Villanova Football Roster Breakdown: Pass Rush Ready Defensive Ends

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, and click here to read about the Wildcats’ safety room.

Villanova Football enters the 2025 season with returning production at defensive end in the form of junior Capri Martin and sophomore Nigel McSween. Martin, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 255 pounds, picked up 25 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble in 2024: per the Wildcats’ roster, the coaching staff sees him as a “mainstay” on the defensive line.

McSween picked up 28 tackles, six tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks during his true freshman season. At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, he’s also expected to pick up significant snaps on the edge.

One dark horse candidate to watch is redshirt freshman Ugo Nwotite: the Wildcats’ roster lists him as a potential top pass rusher. Looking at his frame, it’s easy to see why. A 6-foot-5, 230 pound specimen, Nwotite has the length to beat opposing tackles cleanly, bursting around the edge to attack the quarterback.

Also in the picture are incoming freshmen Griffin Galletta (6-foot-2, 260 pounds) and Nate Sullivan (6-foot-4, 245 pounds), who picked up All-State honors in New Jersey and Maryland last season, respectively.

Junior Tyler Langin (6-foot-3, 265 pounds) will continue to provide depth along the defensive line as he did during his first two seasons on the Main Line.