Widener senior nose guard James Woodley (Pittsgrove, NJ) was picked first team All-Middle Atlantic Conference a third straight year, junior inside linebacker Joe Favinger (Mohnton, PA) was named first team a second consecutive season and junior outside linebacker Shane Szumski (Moorestown, NJ) was tabbed second team all-league.
A four-year starter, Woodley constantly draws double teams as he is one of the most feared players in the league. Even with all the attention, he still is tied for first in the conference with 14.5 tackles for a loss, seventh with 5.5 sacks and 23rd with 5.7 tackles per game.
No game this year stood out more than October 31 against Lebanon Valley, in which he had 19 tackles to tie for the third most in school history. The four-year starter also ended with 14 solo tackles, 1.5 sacks and five tackles for a loss.
Woodley, along with senior left tackle Chris Waldron (Allentown, PA), will participate in the D-III Football Senior Classic on December 5 in Salem, VA. Representatives from the National Football League, Canadian Football League and United Football League are expected to attend.
Favinger has been an exceptional three-year starter, also being named second team all-conference and the league’s Rookie of the Year in 2007. This season, he is tied for first in the conference with 14.5 tackles for a loss, 11th with 6.5 tackles per contest, tied for ninth with five sacks and tied for second with two forced fumbles.
Favinger had 11 tackles against nationally ranked Albright on October 24 and nine against both Ithaca on September 19 and Delaware Valley on November 14, also ranked.
Szumski has been in the starting role two years and is an exceptional player against both the run and pass. He is seventh in the conference with 7.5 tackles per game, tied for ninth with five sacks and 16th with 9.5 tackles for a loss.
Szumski finished with 12 tackles against Delaware Valley and 10 against both Curry on September 12 and Wilkes on November 7.