Villanova Football Roster Preview: Braden Reed Set for Breakout Season?

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

Villanova Football lost their top two receivers last season to graduation, taking more than 1,600 yards and 12 touchdowns with them. The Wildcats did, however, manage to retain an All-American candidate in Braden Reed, a 5-foot-9, 180 pound sophomore who hauled in 34 passes for 518 yards in his debut season, making his mark as a savvy route runner and punt returner. He also threw a touchdown pass in Villanova’s FCS quarterfinal win over Tarleton State, a testament to the trust he earned from the early moments of his career.

Talented youth is a recurring theme for the Wildcats, as fellow sophomore Brandon Binkowski (6-foot-3, 205 pounds), made it on SportsCenter’s Top 10 list for his toe-dragging catch in the final seconds against Penn State. Binkowski finished 2025 with 11 catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns and is expected to battle for playing time this season, but his big play potential makes him a name to circle.

Another breakout candidate is 6-foot-5, 205 pound junior Jake Hilton, who won a Division III national championship last season and caught 34 passes for 709 yards and seven scores. He’ll face a talent jump, but his combination of size and speed should smooth that transition. Other leading candidates for Villanova’s stable of receivers include senior Kenyon Miles (6-foot-2, 195 pounds, who missed all but one game due to injury last season but snagged 12 passes for 116 yards and a touchdown in 2024.

Junior Chris Colby (6-foot-3, 205 pounds) caught 20 passes for 357 yards and a touchdown last year, while the Wildcats’ roster praises sophomore Ralee Stephens (5-foot-9, 165 pounds) for his ability to make plays after the catch. 

Rounding Out the Roster

Depth pieces include seniors Ryan Kennedy (6-foot-1, 195 pounds) and Ryan Sorge (6-foot-3, 205 pounds), the latter of whom missed all of 2025 to injury. Fellow senior Jullian Williams (5-foot-9, 195 pounds) walked on this offseason.

Villanova also has a quartet of freshman receivers, including Jasiah Brown (5-foot-10, 170 pounds) and Hattan French (6-foot-0, 190 pounds). Andrew Esposito (6-foot-3, 185 pounds) won Connecticut Player of the Year honors as a junior after a 1,280 yard, 21 touchdown season and was clocked running a 4.55 40-yard dash that same year. Preferred walk-on Greeley McAden (5-foot-10, 180 pounds) brings a unique skillset to the table, as he had to take over as both wildcat quarterback and traditional signal caller as a result of team injuries during his senior year, getting a look from the other side at what he needs to do to succeed as a receiver.