The Villanova Wildcats may be very well be on the way to a very memorable season as they ran their record to 4-0 with a thorough 56-7 pasting of winless Northeastern University. Villanova simply has too much of everything when compared to their struggling CAA foes from Boston. All the big league talent seemingly belonged to VU in this one, especially after Northeastern's fine junior safety Nate Thellan went out with an apparent arm injury (the guy can't seem to stay healthy.) But, quite possibly the best NFL prospect in the game, Sr. QB Antwon Young, isn't even starting-- though he may wind up being the reason VU goes deep in the FCS playoffs later this year. This one was over very early, as it was 28-0 Villanova before the first quarter ended.

Unfortunately for NU, after they finally scored early in the second half to make it 28-7, Villanova's starting QB scored on a long run during which he was tackled and his elbow was clearly down at the 25. There is no instant replay in the FCS so the play where Whitney sold that he hadn't been down, popped back up, and ran 25 yards with no one chasing him (as NU's defense had let up despite the fact the whistles never blew) took the wind totally out of NU's sails and the romp was on.

SCOUTING SUMMARY:

College: Northeastern Conference: Colonial Athletic Columnist: Steve Martin

Game Notes
Phil Higgins 46 5' 11.0" 211 4.80 LB 2010: Didn't play like a PP in this one and is undersized to begin with. Out of position and guessing wrong. Had a dumb 15-yard personal foul to boot. GRADE: Negative

Tony Lott 8 6' 2.2" 223 4.58 WR 2010: Team captain, but didn't play like it in this one. Seemed to give poor effort once the game was out of reach, and once a true freshman (#87, Jordan Batts) made a couple of big plays. Possession receiver who is OK at this level, but I see limited pro potential in any fact of his play. GRADE: Slightly negative

Rashad Jordan 24 5' 11.2" 194 4.55 CB 2010: DNP

Kevin Newhall 65 6' 3.3" 289 5.25 OT 2010: Gritty ROG who plays pretty hard but lacks athleticism. Aware. Slides to the second threat very smoothly in pass pro, and appears to be a smart football player and decent technician. Pulls OK, but not very nimble. Misses on the second level sometimes. Crawl cuts nicely away from the LOS. Has some tools and some "want to." Enough size to warrant a cheap camp invitation. GRADE: Somewhat positive

Matt Allain 78 6' 3.5" 325 5.50 C 2010: Out with a torn labrum, but the rumor is he may be the best C prospect in the CAA. Really disappointed for him.


College: Villanova Conference: Colonial Athletic Columnist: Steve Martin

Game Notes
Tim Kukucka 56 6' 2.7" 252 4.90 DE 2010: Big fish in a small pond who does well enough in both the run and pass-rush areas at this level but doesn't not appear athletic enough to transition to OLB, or explosive enough (or big enough) to stay at DE at the next level. Has some moves. Has a good motor. Gets wired to blockers on occasion. GRADE: Slightly positive

Brandyn Harvey 3 6' 2.6" 195 4.55 WR 2010: Villanova's go-to receiver who is a smooth, gliding type of athlete. makes things look effortless at times. 4.55 may be generous. Tough blocker for his size, especially on smaller corners. Efficient and productive, and has reasonably good hands. Dime a dozen for the next level though....GRADE: Slightly positive

Osayi Osunde 23 6' 0.3" 236 4.80 LB 2010: VU's best defensive football player. Could quite possibly start for most FBS programs. Has nice triangle numbers. Solid tackler when the play is in front of him. Not all that great at reading, reacting and pursuing. Might be a backup with a team that lacks a ton of talent at the ILB position. Productive and authoritative at this level of play. GRADE: Neutral

Ross Ventrone 14 5' 9.0" 185 4.60 S 2010: little bro of the Patriots' Ray Ventrone. Feisty little safety. Gets by on guts, smarts and instincts, and that covers a "multitude of sins" in my book. Sure he doesn't have the physical package you want but he plays the game the way it's supposed to be played. Productive tackler. Pays bigger and faster than listed. All that having been said, I wouldn't use a draft pick on him, but he'd certainly be on my short list of priority UDFAs. GRADE: Slightly positive

Phil Matusz 94 6' 2.2" 282 5.05 DT 2010: Just a guy. No pro future. Very nice FCS level DT, but he is the best they have at the position, and D-line depth may be VU's Achilles heal if they are expecting to have a shot at a national championship this fall. Workman who does OK in the run game.
Hand fights too much. Good stamina. GRADE: Slightly negative

Brian Brannigan 60 6' 2.7" 286 5.25 OG 2010: Playing center, but appears to need help even with the NU defensive linemen which has no King Kongs on it. Pretty quick off the ball. Better pass blocker than drive blocker. Knows how to hold and get away with it. Average-to-above-average FCS center. GRADE: Neutral

Jonathan Bugli 70 6' 4.0" 288 5.45 OT 2010: PLaying ROT now, but is usually the ROG. Villanova has had to shuffle their line somewhat due to injury. Tries to drive block guys from way up high, and needs to get his hands lower and maintain contact better. OK in both phases of the game at this level, but I suspect elites speed rushers would destroy him at the next level. I need to evaluate him back inside some time where he belongs. Does pancake people when he gets them off balance.

Antwon Young 5 6' 3.3" 225 4.70 QB 2010: Best pro prospect in the game, and he doesn't even start. This guy has some really nice tools. Good size and stands tall in the pocket. Scrambles with the best of them and can do damage with his legs inside or wide if the play breaks down. Has an injury history and lacks experience, but gushes talent. Really has a cannon for an arm, especially in intermediate areas. Gets it there fast and with accuracy. Pro size and arm. Agile, athletic and has a very nice upside. Still getting comfortable but looks the best right now he's ever looked in college. He is being used off the bench regularly as a nice change of pace to the starter who is a totally different kind of QB. This guy reminds me of a young Donovan McNabb, and we all need to remember his name. GRADE: Positive (for his 1.5 quarters of mop up duty.)

OTHER NOTES:

NU: True freshman WR Jordan Betts (Sp.?, #87) was their best weapon today. Has some really special open field ability and solid, natural-looking hands. Jr. DE #90 David Akinniyi (6'4", 250) has some tools to watch for next year, for sure. Jr. DB Nate Thellan is a pro prospect and a ballhawk and big-play specialist but it appeared he injured himself again near the end of this one (Arm?)

VU: Junior RB #25 Aaron Ball does a pretty nice job. Junior wingback #4 Matt Szczur is the Doug Flutie clone who does a little of everything, but can't pass nearly as well as DF did. Starting QB #17 Chris Whitney is a scrapper, but you aren't going to win a national title with him at the helm. Lacks athleticism, but plays with a lot of hearts and smarts.