Villanova Football Roster Breakdown: Sixth Year D-Tackles Ready for Swan Song

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, and click here to read about the Wildcats’ defensive ends.

Villanova Football enters the 2025 season with proven contributors atop the depth chart at defensive tackle in the form of Obinna Nwobodo and Ayden Howard.

An All-CAA Preseason Team awardee, Nwobodo is a 6-foot-3, 300 pound run stopper who won’t just provide a steadying presence up front: per Villanova’s roster, he’ll serve as one of the main leaders for the entire defense. Now in his sixth season with the Wildcats, Nwobodo picked up 40 tackles, six tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a blocked kick in 2024.

His partner holding down the middle will be Howard, another starter entering his sixth season who racked up 44 tackles, two tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble last season. Howard, who stands 6-foot-2 and weighs 290 pounds, broke out in 2024 after several seasons as a rotational player.

Rotation is Key

Even with both starting spots accounted for, the other four defensive tackles on the roster will have plenty of work to go around. Rotating in reserves is critical, especially against up-tempo offenses, in order to keep the starters fresh and playing as close to full capacity as possible. 

Junior Mike Kennedy, a 6-foot-1, 300 pound run stopper, will likely serve as the first man off the bench.

Other options include redshirt freshmen Ratu Delano Navoti (6-foot-3, 290 pounds), AJ Koukou (6-foot-1, 285 pounds) and sophomore Ivan Murray (6-foot-3, 275 pounds).

Koukou struggled with injuries last season, limiting his ability to prove himself, while Murray lined up at 3-technique during his high school career, indicating more talent as a pass rusher than the usual space eater inside.