Villanova Football Roster Breakdown: All-American Linebacker Talent

This is one in a series of stories breaking down the 2025 Villanova Football roster. Click here to read about the Wildcats’ cornerback room; click here to read about the Wildcats’ defensive back room ; click here to read about the Wildcats’ safety room; click here to read about the Wildcats’ defensive ends, and click here to read about the Wildcats’ defensive tackles.

Villanova Football enters 2025 with one of the top returning linebackers in the country, senior Shane Hartzell. A preseason Second Team All-American, the six foot tall, 230 pound Hartzel racked up 121 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and two forced fumbles in 2024. Now he’ll have another year of experience under his belt.

Another starter is graduate student Richie Kimmel 6-foot-1, 230 pounds), who made 72 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and forced a pair of turnovers last season. Per the Villanova football roster, junior Turner Inge (6-foot-1, 225 pounds) is also expected to push for a starting spot. Inge played 14 games last season as a reserve, picking up 31 tackles and three tackles for loss.

Waiting in the Wings

Expected to rotate in as reserves or in sub packages are junior JR Strauss (6-foot-3, 230 pounds) and sophomore Jason Hall (6-foot-2, 230 pounds), a steady tackler and speedster, respectively, who are expected to stand out on special teams.

Sophomore Christian Caballero (6-foot-2, 225 pounds) appeared in 13 games on special teams during his debut season last year and could also carve out some defensive snaps, while senior Colin Kennedy (6-foot-2, 225 pounds) will serve as a depth piece and key special teamer. Another athlete who could earn significant playing time is redshirt freshman Omari Bursey (six feet tall, 230 pounds): he appeared in seven games in 2024.

Rounding out the pack are depth linebackers like redshirt freshman Langston White (6-foot-2, 215 pounds) and senior Dale Law (6-foot-1, 230 pounds).

Incoming freshman Michael Gaul (6-foot-1, 215) earned two All-State selections in Pennsylvania and picked up 362 tackles during his high school career, making him an intriguing piece for the Wildcats future. Walker Murray (6-foot-1, 225 pounds) is another member of the class of 2029, one who picked up 125 tackles, 25 tackles for loss and four sacks as a senior.