Villanova Football Roster Breakdown: Do-it-all Defensive Backs

This is one in a series of stories breaking down the 2025 Villanova Football roster. Click here to read about the Wildcats’ cornerback room.

While the Villanova Football roster makes no positional distinction between various groupings like cornerback, safety and nickel — instead opting for catch-all terms like defensive back, the vast majority of players fit into one category or the other.

Incoming freshmen are one exception, as the Wildcats’ coaching staff might want to see how they perform in practices before deciding which position works best, while other players have the versatility to play both positions. There are six such players on the Villanova roster: freshmen Amari Jackson, Brenden Toppin, Samir Wilkins and Ian Files, as well as Jamie Tyson and Nino Betances, who have the versatility to play both positions.

Here’s what they bring to the table.

Cornerbacks are typically shorter, lighter and faster than safeties, but Tyson, a 6-foot-2, 200 pound redshirt freshman, can do a little bit of everything. After serving primarily on special teams in six games last season, expect him to carve out a bigger role as a plug-and-play option wherever the Wildcats need him.

Betances, a 5-foot-10, 190 pound senior, has played limited snaps during his career at Villanova, and the roster expects him as a depth piece once again.

New Faces

Jackson played cornerback in high school and fits the profile to stick with the position in college. He earned First Team All-Conference honors at defensive back, wide receiver and return specialist, a testament to his speed and athleticism, and stands six feet tall and 185 pounds.

Toppin’s high school highlights show him as both a blitzing box safety and lining up on the outside at cornerback, so expect a role similar to Tyson as he continues to develop.

Files also played both cornerback and safety in high school, although most of his posted highlights came on the outside. Listed with a 4.5 second 40-yard dash, he has the speed (on paper) to stick with many FCS receivers.

Wilkins, similarly, lists himself as a defensive back in his Twitter profile, but most of his highlights come as a cornerback, including shadowing receivers in man coverage.