VILLANOVA, Pa.--On the first day of the early signing period, Villanova head coach Andy Talley announced his 2016 recruiting class with the signing of 17 scholastic athletes to National Letters of Intent. All 17 players are expected to enroll at Villanova for the 2016 fall semester and be a part of the Wildcats 2016 squad. The signing class features 11 offensive players and six defensive players.

This year's signing class shows the national reach of the football program's recruiting efforts. The group of 17 signees include players from eight different states, with four scholastic standouts from Pennsylvania choosing to remain in-state by committing to the Wildcats. The rest of the signing class includes three players from New Jersey, two each from Maryland, Massachusetts, New York and Virginia, as well as one player from both Indiana and Tennessee.

"We are very excited about the 17 young men who have committed to becoming a part of the Villanova Football Family," Talley said. "We have addressed our needs at every position with this signing class and I am eager to have these 17 players on campus with us next fall. The overall quality of this group is on par with our previous recruiting classes, as we are adding a great deal of talent to the program. It was a boost to our recruiting efforts this year that construction on the West End Zone project in the stadium continues in full swing."

In choosing to come to Villanova, the group of 17 signees will join a program that has experienced a great deal of recent success. Over the last eight seasons (2008-15), the Wildcats have tallied an overall record of 66-35 (.653) and have made five playoff appearances during that stretch. The program's postseason success over the last eight seasons includes winning the 2009 national championship and advancing to at least the quarterfinal round of the FCS playoffs on two other occasions. Villanova has also had a total of 87 All-CAA Football selections and nine major conference award winners since 2008.

Below are capsules of each of the Villanova Football signees.

NANAKOFI APPIAH
Offensive Line
6-7 / 255
Bowie, Md.
Video Highlights

CH Flowers High School
Head Coach: Cato June

• Team Captain
• All-Conference
• All-Prince George's County
• County and Region Discus Champion
• National Society of High School Scholars

NOWOOLA AWOPETU
Defensive Back
5-11 / 185
Staten Island, N.Y.
Video Highlights

Port Richmond High School
Head Coach: Louis Vesce

• All-City
• All-Conference
• Staten Island 200 and 300 meters champion
• Fred Fugazzi All-Star Game Defensive MVP
• 2015 Statistics: 11 receiving TD; five interceptions, one INT return TD

JUSTIN COVINGTON
Running Back
5-11 / 205
Bronx, N.Y.
Video Highlights

Cardinal Hayes High School
Head Coach: CJ O'Neil

• Bronx Player of the Year
• First team All-State
• First team All-City
• First team All-League
• Empire Challenge NYC All-Star
• 2015 Statistics: 165 carries, 1,612 yards, 24 TDs

MJ DUMAS
Offensive Line
6-5 / 319
Indianapolis, Ind.
Video Highlights

Lawrence North High School
Head Coach: Pat Mallory

• All-State
• All-MIC
• All-County

PETER FALLON
Offensive Line
6-3 / 285
Milford, Mass.
Video Highlights

Millis High School
Head Coach: Dana Olson

• Team Captain
• Two-time Tri-Valley League Lineman of the Year
• Super 26 All-State Team
• Two-time Tri-Valley League All-Star
• Metro West All-Star
• Boston Herald All-Scholastic
• Led an offense that accounted for 2,908 rushing yards in 2015

PAUL GRATTAN
Offensive Line
6-3 / 295
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Video Highlights

Mt. Lebanon High School
Head Coach: Mike Melnyk

• AAAA All-State
• PA Preps Golden 33 Team
• Pittsburgh Tribune Review Terrific 25
• First team All-Conference
• Three-year letterwinner; 24 career starts

CHANGA HODGE
Wide Receiver
6-1 / 178
East Stroudsburg, Pa.
Video Highlights

East Stroudsburg South
Head Coach: Ed Christian

• All-Conference
• All-League
• Second team All-Area
• 2015 Statistics: 31 receptions for 868 yards (28.0 yards per catch) and 12 TDs
• 2015 Statistics: Two kickoff return touchdowns

KEELING HUNTER
Linebacker
Franklin, Tenn.
Video Highlights

Franklin Road Academy (Tenn.) / Peddie School (N.J.)
Head Coach: Bill Whittemore (Franklin Road) / Chris Malleo (Peddie)

