Villanova Football
Villanova Football Earns Two Preseason All-American Nods
Villanova Football offensive lineman Jake Picard and linebacker Shane Hartzell both earned preseason FCS All-American nods from Stats Perform in anticipation of their upcoming seasons.
Picard, a fifth-year senior, started at center in each of the past two seasons. While he didn’t land on any All-American lists last season (the two Wildcats to do so were defensive back Isas Waxter II, now with the Seattle Seahawks, and linebacker Brendan Bell), he did earn a spot on the CAA Football First Team Offense.
Hartzell, a senior, picked up 121 tackles last season (including a team-high 67 solo stops) along with 9.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. His performance garnered a Phil Steele Second Team All-American nod along with a spot on the CAA Football First Team Defense.
The Wildcats are one of just six FCS programs to win ten or more games in at least three of the past four seasons, so it makes sense that they’re getting some preseason love. They made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in 2024 before losing a tough defensive battle to Incarnate Word, and will open this season on Sept. 6 against Colgate.
