Villanova Football Roster Preview: Defensive Tackles Grind in Silence

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

Villanova’s defensive line is the most important part of their 3-3-5 defense. If they aren’t able to stop the run or maintain a consistent pass rush with the big guys up front, the benefits they gain from playing smaller on the back end are going to evaporate as opposing offenses have time to dink and dunk their way down the field. 

As such, the defensive tackle spot is the anchor of the Wildcats’ defense, the selfless group of players who work in the trenches and eat up opposing blockers, creating space for the rest of their teammates. While Villanova’s roster doesn’t specify between defensive tackles and defensive ends, listed heights and weights help clear things up. The shorter, heavier players tend to plug up the middle, leaving the lanky athletes to burst around the edge.

Looking at the Wildcats’ defensive tackle group, they have a solid mix of experience and youth. Incoming freshmen like 6-foot-2 three-star Jackson Kraemer, who bulked up from 260 pounds to 295 this offseason, and Thomas Coates (6-foot-0, 295 pounds), who said he loves to stop the run, could both earn some playing time down the ballot.

Rotating Around

Otherwise, Villanova could turn to junior Ivan Murray (6-foot-3, 275 pounds) and sophomores AJ Koukou (6-foot-1, 285 pounds) and Ratu Delano Navoti (6-foot-3, 290 pounds). Their roster describes Navoti, who made 12 tackles (including 1.5 for a loss) as an expected playmaker this season; Koukou, who added nine tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack across 12 games in 2025, will also earn some rotational snaps, while Murray made 11 tackles over 14 games played last year. 

Those numbers don’t leap off the charts, but that’s not the way of a defensive tackle. If they can win their rep, impeding opposing ball carriers long enough for their teammates to finish the job, they’ve done their job well. Substituting in and out of the game will help the Wildcats keep a fresh stable of players, helping them wear down the other side of the trenches.