The Villanova Wildcats return 32 letterwinners and 14 starters from last year's team that went 11-3 overall, 7-1 in CAA play and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the NCAA playoffs. The Wildcats look to have all the pieces necessary to challenge for the 2015 CAA championship and earn a bid to the NCAA playoffs for the sixth time in the last eight years.

QUARTERBACK:
Villanova has the rare luxury of having the reigning Walter Payton Award winner return for another season. Senior quarterback John Robertson had a dream season in 2014 when he completed 197-of-301 passes (65.4%) with 35 touchdowns and three interceptions to go with 227 carries for a team-high 1,078 yards and 11 scores. Robertson joins Brian Westbrook (1997-2001) as the only two Villanova players to have three career 1,000 yard rushing seasons. In seven of his 13 games last year, Robertson threw at least three touchdown passes. Robertson has led Villanova to a 25-10 record as the starting quarterback by completing 518-of-801 (64.6%) career passes with 62 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, to go along with 634 carries for 3,505 yards (5.5 avg.) and 45 touchdowns. In a second round playoff win over Liberty last year, he became Villanova's all-time total offense leader with 10,273 yards. Entering play in 2015, Robertson ranks second in school history in career rushing yards (3,505), total touchdowns (45), rushing touchdowns (45), scoring (272 points) and career 100-yard rushing games (15) and he is fourth in both career passing yards (6,768) and passing touchdowns (62).

Robertson is expected to be backed-up by redshirt freshman Zach Bednarczyk who looks to have all the tools to be a high level CAA quarterback. As a senior at DePaul Catholic High School in 2013, Bednarczyk led his team to the state championship by throwing for 1,667 yards and 18 touchdowns and rushing for 514 yards and five scores.

"We have the Walter Payton Award winner back for his senior season which is something that is very rare," said head coach Andy Talley. "John is a dynamic player who can beat you in so many different ways. He is a terrific runner who has made himself into an elite passer. I am also happy with the development of Zack Bednarczyk at the quarterback position. Zack continues to show good improvement and he will be a good back-up to John."

RUNNING BACK:
The go-to player in the Wildcat backfield this year will be senior Gary Underwood. After sharing time with Kevin Monangai and Austin Medley the last two seasons, Underwood is expected to be the team's featured back. The versatile Underwood was limited to eight games last year due to injury and tallied 46 carries for 343 yards (7.5 avg.) and four touchdowns to go with 11 receptions for 175 yards and three scores. He also had 14 kickoff returns for 358 yards (25.6 avg.). For his efforts last season, Underwood earned third team All-CAA honors.

Two other Wildcats expected to see time at running back are junior Javon White and sophomore Matt Gudzak. After redshirting last year, White looks poised to be a major contributor to the Villanova offense. White will provide game breaking speed to the offense and may also see time as a kick returner. Gudzak showed flashes of excellence last season as a true freshman. In a reserve role, he carried 31 times for 174 yards (5.6 avg.) and one touchdown. He also took over as the main kickoff returner after Underwood was injured and had 14 returns for 235 yards.

"Gary Underwood will be our main threat at running back. He is an outstanding all-around player who is a perfect fit for our offense," said Talley. "The key at running back is for Javon White and Matt Gudzak to mature quickly. Javon redshirted last year and Matt is just a sophomore. Both of these guys have the talent to be playmakers for us."

WIDE RECEIVER:
Villanova looks to have great depth at the wide receiver spot. The go-to player with this group appears to be senior Kevin Gulyas. As a junior last season, Gulyas emerged as a big play threat for the Wildcats. He tallied 27 catches last year for 677 yards for an average of 25.1 yards per catch to go with a team-high tying nine touchdowns. Gulyas made two game-winning touchdown catches in the final minute to beat both William & Mary and Delaware.

