Villanova Univeristy Athletics

In the early years of Villanova’s tenure as an FCS program, Paul Berardelli was an All-American offensive lineman and a part of teams that tallied a 24-10-1 (.700) record during his career. A native of Scranton, Pa., he was a member of Andy Talley’s inaugural Wildcats squad in 1985 when the program returned to action at the FCS level following a four-year absence. Berardelli played from 1985-88 and graduated from Villanova in 1989. He was inducted to the Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 2005.
 
Berardelli was the Wildcats first player to earn All-America honors at the FCS level when he was selected to the American Football Coaches’ Association (AFCA) All-America first team as a senior in 1988. He also garnered a spot on the ECAC Second Team Offense that year, which happened to be Villanova’s first as a member of what was then the Yankee Conference.
 
Playing against stronger competition than they had faced the previous three seasons, the Wildcats were a respectable 5-5-1 during the 1988 season and went 4-4 in their first year of conference play while posting league wins over Boston University, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Richmond. Thanks in part to the strong play of the offensive line Villanova had four offensive selections to the Yankee Conference postseason teams and two offensive players, including Berardelli, named ECAC postseason selections.
 
Over the course of Berardelli’s career, the Wildcats averaged 391.8 yards of total offense per game. Villanova’s offensive line gave up just 2.4 sacks per contest spanning the 1985-88 seasons and the offense put up big rushing numbers all four years. In 1986 the Wildcats played nine games and averaged 217.1 rushing yards per contest while scoring 25 rushing touchdowns. The offensive line gave up just 29 tackles for loss for the 1986 season.
 
In Berardelli’s senior year in 1988, running back Jeff Dingle rushed for 868 yards which at the time was the third-most in a single season in school history. Villanova had 16 individual 100+ yard rushing games during Berardelli’s career.
 
Berardelli was presented with the Villanova Coaches’ Helmet Award which is given to the Wildcat player who most exemplifies the Villanova pride, dedication, loyalty and ability both on and off the field. His jersey number, #61, was enshrined on the Wall of Fame in Villanova Stadium in 1999.
 
Following his collegiate career, Berardelli played professionally for the World League’s London Monarchs from 1991-92. He also spent time on the practice squads of both the Philadelphia Eagles (1989) and the Minnesota Vikings (1992). Berardelli became an educator following his playing days and was the principal at Delsea Regional High School in Franklin Township, N.J.