At Franklin Road Academy:

• Two-time first team All-State linebacker (2013, 2014)
• Two-time District Defensive Player of the Year (2013, 2014)
• Thee-year starter
• Team captain
• All-State in baseball

At Peddie School:

• Team captain
• First team All-Mid Atlantic Prep League (MAPL)

ZAC KERXTON
Wide Receiver
6-0 / 180
Haymarket, Va.
Video Highlights

Battlefield High School
Head Coach: Jared Van Acker

• VHSL State Record for receiving touchdowns in a season (25)
• Averaged 24 yards per reception
• First team All-State (2014)
• Second team All-State wide receiver and punt returner (2015)
• First team All-Region
• Second team All-Met
• First team All-Conference as a WR, KR, PR and punter

PATRICK LAWLER
Offensive Line
6-7 / 270
Milton, Mass.
Video Highlights

Thayer Academy
Head Coach: Jeff Toussaint

• Super 26 All-State Team
• Two-time first team All-ISL
• Two-time first team All-New England
• Two-time Mass Preps first team All-State
• Ranked No. 8 prospect in the state
• Named first team All-Massachusetts by USA Today

JOSH MCGRIGG
Wide Receiver
5-10 / 175
Alexandria, Va.
Video Highlights

Mt. Vernon High School
Head Coach: Barry Wells

• First team All-District wide receiver and kick returner
• First team All-Region kick returner
• Second team All-State kick returner
• District champion in the 55m, 100m and 200m; fifth in the state in the 55m
• 2015 Statistics: 936 all-purpose yards
• 2015 Statistics: 43 catches, 574 yards, six TD; 13 carries, 133 yards, 10.2 yards per carry

JACK SCHETELICH
Quarterback
6-2 / 185
Cranford, N.J.
Video Highlights

Cranford High School
Head Coach: Erik Rosenmeier

• Second team All-State
• Mid-State 38 Player of the Year
• Union County Offensive Player of the Year
• 2015 State Champs - Career: 23-1 record as a starter
• 2015 Statistics: Passing - 102-162 (62.9%), 2,020 yards, 24 TDs, 3 INTs
• 2015 Statistics: Rushing - 166 carries, 1,122 yards, 22 TDs

AARON SEIGLE
Defensive Line
6-3 / 280
Harrisburg, Pa.
Video Highlights

Susquehanna Township High School
Head Coach: Joe Headen

• First team All-State: PA Football Writers
• Second team All-State: PA Football News
• First team All-Eastern PA
• Varsity starter for three years on both offense and defense
• First Team Mid-Penn Conference - Keystone Division

KOREY STEVENS
Defensive Back
5-11 / 175
Columbia, Md.
Video Highlights

Gilman School
Head Coach: Biff Poggi

• First team All-State
• First team All-Conference
• First team All-Metro
• 2015 Statistics: 31 tackles, three INTs
• 2015 Statistics: 550 receiving yards, seven TDs
• Helped lead Gilman to a No. 17 national ranking in the final USA Today poll

TODD SUMMERS
Tight End
6-6 / 220
Murrysville, Pa.
Video Highlights

Franklin Regional High School
Head Coach: Greg Botta

• Two-time first team All-Conference
• Pittsburgh Tribune Review Fabulous 22
• Big 33 Nominee
• Team Captain (Football and Basketball)
• Four-year starter on basketball team
• Selected for PA-MD Basketball All-Star Game

TERRELL VASSEL
Defensive Back
6-1 / 190
East Orange, N.J.
Video Highlights

DePaul Catholic High School
Head Coach: John McKenna

• Four-year starter - 46 consecutive starts
• Three-time state champion (2013, 2014, 2015)
• Second team All-State
• Second team All-USA New Jersey
• First team All-Big North
• First team All-County
• All-North Jersey Defense

JEFF WILEY
Defensive Line
6-4 / 245
Pennington, N.J.
Video Highlights

Hopewell Valley High School
Head Coach: David Caldwell

• Star Ledger First team All-State
• NJFCA Super 100 State Team
• Two-time first team All-Division
• Two-time first team All-Conference
• 2013 CJ Group 3 Champion
• Team was 25-6 in his three varsity seasons - best in school history