In a few months, Andy Talley will no longer be a college football coach.
Naturally, the Villanova players hope to make his 32nd year in charge a special one (see story). But will the Wildcats be able to return to the FCS playoffs after missing out on it last season? Which players will need to make an impact for Villanova to navigate through the loaded Colonial Athletic Association?
Leading into their brutally tough opener against Pittsburgh on Saturday, here’s a quick breakdown of the Wildcats and what can we expect for their 2016 season:
Offense
After getting thrown into the fire because of an early injury to John Robertson last year, Zach Bednarczyk will return to run the show at quarterback as a more seasoned player (see story). Talley is hoping the athletic QB can run for about 500 yards and pass for 2,000 in his second full season but is admittedly apprehensive about a young receiver corps.
That said, Talley believes speedy sophomore Jarrett McClenton can be “one of the better receivers in the CAA,” while also returning some kicks for the 'Cats.
And if a revamped offensive line led by tri-captain Nico D’Angelo can improve on a tough 2015 campaign, talented senior running back Javon White can be another big playmaker for the Wildcats after missing the second half of last season with a broken leg.
All said, Talley believes the Wildcats can score “in the high 20s” on average after averaging only 20 points per game last season.
Defense
Led by defensive end Tanoh Kpassagnon and linebacker Austin Calitro, the Wildcats return seven starters from a unit that allowed only 18.4 points per game last season.
As a junior last year, Kpassagnon led the team with 6½ sacks and finished with 33 tackles, 9½ tackles for loss, two blocked kicks, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. And Calitro led the way with 90 tackles — two ahead of Don Cherry, his good friend who graduated but not before teaching him “how to be a leader.”
Villanova’s secondary should also be good once again with several key players returning, including all-conference cornerbacks Jason Ceneus and Malik Reaves, from a unit that gave up just 171.4 passing yards per game — the second-best average in the CAA.
Coaching
Talley truly has done it all as he enters his 32nd and final season, which includes winning a national championship in 2009 and guiding the Wildcats into the playoffs in five of the last eight years.
He’s tried to downplay the emotions that come with coaching his final season, mostly because he’ll remain at Villanova next year in a role with the athletic department. The biggest thing for him is successfully passing the torch to longtime assistant Mark Ferrante, who will take the reins as soon as the season ends.
But there’s no denying that the players want to make Talley’s final year a special one — and that going through each game on the schedule for the last time will add a season-long storyline the team won’t be able to escape.
Player to watch
Definitely keep an eye on Kpassagnon. He’s a monster at nearly 300 pounds but, as a former basketball player and hurdler, he’s also limber enough to make offensive linemen miss.
While it remains to be seen if he can make it at the next level, he’s certainly a legitimate draft prospect who Talley said just about every NFL team has come out to see.
Game to watch
While all the conference games will be big, you can circle the calendar now for Nov. 12 when the Wildcats welcome James Madison to Villanova Stadium for the penultimate game of the regular season.
Both teams figure to be fighting for a CAA title and FCS playoff berth at that point. And the Wildcats will also be looking for a measure of revenge after JMU knocked them out of playoff contention in the final game of the 2015 season.
Prediction
Villanova’s defense looks like it can be among the best in FCS, which should be enough to ensure a return trip to the playoffs for the Wildcats. But if any of the team’s offensive playmakers deal with injuries, Villanova could be looking at a short stay once it gets there.
On paper, this looks like a team that could possibly be in the mix for both a league and national title while falling a little short in both of those quests.
But who knows — maybe Talley’s got a little bit more magic left before putting away his headset and clipboard.