Villanova Football Hosting Spring Recruiting Visits

Update 5/1/2026: Villanova Football continues to reach out to recruits via campus visits and coaching visits. The names of the 11 newest recruits are included in italics. In recent weeks, the Wildcats have begun to target the class of 2029.

Update 4/13/26: Villanova continues to host recruits for spring practice visits, with 10 recruits posting about their experience since this article’s publish date. New recruits’ names are included in bold.

Villanova Football began their spring practice window in mid-March, giving them an opportunity to host a series of recruits in the classes of 2027 and 2028.

The Wildcats enter 2026 with high expectations after making the national semifinals last season, and that higher profile should help them catch the eye of incoming recruits. Villanova will also jump to the Patriot League, riding the tide of conference realignment along with fellow former CAA programs like William & Mary and Richmond.

With four FCS playoff trips in the last five seasons, the Wildcats have a healthy record of success under head coach Mark Ferrante. Here’s a look at the recruits they’re bringing to campus as they look to continue that success.

Villanova Football Recruiting Targets

2027

• Matthew Asti: TE and DE/6-foot-3/225 lbs/Oxford Area HS (Oxford, Pa.)
• Pete Carter: OLB, SS and ATH/6-foot-1/200 lbs/Sherando HS (Stephens City, Va.)
• Eli Chivington: DL/6-foot-2/278 lbs/Lake Mary HS (Lake Mary, Fla.)
• Declan Curtin: DE/6-foot-6/230 lbs/Belmont Hill HS (Belmont, Mass.)
• Jonathan Davis: RB and LB/6-foot-1/210 lbs/Ramsey HS (Ramsey, N.J)
• Jack Drakeley: QB/6-foot-3/190 lbs/Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.)
• Conor Drnek: LB and QB/6-foot-2/210 lbs/Dover HS (Dover Plains, N.Y.)
• Shaun George: DE/6-foot-0/195 lbs/Wayne Hills HS (Wayne Hills, N.J.)
• Naim Hammond: DE and DT/6-foot-3/230 lbs/Malvern Prep (Springfield, Pa.)
• Tyler Hatton: TE/DE/6-foot-4/240 lbs/West Allegheny HS (Imperial, Pa.)
• Noah Holliday-Boone: WR/OLB/6-foot-1/185 lbs/Central HS (Newark)
• Nick Kreakie: DB/WR/6-foot-3/175 lbs/Westerville Central HS (Westerville, Ohio)
• Ethan LaFollette: RB and DB/5-foot-8/175 lbs/Loudoun Valley HS (Purcellville, Va.)
• Jaden Lockrow: WR and DB/6-foot-0/Saratoga HS (Saratoga Springs, N.Y.)
• Garrett McCracken: QB/6-foot-1/210 lbs/Kennett HS (Kennett Square, Pa.)
• Jackson Post: TE and DE/6-foot-4/230 lbs/Evergreen HS (Evergreen, Colo.)
• Amare Ridley: ATH/5-foot-11/190 lbs/Haddon Heights HS (Haddon Heights, N.J.)
• Nick Rinaldi: RB/5-foot-9/190 lbs/John Jay HS (Cross River, N.Y.)
• Eoghan Savage: DE and TE/6-foot-4/249 lbs/Upper Dauphin HS (Elizabeth, Pa.)
• Jack Shahan: TE/6-foot-2/250 lbs/Archmere Academy (Claymont, Del.)
• John Smith: ATH and RB/5-foot-7/180 lbs/Wyoming Seminary Prep (Kingston, Pa.)
• Xavier Smith: LB and ATH/6-foot-1/210 lbs/Hempfield Area HS (Greensburg, Pa.)
• Cole West: OLB and ATH/6-foot-2/200 lbs/North Pocono HS (Moscow, Pa.)

2028

• Jack Conrad: QB/6-foot-3/185 lbs/Hempfield HS (Lancaster, Pa.)
• Gabe Denius: RB/5-foot-9/190 lbs/Broadneck HS (Annapolis, Md.)
• Dean Gaughran: LB and RB/6-foot-2/220 lbs/Archbishop Stepinac (Ridgefield, Conn.)
• Aiden Myers: DB/6-foot-2/175 lbs/DePaul Catholic (Wayne, N.J.)

2029

• Luke Landis: OL, DL and TE/6-foot-3/250 lbs/Clearview HS (Mullica Hill, N.J.)
• Brayden Watson: QB/5-foot-10/160 lbs/Patuxent HS (Lusby, Md.)

Davis amassed 76 tackles, over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior; Post, a three-star recruit, hauled in 22 passes for 383 yards and added 65 tackles, 19 tackles for loss and six sacks. McCracken passed for 1,988 yards and 25 touchdowns to five interceptions, while Drakeley completed 137 passes for 1,836 yards and 25 total touchdowns.

Lockrow, another three-star, hauled in four interceptions, made 40 tackles and amassed 400 receiving yards. Denius, a rising junior, picked up 690 rushing yards on 85 carries and found the end zone 12 times.