Villanova Football Adds Three 2027 Recruits as Strong Class Continues

Villanova Football picked up three 2027 commitments on Wednesday, June 10, defensive back Makai Blackstone, linebacker Jack Schneider and wide receiver Lincoln Shelton.

Shelton attends Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C. At 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, he ran a reported 4.4 second 40-yard dash and amassed 27 catches for 787 yards and four touchdowns last season, a shifty target with the speed to beat opponents downfield. A dual-sport athlete, Shelton also applies his speed to Gonzaga’s track team.

Blackstone attends Steinert High School (Hamilton Square, N.J.) and recorded 53 tackles, two interceptions and three tackles for loss during his junior season despite missing four games with a knee injury. He stands six feet tall and weighs 190 pounds, already a sturdy size for a high school defensive back.

Schneider stands six feet tall and tips the scale at 207 pounds. He played middle linebacker as a junior, disrupting offenses through the air and on the ground with six interceptions and 61 tackles at New Jersey’s Ramapo High School. Schneider chose Villanova over offers from Towson and Stonehill; he ran the 40-yard dash in the realm of 4.72 seconds, possessing solid speed for a high school linebacker.

The trio of 2027 recruits adds to a growing class for the Wildcats, who are building major momentum after a run to the FCS semifinals in 2025. Click here for more Villanova Football recruiting news.