The Wildcats will look to seniors Mike Burke and Anthony DeCamillo, along with sophomore Lincoln Collins and redshirt freshman Alex Padovani to make an impact at wideout. Burke, who is an outstanding blocker with great hands, will likely miss the beginning of the season due to a knee injury. DeCamillo is a possession type receiver who has shown great improvement throughout his Wildcat career. Collins has the potential to be a high level receiver. In a limited role a season ago, he registered 14 catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns. Padovani redshirted last year and looks to have a good understanding of the offensive scheme entering play this season. Senior Jacob Gribb, who is a force in the run game from a blocking standpoint, could also see time in the wideout rotation.

The slot receiver spot looks to be in good hands with senior Aaron Wells and sophomore Taurus Phillips. Wells is a veteran player with shifty moves. He tallied 16 receptions for 127 yards in 2014. Phillips is a player with a wealth of potential who missed the majority of last season with an injury.

"Kevin Gulyas will be the go-to receiver. Kevin had a good year for us last season with some really big plays," said Talley. "We need the rest of the wideout group to grow up quickly. With senior Mike Burke coming off a knee injury we will be playing a lot of inexperienced receivers on the outside. I think our slot receivers have the chance to be consistent play makers."

TIGHT END:
The Wildcats will need to replace Earnest Pettway at the tight end position. Pettway, who signed a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, had 14 catches for 190 yards and four touchdowns last year. Villanova will look to senior Doug Turrell and junior Ryan Morris to handle the tight end spot.

Turrell moved from offensive tackle to tight end last season and became a contributor to the Wildcat offense. In addition to being a solid blocker in the run game, Turrell has the ability to contribute in the passing game. Last year, he was credited with five catches for 58 yards and a touchdown. Morris is a transfer from Purdue who spent his first season as a Wildcat in a reserve role. Now that he is fully comfortable with the Wildcat offensive scheme look for Morris to see increased playing time this season. "We have a nice combination at tight end with Ryan Morris and Doug Turrell," said Talley. "Ryan looks a lot more comfortable with the offense after learning it last year following his transfer from Purdue. He has good hands and should be ready to make plays in the passing game. Doug is a very good blocker who can also be effective as a receiver." OFFENSIVE LINE: Villanova will have to replace two All-Conference performers along the offensive line. Tackle Vince Kowalski, who started every game of his Wildcat career, was a first team All-CAA honoree last year, while center Ross Hall earned second team All-CAA accolades in 2014. Kowalski went on to sign a free agent contract with the Green Bay Packers.

To replace Hall at center, senior Kyle Wallace is moving over from guard. The veteran Wallace is a smart player who has a good grasp of the Wildcat offense. Wallace looked very comfortable at the center position throughout spring practice and should solidify this spot for the team.

The Wildcats will have experience at the tackle positions. Junior Brad Seaton returns for his second year as a starter, while junior Jake Prus is moving to right tackle after starting all 14 games a season ago at guard. Seaton looks poised to become one of the top tackles in the CAA, while Prus is a talented performer who will be one of the team's top lineman.

Junior Nico D'Angelo and junior Jonathan Green appear to be the starters at guard entering the season. D'Angelo was slowed by an injury at the beginning of last year, but worked his way back into playing action to appear in six games. He looks to be in great shape entering this year and should be a mainstay at guard. After seeing limited playing time throughout his first two years, Green has shown great improvement and looks ready to hold down a starting spot. Green is a versatile lineman who can also play center.

The depth along the line will come from sophomore Matt Donoghue and redshirt freshmen Chris Buchalski and Brandon Hitner. Donoghue enters the season as the back-up to Wallace at center, while Hitner will be the next tackle in and Buchalski will be the first reserved at guard.

"Kyle Wallace, Brad Seaton and Jake Prus will anchor the line. All three have been through the CAA battles and know what it takes to play at this level," said Talley. "Nico D'Angelo and Bubba Green had a good spring and they looked primed to be solid contributors. I am confident we will have a cohesive starting five with one or two back-ups that will help give us depth."