Villanova Univeristy Athletics

A member of the Wildcats offensive line in the early 1950’s, Joseph DeRose was a first team All-America selection by Colliers All-America Specialists his junior year. DeRose was known for being an exceptional blocker and student of the game who was considered to be among the top centers in program history during his career. He played for the Villanova varsity squad from 1950-52 and graduated in 1953. DeRose was inducted to the Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1987.
 
The offensive line helped the Wildcats be a dominant force running the ball throughout DeRose’s career. Villanova averaged more than 175 rushing yards per game in each of his three varsity seasons, including his senior year when the team averaged 232.3 yards on the ground per contest. That season Gene Filipski rushed for 889 yards and seven touchdowns. His total yards set a single season school record and the mark would stand for 25 years until being broken. Villanova averaged 24.3 points per game and had a plus-11.6 scoring margin for the 1952 season.
 
DeRose was in his first season as a varsity player in 1950 when the Wildcats averaged 185.8 rushing yards per contest and Pete D’Alonzo produced the first 200-yard rushing game in school history. The next season Villanova ran for 176.9 yards per contest and DeRose was named to the Colliers All-East eleven as well as to several all-opponent squads.
 
Villanova was 16-9-1 (.635) during DeRose’s career which culminated in a 7-1-1 campaign in 1952. That season the Wildcats opened the year with consecutive road wins over Kentucky, Clemson and Detroit to go along with a later 20-0 shutout of Wake Forest at Franklin Field and consecutive road wins over Boston College and Xavier.