwell Football Club's awards dinner will be March 4 at Harrah's in Atlantic City.
Nits land lineman
Ryan Nowicki, a 6-5, 280-pound offensive lineman from Glendale (Ariz.) Cactus High, has made a verbal commitment to attend Penn State. *