Villanova Univeristy Athletics

When he began his collegiate career, John Heim lined up on defense for Villanova in 1969 and led the team in interceptions. As a result of his speed and physicality he was moved to halfback before his junior year and went on to be a 1,000-yard rusher over two seasons. Heim played on the Wildcats varsity squad from 1969-71 and graduated from Villanova in 1972. He was inducted to the Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 2007.
 
During the 1969 season, Heim recorded three interceptions which he returned for a total of 63 yards. He was a powerful runner and displayed good hands as a receiver in spring drills in 1970, leading to his move to halfback later that year. Over the next two seasons he tallied 1,112 rushing yards and four touchdowns in addition to recording 23 catches for 427 yards and another three scores. He finished his collegiate career with 1,647 all-purpose yards.
 
Villanova went 9-2 under first year head coach Lou Ferry in 1970 and Heim made a quick impression in the backfield. In the season opener against Maryland he rushed 27 times for a career-high 121 yards in a 21-3 victory. He would run for 382 yards and three touchdowns on the season to go along with 130 receiving yards and a score as well as three punt returns for 31 yards.
 
It only got better for Heim as a senior in 1971 when he averaged 6.1 yards per carry as the top Villanova back. He rushed 121 times for 740 yards and a touchdown, caught 20 passes for 297 yards and two scores, and returned a kickoff for 14 yards. In a game at Delaware on October 2, Heim hauled in eight receptions for a career-high 102 yards. Villanova posted notable road wins over Maryland, Xavier and Dayton on the way to a 6-4-1 record.
 
At the time of his graduation, Heim ranked fifth in school history with his career average of 5.10 yards per carry. His 740 rushing yards in 1971 were the fourth-most in the program’s single season record book at the time. Villanova went 21-9-1 (.694) overall during Heim’s career.