HERO Sports welcomes you to "Two-a-Days", where we will preview every single one of the 125 FCS programs, with two being released each day from June 18 to August 18 (with the final day having three in one day). Today we give you … Villanova.
[divider]MORE: Compare Any Two FCS Players or Any Two FCS Teams[divider]
FCS TEAM BY TEAM PREVIEW: The countdown
FCS PRESEASON TOP 25: The poll
FCS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICA: The teams
Villanova (5-6 IN 2017)
Colonial Athletic Association (VU was T-7th in 2017)
COACH: Mark Ferrante – 2nd year (5-6)
2017 OFFENSE: 21.0 ppg (84th in FCS)
2017 DEFENSE: 16.1 ppg (19th in FCS)
SUM IT UP: Just wipe away the 2017 football season for Villanova, which became the tale of a talented team that was completely undermined by way too many injuries. This season will be a do-over for second-year coach Mark Ferrante, who is trying to forge his own legacy of winning after Villanova GrandMaster Andy Talley coached his last game in 2016. One-time CAA Rookie of the Year Zach Bednarczyk is a fifth-year senior who is more than capable of leading the Wildcats back to the playoffs, even if he doesn't get the hype some his peers do. The defense should be one of the better units in the CAA, behind Delaware and James Madison. The playoffs aren't a lock for a good-not-great team in a deep conference; however, Villanova hasn't missed the playoffs in consecutive years since the mid-2000s, so history would suggest the Wildcats are due for a major rebound, assuming they can stay healthy.
BEST-CASE SCENARIO: Villanova returns to the playoffs, where the Wildcats are a particularly tough out. Villanova should start to pick up some steam in the polls as the calendar closes in on October — particularly if it can pick up a win against Stony Brook on the road. Games with the top quarter of the CAA — James Madison, New Hampshire and Delaware — will all be challenging, but Villanova could still lose all three of those games and make the playoffs at 7-4.
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BEST FCS PLAYER BY NUMBER: We count down, No. 99 through No. 1[divider]
TOP RETURNEE: DB Rob Rolle (All-American Safety, Injured in '17; 63 Tackles and 7 INT's in '16).
THE NEXT FIVE: OL Ethan Greenidge (All-American, 31 Career Starts); LB Jeff Steeb (Second on Team w/ 91 Tackles in '17); QB Zach Bednarczyk (CAA Co-Offensive Rookie of the Year in '15, 4,622 Career Passing Yards & 1,141 Career Rushing Yards); LB Keeling Hunter (51 Tackles, 4 INT's, 3.5 TFL's in '17); OL Louie Csaszar (23 Career Starts).
TOP NEWCOMER: WR Dez Boykin (First-Team All-State High School Player in PA).
DID YOU KNOW?: Villanova is named after St. Thomas of Villanova, a 16th century Spanish friar from the Order of St. Augustine.
THE QUOTE: “It was demoralizing. It really sucks the life out of you. We had to have a lot of young guys step into roles they may not have been ready for." -Villanova quarterback Zach Bednarczyk to Philly.com, on last year's uncanny rash of injuries
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SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT
THE HASHTAG: #TapTheRock
FOOTBALL TWITTER: @NovaFootball
Enjoyed speaking to @NovaFootball seniors and @coachferranteVU about the business of football before preseason begins. Impressive young men.
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) July 26, 2018
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#LAYCOCKLEGACY: William & Mary Coach Jimmye Laycock Will Retire After 39th Season
MORE CAA PREVIEWS: Albany | Delaware | Elon | James Madison | Maine | New Hampshire | Rhode Island | Richmond | Towson
