Villanova ranks No. 14 in HERO Sports’ FCS Preseason Top 25.
The Wildcats finished 10-4 last year, losing 13-6 at UIW in the FCS second round.
Here’s a look at the 2025 Nova football squad.
Returning 2024 FCS All-Conference Players (5)
1st Team
OL Jake Picard
LB Shane Hartzell
Honorable Mention
RB David Avit
OL Stephane Voltaire
DL Obinna Nwobodo
D1 Transfer Portal Movement
Transfers Coming In From The FCS (5)
Pat McQuaide (QB), Nicholls
Julian Talley (DB), Penn
Luke Colella (WR), Princeton
Jordan Adderley (DB), Lehigh
Jack Barnum (K), CCSU
Transfers Coming In From The FBS (1)
Luke Larsen (P), ECU
Transfers Lost To The FCS (1)
Luke Daly (WR) to Georgetown
Transfers Lost To The FBS (1)
Jaylan Sanchez (WR) to JMU
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Offensive Outlook
Villanova’s offense returns its top two running backs and top seven offensive linemen in reps. The Wildcats lost their starting quarterback and top two wide receivers but added an FCS QB and WR with starting experience.
Nova retained its two standout freshmen running backs from last year. Returning is David Avit, who rushed 173 times for 923 yards and nine touchdowns, earning All-CAA Honorable Mention and FCS Freshman All-American accolades while being named the CAA Offensive Rookie of the Year. Isaiah Ragland is also back after rushing for 511 yards and four TDs on 105 carries.
They’ll have an uber-experienced offensive line in front of them.
The top seven leaders in snaps are returning on the o-line. Jake Picard (6-4, 310 lbs) leads the way after an All-Conference First Team season. He has played nearly 2,000 career snaps for Villanova and logged more than 700 last fall. Stephane Voltaire (6-5, 320 lbs) is coming off of an All-CAA Honorable Mention campaign and led Nova with 870+ snaps in 2024. He’ll be a three-year starter this fall. Chris McCullers (6-3, 315 lbs), another returner, wasn’t far behind with 850+ snaps.
Kyle Fay (6-6, 300 lbs) and Tommy Broderick (6-5, 305 lbs) both added more than 500 o-line snaps last season as freshmen. Ryan Cregan (6-6, 290 lbs) was another freshman contributor with over 400 snaps.
Temi Ajirotutu (6-5, 320 lbs) returns as well after being limited to four games in 2024. Ajirotutu has nearly 2,000 career snaps at Nova and was a 2023 All-CAA Third Team selection.
The passing game will have a new look as multi-year starting QB Connor Watkins and last year’s top two targets are gone. Lucas Kopecky is back after finishing third on the team with 26 catches for 302 yards and two TDs.
Two FCS transfers figure to play key roles.
QB Pat McQuaide comes in from Nicholls, where he was a two-year starter and a 2023 All-Southland Conference Second Team selection. In 23 games, he went 395/686 (58%) for 4,414 yards, 27 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions. WR Luke Colella arrives after a productive career at Princeton. Last year, he recorded 43 catches for 562 yards and five touchdowns. In 2023 as an Honorable Mention All-Ivy League performer, Colella caught 47 passes for 620 yards and six TDs.
Defensive Outlook
Villanova’s defense returns 8/15 top tacklers and 8/15 leaders in snaps after allowing 18.2 points per game, which ranked No. 10 in the FCS. The Wildcats also added two defensive backs with FCS starting experience.
Shane Hartzell leads the unit as a top linebacker in the FCS. He’s entering his fourth season as a starter and is a back-to-back All-CAA performer, including 2024 First Team honors. In 2022, Hartzell totaled 74 tackles, nine TFLs, and four sacks. The next year, he tallied 91 tackles, six TFLs, and four sacks. Last fall, he racked up 121 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, and five sacks while logging 800+ snaps.
Richie Kimmel adds solid linebacker experience, playing nearly 700 snaps last year and totaling 72 tackles (4th on the team), 2.5 TFLs, and an interception. Turner Inge added 31 tackles and three TFLs from his linebacker position.
Villanova returns three defensive linemen who played between 500-610 snaps in 2024. Obinna Nwobodo (6-3, 295 lbs) earned All-CAA Honorable Mention accolades, totaling 40 tackles, six TFLs, and 1.5 sacks. Ayden Howard (6-2, 295 lbs) added 44 tackles, two TFLs, and 1.5 sacks. Capri Martin (6-2, 260 lbs) tallied 25 stops, 3.5 TFLs, and a sack.
Nigel McSween (6-4, 255 lbs) logged nearly 300 snaps on the d-line last fall as a freshman, recording 28 tackles, six TFLs, and 4.5 sacks.
In the secondary, Zahmir Dawud is one of the top young cornerbacks in the subdivision. Last year, he played nearly 500 snaps as a freshman and had 47 tackles, four TFLs, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles. Christian Sapp added close to 300 snaps at safety, notching 23 stops and an interception.
Two FCS transfers add starting experience for the defensive backs.
Julian Talley played 950 snaps and 29 games at Penn, totaling 95 tackles and an interception. Jordan Adderley logged 500 snaps at Lehigh a season ago, recording 34 tackles and an interception that he returned for a touchdown.
2025 Preseason Preview Central
Villanova Football Schedule
9/6 vs Colgate
9/13 at Penn State
9/20 at No. 21 Monmouth
9/27 vs William & Mary
10/4 at New Hampshire
10/11 at Elon
10/18 vs Hampton
10/25 vs UAlbany
11/8 at Towson
11/15 vs No. 25 Stony Brook
11/22 vs Sacred Heart
Bold indicates CAA games
HERO Sports’ rankings
