Villanova Football Offseason Outlook: 20 Mainstays to Replace

Villanova Football will need to replace at least 21 of the 95 spots on their roster heading into the 2026 season as a result of graduations and the transfer portal. The Wildcats, who made a run to the FCS semifinals last season, lost 34 players in total, but will fill 13 spots with their incoming recruiting class. Here’s a look at who they’ve lost and their importance to the team.

Players atop the depth chart set to hit the road include quarterback Pat McQuaide, center Jake Picard, tight end Antonio Johnson, offensive linemen Stephane Voltaire and Temi Ajirotutu and wide receivers Luke Colella and Lucas Kopecky. Senior center Quin Whalen, who took over after Picard suffered a season-ending injury, marks another significant loss. In all, Villanova will lose 50.2 percent of their offensive yardage production and 30 of their 57 touchdowns.

Defensive Turnover

Villanova’s key defensive losses include linebackers Shane Hartzell (an All-American pick) and Richie Kimmel and senior defensive linemen Obinna Nwobodo and Ayden Howard; Capri Marin, a rising senior, is another defensive lineman key who will hit the transfer portal.

Perhaps the hardest-hit unit is the Villanova secondary, where cornerback Zahmir Dawud and safety Anthony Hawkins (a freshman All-American) both elected to transfer. Christian Sapp, another starting safety, will graduate, as will Kaleb Moody (who appeared in 14 of 15 games played), safety Garrett Rogan (15 games played) and Jordan Adderley, who played in six of the Wildcats’ first seven games before an apparent injury. That’ll wipe away more than 61 percent of Villanova’s tackles made, including 18.5 of 33 quarterback sacks, six of ten interceptions and six of 13 forced fumbles.

Specialists like place kicker Jack Barnum and punter Luke Larsen are out of eligibility, as is No. 3 quarterback Jack Ryder.

The Wildcats’ success in 2025 stemmed from veteran position groups on the offensive and defensive lines and at linebacker and a three-headed monster at running back. A new-look secondary and transfers like McQuaide gelled as the season went on, amplifying Villanova’s success. Heading into 2026, they’ll need to replace almost all of that, although running backs Isaiah Ragland and Ja’briel Mace (an All-American kick returner) and offensive linemen Kyle Fay and Chris McCullers remain.

Look for Villanova to attack the transfer portal in the coming weeks, or to look for diamonds in the rough in the later stages of high school recruiting.