Villanova Commit Jake Kissell’s Underdog Identity

Villanova linebacker commit Jake Kissell spent his high school career at Bishop Guilfoyle (Altoona, Pa.) where he won a PIAA 1A state championship in 2024 and made it back to the title game the following season. 

Kissell began to communicate with the Wildcats after his championship run and was an immediate fan, but his offer didn’t come in until January 2026, just before he committed. Some three percent of high school football players make it to Division I, and the smaller roster sizes at lower classifications mean that opportunities for 1A players are even more rare. 

Defying the Odds

That fact leapt out at Kissell during a conversation he had with fellow recruits during a camp at Villanova in 2025.

“When I came to Villanova camp, I was hanging out with some of these guys and I was like ‘yeah, I play small school football,’” Kissell said. “They were like ‘what class are you? 3A? 4A?’ I was like ‘no, I’m 1A.’ It’s a little different going from having 30 kids on your team to 95.”

That small school background is central to Kissell’s identity on the gridiron. After playing at 1A, he has a 6A-sized desire to prove himself, to continue to defy the odds.

“They’re getting an underdog coming from a small town, a small area, a small school. I’ve kinda always had that chip on my shoulder, and I’m really excited to bring that to Villanova, earn my stripes and work harder than anyone,” Kissell said. “It’s gonna be a big adjustment, but I think it’s actually set me up in a lot of ways where a lot of kids don’t have this opportunity… They’re going to get 110 percent from me, just doing the little things. I’ll give you the tackles but I’m also going to do the things that don’t show up on the stat sheet.” 

Many high school recruits will play on both sides of the ball in order to establish their athletic ability and put out film of different positions, increasing their chance of catching a coach’s eye. 

Focusing on Linebacker

Playing on a small roster, Kissell also did so out of necessity, contributing at four positions around the gridiron and learning how the different roles build off one another.

“I’ve seen the game in so many ways, I’ve been able to learn the game as a quarterback, a running back, as a defensive end, as a linebacker, really becoming versatile when it comes to the game of football,” Kissell said. “ I feel like I understand the game on so many levels and actually, playing at a smaller level should help me in the long run based off my IQ and playing different positions.”

Settling in at middle linebacker, Kissell’s 6-foot-2, 218 pound frame makes him an immediate fit. He cited his lateral agility, crucial for shutting down running lanes or sticking with receivers in pass coverage, as another tool that will help him fit in at Villanova. The Wildcats have a well established pedigree at middle linebacker, with recent FCS All-Americans and NFL hopefuls like Brendan Bell and Shane Hartzell.

Kissell said he’s excited to join a proud tradition, one that maximizes the talents of the players playing in it.

“When I came on my visit I talked a lot with Coach [Forrest] Rhyne, the linebackers coach, and we kinda went through our defensive scheme. Their defense, honestly, I’m super excited to fully understand it and get to play in it because it’s very linebacker-beneficial,” Kissell said. “Villanova’s defense, you’ve got guys that have become All-Americans. Coach [Defensive Coordinator Ross] Pennypacker, Coach Rhyne, they expect the linebackers to make the plays, to fill the gaps and get some tackles for loss, get some interceptions. It’s gonna be awesome.”