Feb. 7, 2002
VILLANOVA, PA. - On Wednesday, Feb. 6, Villanova University head football coach Andy Talley announced the signing of 14 players to national letters of intent.
The Wildcats' 2002 class includes seven offensive players and seven defensive players. The state-by-state breakdown of the Wildcat newcomers shows three players hailing from Pennsylvania, three from New Jersey, three from California, two from Maryland, two from Florida and one from Ohio.
On the offensive side of the football, Talley brought in five skills players and two linemen to the Main Line. Joining the fold at quarterback is Marvin Burroughs (Atlantic City, N.J./ Atlantic City HS). The Wildcats also added two running backs in Martin Gibson (District Heights, Md./ Central HS) and Aaron Jones (Wilkinsburg, Pa./ Wilkinsburg HS), and two wide receiver in J.J. Outlaw (Columbia, Md./ Mount St. Joseph HS), and Chris Polite (Miami, Fla./ Miami Country Day). Two offensive line signings for Villanova include John Finneran (Coto deCaza, Calif./ Santa Margarita Catholic HS) and Timothy Mccutcheon (Sewickley, Pa./ Quaker Valley HS).
On defense, the Wildcats added two defensive linemen in Jim Dubenetzky (Poway, Calif./ St. Augustine HS) and Christian Gaddis (North Miami Beach, Fla./ Miami Country Day), one defensive end in Michael Castellano (Freehold, N.J./ Freehold Township HS), three linebackers in Bryan Adams (Pleasantville, N.J./ St. Joseph HS), Kasey O'Brien (Thousand Lakes, Calif./ Westlake HS) and John Angelo (Leetonia, Ohio/ Ursuline), along with one safety in Andre Pogue (Bethlehem, Pa./ Liberty HS).
Talley also brought in one transfer in 2002, as Kingsley Echema (Los Angeles, Calif./ Hawthorne HS) joins the Villanova team after transferring from Cal State Northridge. Echema started all 11 games at cornerback last season for Cal State Northridge, which dropped its program following the 2001 season.
Name Ht. Wt. Pos. High School/ HometownBryan Adams 6-0 220 LB Saint Joseph H.S./ Pleasantville, N.J.John Angelo 6-1 230 LB Leetonia, Ohio/ UrsulineMarvin Burroughs 6-1 180 QB Atlantic City H.S./ Atlantic City, N.J.Michael Castellano 6-2 235 DE Freehold Township H.S./ Freehold, N.J.Jim Dubenetzky 6-4 235 DL St. Augustine H.S./ Poway, Calif.John Finneran 6-6 280 OL Santa Margarita Catholic/ Coto de Casa, Calif.Christian Gaddis 6-2 200 DL North Miami Beach, Fla./ Miami Country DayMartin Gibson 5-10 186 RB Wyoming Seminary H.S./ District Heights, Md.Aaron Jones 5-11 185 RB Wilkinsburg H.S./ Wilkinsburg, Pa.Timothy McCutcheon 6-5 260 OL Quaker Valley H.S./ Sewickley, Pa.Kasey O'Brien 6-1 205 LB Westlake H.S./ Thousand Oaks, Calif.J.J. Outlaw 5-9 182 WR Mount Saint Joseph H.S./ Columbia, Md.Andre Pogue 6-0 198 Safety Wyoming Seminary/ Bethlehem, Pa.Chris Polite 6-1 180 WR Miami, Fla./ Miami Country Day
2002 Villanova Incoming Football PlayerAccolades
John AngeloLeetonia, OhioUrsuline HS6'1", 230, LBFootball:2000 All-Steel Valley Conference2000 Division IV State Champs2001 All-Steel Valley Conference2001 All-Northeastern OhioBaseball:2000 Division III State Champs2001 Division III State Runner-UpAll-Steel Valley Conference Pitcher2001 Youngstown Vindicator Spring Sport All-Star
Bryan AdamsPleasantville, NJSaint Joseph HS6'0", 220, LBTeam Captain1st Team South Jersey All-Parochial1st Team All-ConferenceRanked 62nd Linebacker Prospect in USA by Rivals.com
Marvin BurroughsAtlantic City, NJAtlantic City HS6'1", 187, QBTeam Captain2 Time All-Shore2 Time All-League2 Time All-Group IVTop 100 in NJ
Jim DubenetzkyPoway, CASt. Augustine HS6'4", 235, DL2 Year Varsity StarterTeam Captain1st Team All-Eastern LeagueDefensive Player of 2001Basketball: 2 Year Varsity LettermanUnion Tribune All-Academic TeamSan Diego Classic All-Tournament TeamState Semi-Finalist
John FinneranCoto de Caza, CASanta Margarita Catholic6'6", 280, OL3 Year Starter2000-All Serra League, Hon.Mention, Offensive Guard2001-All Serra League, 1st Team, Offensive TackleGridiron Greats-Team EliteSuperPrep Magazine-All Regional TeamStarter in 2nd Annual Los Angeles vs Orange Cnty All-Star Game
Chrisian GaddisNorth Miami Beach, Fla.Miami Country Day6'2", 260, DL
Martin GibsonDistrict Heights, MDWyoming Seminary (Central HS)5'10", 186, RB2 year CaptainSenior Year MVPWyoming Seminary - Offensive MVPBroke 3 records: most yards in a game,most yards in season, most touchdowns in game
Aaron JonesWilkinsburg, PAWilkinsburg HS5'11", 185, RB1000 Yds Rusher Junior Year1st Team All-ConferenceWho's Who of High School SportsGridiron GreatPreseason Fab 221st Team Academic All-ConferencePicked to Play in the Down Under Bowl
Timothy MccutcheonSewickley, PAQuaker Valley HS6'5", 260, OL1st Team WPIAL AATop 25 WPOAL AATop 22 WPIAL and City League ProspectTeam Awards:5 Time Offensive Player of the WeekShulick Awarded - LeadershipMcNamara Award - Best Off., Def. LinemanCoaches Award
Kasey O'BrienThousand Oaks, CAWestlake HS6'1", 205, LB3 Year Varsity StarterTeam Captain1st Team All-League2001 Defensive Player of the YearJunior Year: All-League Defensive BackOutstanding Junior Achievement AwardSenior Year: All-Marmonte League-1st Team Def. BackAll-Ventura County-1st Team Def. Back
J.J. OutlawColumbia, MDMount Saint Joseph HS5'9", 182, WR1st Team All-Baltimore City/County1st Team All-State1st Team All-MetroBroke 4 State Receiving Records
Andre PogueBethlehem, PAWyoming Seminary (Liberty HS)6'0", 198, SafetyRookie of the YearJunior Year-Honorable Mention Defensive BackSenior Year: 2nd Team Defensive Back All-Conference1st Team Defensive BackAfrican American Athlete of the YearExpress Times - 2nd Team Defensive Back
Chris PoliteMiami, Fla.Miami Country Day6'1", 180, WR
