VILLANOVA, Pa.—The present and the future of Villanova Football are shining equally brightly this week as the Wildcats prepare for a second round playoff game on Saturday even as head coach Mark Ferrante and the program celebrated the arrival of the early signing period for the Class of 2029 on Wednesday afternoon. Villanova welcomed nine scholastic student-athletes who have chosen to continue their football careers with the Wildcats next season. These nine players form the beginning of the team's recruiting class for 2025 and beyond.
 
Ferrante and the Wildcats coaching staff have continually attracted top talent from around the country, with their recruiting success a key reason that Villanova is making its fourth playoff appearance in the last six seasons and has won two CAA Football titles in the last four years. The group of nine scholastic players who committed to the Wildcats on Wednesday hail from four states, with the coaching staff once again signing top talent from the Eastern seaboard to play close to home.
 
Three in-state players from Pennsylvania and three more from neighboring New Jersey give the signing class a local feel, while Villanova is also bringing in two players from Massachusetts and one from Connecticut. The early signing class is an athletic group featuring several players who starred on both sides of the ball for their respective high schools.
 
Six of the recruits announced on Wednesday are offensive players, including wide receivers D'Hani Cobbs (Camden – NJ) and Braden Reed (Pope John Paul II – PA) who have each been major award winners during their scholastic careers. Cobbs was the All-Purpose Player of the Year and Reed was named the Conference Offensive Player of the Year.
 
Also joining the class on offense is tight end Sean Welde (Camden Catholic – NJ) who has been a first team all-conference selection and a trio of offensive linemen in Thomas Brown (Chelmsford – MA), Matthias Ogrinc (Saint Sebastian's – MA) and Chris Therien (Cherokee – NJ). Brown is a three-time Massachusetts All-State first team honoree, while Ogrinc has not allowed a single sack during his scholastic career and Therien has been both an All-Group 5 selection and a first team all-county performer.
 
Three more signees – one linebacker and two defensive backs – are joining the Wildcats on the defensive side of the ball. The group includes linebacker Michael Gaul (State College – PA), a two-time all-state choice who set his high school's all-time record with 362 career tackles. Villanova also added defensive backs Amari Jackson (Beaver Area – PA) and Brenden Toppin (Suffield Academy – CT) to the fold. Jackson is a dynamic player who has earned six career first team all-conference accolades: two each on defense, offense (wide receiver) and special teams (return specialist). Toppin has been an All-New England defensive back and a two-time All-NEPSAC first team selection.
 
Each of the nine players announced on Wednesday will enroll at Villanova for the Fall 2025 semester. They are choosing to join a football program that is riding a wave of success in recent years, including the 2024 edition of the Wildcats which is currently 10-3 on the year and headed to San Antonio, Texas this week to take on University of the Incarnate Word in a second round FCS playoff game.
 
Below, in alphabetical order, are profiles of each of the nine early signees to the Villanova Class of 2029.
  
VILLANOVA FOOTBALL EARLY SIGNEES
 
Thomas Brown (OL, 6-3, 280)
Chelmsford HS (Mass.)
 

 
D'Hani Cobbs (WR, 5-9, 180)
Camden HS (N.J.)
 

 
Michael Gaul (LB, 6-1, 220)
State College HS (Pa.)
 

 
Amari Jackson (DB, 6-0, 170)
Beaver Area HS (Pa.)
 

 
Matthias Ogrinc (OL, 6-4, 275)
Saint Sebastian's HS (Mass.)
 

 
Braden Reed (WR, 5-9, 175)
Pope John Paul II HS (Pa.)
 

 
Chris Therien (OL, 6-5, 260)
Cherokee HS (N.J.)
 

 
Brenden Toppin (DB, 5-11, 190)
Suffield Academy (Conn.)
 

 
Sean Welde (TE, 6-5, 230)