Villanova Football Offers 2026 TE/OLB Bennett Lopez

Villanova Football issued an offer to 2026 tight end/outside linebacker Bennett Lopez on Friday, Jan. 23, per an announcement from Lopez’s Twitter (X) account. A 6-foot-3, 230 pound recruit out of Red Bank Regional High School (Little Silver, N.J.), Lopez also has offers from Bucknell and Monmouth.

Lopez received his offer from Villanova offensive line coach Sean Devine, who focuses on recruiting central New Jersey in addition to a series of other regions. He picked up nine sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 52 total tackles and two forced fumbles as a senior in 2025, and thus probably fits best at outside linebacker. Lopez also racked up 160 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

The Wildcats have 20 spots to fill on their roster ahead of next season, so bringing Lopez into the fold could mark an important step in the right direction. Their 3-3-5 defense needs an athletic pass rush, and they lost key contributors on the defensive line like transfer Capri Martin and graduating seniors Obinna Nwobodo and Ayden Howard.

Villanova continues to hit the recruiting trail as well, with linebackers coach Forrest Rhyne visiting 2027 linebacker Xavier Blackmon at Catholic Memorial High School in the Boston suburbs.