Villanova Football
Villanova Football Roster Breakdown: Returning Talent at Corner
This is one in a series of stories breaking down each position group battle on the 2025 Villanova Football Roster.
Villanova Football enters the 2025 season with a mixture of returning talent and graduate transfers set to provide stability at the cornerback position.
Per the Wildcats’ roster, redshirt sophomore Zahmir Dawud is expected to earn one of the starting positions after vaulting himself into the spotlight last season, earning an All-CAA Honorable Mention after picking up two interceptions, two forced fumbles, four tackles for loss and 47 total tackles.
The six foot tall, 185 pound corner also earned an honorable mention to the 2025 preseason All-CAA team, so he’s expected to at least replicate last year’s performance on the outside. Of returning players, sophomore Newton Essiem is also expected to battle for a starting spot at corner after appearing in 11 games as a true freshman.
Graduate transfers Jordan Adderley (Lehigh) and Julian Talley (Penn) both started at corner at their previous homes, but the Villanova Football roster lists them as expected to “compete for playing time in the secondary.” That likely means they’ll suit up at corner, but the open ended language means they could land at another role like safety or nickel defensive back.
Redshirt freshman Damill Bostic Jr. and redshirt sophomore Jon Wyatt both appeared as reserves at corner in 2024 and are expected to compete for playing time once again, perhaps in an expanded role as they continue to gain experience.
Other reserve options include incoming freshmen Amari Jackson, Brenden Toppin and Ian Files, all of whom are listed at defensive back with no specification for corner or safety; Jackson excelled as a corner at Beaver High School in Western Pennsylvania.
