Villanova Football Roster Breakdown: Interior Line Full of Experience

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; click here to learn about the Wildcats’ linebackers, and click here to learn about the Wildcats’ specialists.

Villanova Football returns starting talent to all three positions on their interior offensive line in 2025: Jake Picard, a preseason FCS First Team All-American at center, and Temi Ajirotutu and Chris McCullers flanking him at guard.

Returning Starters

A starter for most of the past three seasons at center after breaking into the lineup in 2022, the 6-foot-4, 300 pound Picard will anchor the Wildcats up front.

Ajirotutu (6-foot-5, 310 pounds) earned another season of eligibility after missing all four games in 2024 on the way to a medical redshirt. Like Pickard, he entered the starting lineup in 2022. Ajirotutu also earned Third-Team All-CAA honors during his last full season.

Redshirt sophomore Chris McCullers (6-foot-3, 310 pounds) started all 14 games at guard last season, carving out a starting role even before Ajirotutu went down injured.  With three seasons of eligibility remaining, he should develop into another mainstay.

Senior Quin Whalen (6-foot-4, 290 pounds) served as the top reserve last season, appearing in 12 games. His ability to play both guard and center gives the Wildcats valuable insurance.

Incoming freshmen on the interior line include Thomas Brown 6-foot-3, 315 pounds) and Matthias Ogrinc (6-foot-4, 270 pounds). Brown won a state championship as a wrestler in Massachusetts, cross training experience that will help him with fundamentals of playing the offensive line like body control, grappling and weight transfer.