Feb. 3, 2005

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Head football coach Andy Talley announced the signing of 17 recruits to national letters of intent today. All of the incoming players will enroll at Villanova and join the team for the 2005 season. Talley's most recent recruiting class features seven players that were named to All-State squads and five who hail from Pennsylvania.

In addition to the five players from Pennsylvania, Talley also recruited players from California, Georgia, New Jersey, New York and Ohio.

Villanova compiled a 6-5 record in 2004, including a 3-5 mark in the Atlantic 10. The Wildcats will return 14 starters for the 2005 season.

Johnnie Davis (San Diego, Calif./Serra HS) - 5-9, 165, DB

Team Captain; First Team All-Western League

Mason Frakes (Trabuco Canyon, Calif./Santa Margarita HS) -
6-1, 230, LS

Team MVP; Team Captain; First Team All-League

Brandyn Harvey (Spring Valley, Calif./Monte Vista HS) - 6-3, 175, WR

First Team All-Grossmont League; Offensive MVP; First Team All-East County

Michael Holland (Margate, N.J./Holy Spirit HS) - 6-0, 220, LB

2004: Team Captain, First Team All-Cape Atlantic League; First Team All-Area (A.C. Press); South Jersey All-Parochial Team; 2002: Silver Medalist at National High School Championships

Trey Jayroe (Norcross, Ga./Norcross HS) - 6-2, 225, DL

Team Captain (2004); Team Defensive MVP; All-Gwinnett County Honorable Mention

Damian Kelley (Wyoming, Ohio/Wyoming HS) - 6-5, 215, DE

Team MVP; Second Team All-Cincinnati Hills League; All-City; Honorable Mention All-State; All-Southwest Ohio; All-Valley Defense

Joseph Marcoux (Campbell Hall, N.Y./Don Bosco Prep) - 6-4, 185, K

All-State selection (2004); Two-time All-County and First Team All-League; Two-time All-North Jersey

Philip Matusz (Greenville, Pa./Greenville HS) - 6-3, 270, OL

2004: First Team All-League, Second Team All-State

Greg Miller (Willow Grove, Pa./Abington HS) - 6-3, 240, DE

2004: First Team All-League; First Team All-Area; Player of the Year (Ambler Gazette) 2003: First Team All-League; Second Team All-League (TE); Second Team All-Southeastern Pennsylvania

Justin Murrell (Bradenton, Fla./Manatee HS) - 5-10, 190, DB

Second Team All-County; Second Team All-State; Team Captain; Three-time Player of the Week selection; Captain of the track team

Osayi Osunde (Bloomsburg, Pa./Central Columbia HS) - 6-2, 215, DE

All-State Second Team (Defensive Specialist); CSC All-Star Team (First Team DE; Second Team FB); First Team All-Anthracite; North/South All-Star Game nominee; Multiple winner of Bob Rohm Award (Athlete of the Week); Team MVP; WNEP Super 16 Dream Team; Member of the track team; All-State Javelin (2003 and 2004); First place at state meet in 2003 and second place in 2004; Fifth place in shot put in 2004; District Champion in shot put (2004) and javelin (2003, 2004)

Steven Pimm (Lutz, Fla./Chamberlain HS) - 6-4, 230, TE

First Team All-County, First Team All-Conference

Luca Ragone (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo HS) - 5-11, 220, FB

Team Captain, Two-time All-League and All-County; Participant in North/South All-Star Game; Rushed for 3300 yards in 2 ½ years

Michael Sheridan (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius HS) - 6-3, 275, OL

First Team Division I All-State, All-District and All-Northeast Ohio; Two-year starter; First Team Division I All-County; Most Valuable Offensive Lineman (2004); Team Co-Captain

Shawn Smith (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson HS) - 5-9, 180, WR

Associated Press All-State First Team wide receiver (2004); First Team wide receiver, cornerback and kick returns (Berks County and Lancaster-Lebanon); Lancaster-Lebanon Defensive Back of the Year; Berks County Receiver of the Year and Football Player of the Year; Member of the track team; All-State in the 200 meters and long jump in 2004; All-State in 4x100 meter relay in 2003; Berks County Male Track Athlete of the Year (2004)

Antwon Young (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla./Plantation HS) - 6-4, 185, QB

Second Team All-County; Two-time Tiger Woods Foundation Award; Led county in yards and touchdowns (over 1500 yards, 23 TD); Kids of Character Award; Midseason Player of the Year

Darrel Young (Amityville, N.Y./Amityville HS) - 5-11, 225, LB

Two-time Team MVP; Three-year captain, All-County and All-League player; Two-time First Team All-Long Island; All-State honoree (2004); Collatta Award (2003) for top linebacker in county; All-County track runner; Team MVP (Basketball and Track)