Villanova Football Roster Breakdown: Colella Likely to Lead Receivers

Villanova Football lost two of their top three wide receivers from 2024 during the offseason, Jaylan Sanchez to the transfer portal and Devin Smith to graduation, but they managed to bring in at least one accomplished contributor to fill the gap.

Graduate transfer Luke Colella, a 5-foot-10, 195 pound receiver who spent the first three years of his career at Princeton, hauled in 90 passes for 1,182 yards and 11 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Upon hitting the portal, Colella received interest from Power Four programs including Pitt.

Lucas Kopecky provides the Wildcats’ top returning production at wide receiver. He began his college athletic career with four seasons on Villanova’s lacrosse team, then tried out for the football team last season. At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Kopecky quickly grew from an afterthought to a starter, and caught 26 passes for 302 yards and two touchdowns even as he adjusted to the gridiron.

Sophomore Chris Colby (6-foot-3) and junior Kenyon Miles (6-foot-2, 195 pounds) should both take the field in three and four receiver sets. Colby caught ten passes for 141 yards last season, while Miles caught 12 for 116 yards and a touchdown.

Rounding Out the Depth Chart

Other depth options include juniors Nate Hill (6-foot-3, 215 pounds), Ryan Kennedy (6-foot-1, 195 pounds) and Ryan Sorge (6-foot-3, 205 pounds);  redshirt freshman Brandon Binkowski (6-foot-3, 205 pounds). Redshirt freshman Ralee Stephens (5-foot-9, 165 pounds), could battle for playing time as a shifty slot receiver. 

Senior Chris Dobrydney (5-foot-10, 185 pounds) appeared in nine games on special teams last season.

Incoming freshman D’Hani Cobbs (5-foot-9, 180 pounds) established himself as one of the best punt returners in the country during his time in high school, which could give him an early path to the field, while Braden Reed (5-foot-9, 180 pounds) picked up close to 4,000 offensive yards and 49 touchdowns during his high school career, a stat line that should make Villanova Football fans salivate as he continues to develop as an athlete.