Villanova Football Roster Preview: Blocking Tight Ends, Eaton an X-Factor?

This is one in a series of stories breaking down Villanova Football’s roster ahead of the 2026 season.

Many modern offenses put a premium on the tight end position, throwing blocking to the wind and treating the big-framed hybrid players like glorified wide receivers. Villanova Football, which maintains a run-heavy approach, has yet to follow suit: Antonio Johnson, who transferred during the offseason, led the position group with 231 yards in 2025.

This season, 6-foot-5, 245 pound junior Nolan Clayton, who caught three passes for 33 yards last season, is a solid pick to lead the field. The Wildcats’ roster praises him for his blocking ability and tabs him as an experienced performer. Sophomores Sean Brodnik (6-foot-3, 245 pounds) and Sean Welde (6-foot-6, 260 pounds) are also expected to vie for playing time, and both have the requisite bulk needed to bully opposing defenders.

Perhaps the biggest X-factor on Villanova’s roster is sophomore Brody Eaton, who transferred in from Division I Marist. While he only caught one pass for five yards in his debut season, Eaton was clocked running 20 miles per hour during his time with the Red Foxes. The 6-foot-4, 260 pound target added 20 pounds since then, but the potential for speed at his size gives him a chance to break out as a deep threat or in the red zone in 2026.

Last but not least is freshman Dylan Laganelli. At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, he’d benefit from a developmental season before going toe-to-toe with Division I linemen and linebackers.