Austin Calitro signs his LOI at Danbury High School in CT

It's National Signing Day, 2012 - and for all you Villanova football recruiting nuts out there, we'll keep you updated as the National Letters of Intent roll in. We'll either be confirming via the Villanova Athletics office or via Twitter/Facebook as recruits update us throughout the day.

Right now, if you've been following our Villanova football recruiting page, 'Nova are expected to receive 15 LOI's today, although one report has the class at 18 members [H/T VUhoops]. This turned out to be true, as Villanova is reporting 18 letters of intent today.

Confirmed Signed LOI

1. Austin Calitro - LB, 6-1, 230, Danbury HS (CT)
2. Tanoh Kpassagnon - DL, 6-7, 245, Wissahickon HS (PA)
3. Cameron McCurry - DB, 6-0, 215, Fleming Island HS (FL)
4. Don Cherry - LB, 6-2, 220, Trumbull HS (CT)
5. Nico D'Angelo - OL, 6-3, 275, Holy Spirit HS (NJ)
6. TJ White - LB, 6-2, 220, Henderson HS (PA)
7. Jonathan Green - OL, 6-2, 295, North Schuylkill HS (PA)
8. Jake Prus - OL, 6-6, 260, Woodstown HS (NJ)
9. Bradley Seaton - 6-8, 280, Brunswick School (CT)
10. Javon White - RB, 5-10, 180, Souderton HS (PA)
11. Shayne Jones - DB, 6-0, 190, Immaculata HS (NJ)
12. Aaron Wells - RB, 5-8, 180, River Hill HS (MD)
13. Corey Majors - LB, 6-1, 230, Worcester Academy (MA)
14. CJ Logan - DB, 5-11, 190, Northfield Mt. Hermon (MA)
15. Patrick McGown - DL, 6-5, 230, Sierra Canyon School (CA)
16. Gary Underwood - RB, 6-1, 215, Winton Woods HS (OH)
17. Mike Burke - WR, 6-2, 200, Columbia HS (PA)
18. Marc Mauro - DB, 6-0, 190, Bayville (NY)

We'll keep this post updated throughout the day, if you have any questions feel free to drop them in the comments and I'll do my best to answer - otherwise feel free to use this as your open thread for National Signing Day 2012!

Shayne Jones, the No. 185 rated defensive back according to ESPN, has committed to the Villanova Wildcats. The news was announced by Brian Dohn of FoxSportsNet via Twitter. Shayne Jones, who played at Immaculata High School in Somerville, NJ, chose Villanova over Central Michigan and Buffalo, among others.

Shayne Jones had zeroed in on Villanova as National Signing Day approached after also considering Central Michigan, Buffalo, Bryant and Albany.

Shayne Jones was the 185th-highest athlete in the ESPN rankings. Jones joins a Villanova squad that is lacking in defensive backfield depth after losing standout Jimmy Pitts to graduation. Jones' versatility should also allow him to compete for playing time on special teams as both a kick and punt returner.

• Shayne Jones Rivals profile
• Shayne Jones ESPN profile
• Shayne Jones Scout profile

2012 offensive line prospect Johnathan Green committed to play for Andy Talley and the Villanova Wildcats on Friday afternoon. The 6'2 290 lb. lineman from Ashland, PA was impressed by the overall package at Villanova.

"I always liked their basketball team, but I never looked that closely at the football team," he said. "But I looked around, weighed the pros and cons and there were absolutely no cons when it came to Villanova. They were all pros, not one single con."

Though he may be considered undersized, at least height-wise, Green believes he boasts the unique athletic ability to play anywhere along the line, but believes his future is at the heart of the line.

"A lot of schools brought that up," Green said. "But I just want to play and Villanova recruited me as an athlete. They told me that they usually recruit players who are 6-5 and are all tackles, then they just put them wherever they fit."

Green becomes the10th commitment for Villanova football in the recruiting class of 2012.

Jon Green Scout profile

Running back Stacey Bedell has decommitted from Villanova following Villanova's opening weekend loss to Temple. Bedell, who committed in early July, at one point said that the Villanova coaches told him the program was moving up to FBS, felt he may have rushed to a decision to soon.

"He felt he committed to Villanova too early and now he wants to be recruited by other schools." - Floyd Coach Paul Longo

Now, by all means, if you don't feel it's the right fit, explore your options. But not calling the coaches yourself to tell them you're backing out? That's a little weak.

"My Dad made the call for me," Bedell told Newsday before practice on Tuesday. "They were pretty upset. But I just didn’t think it was the place for me."

This leaves Villanova at 9 commitments for the class of 2012 recruiting cycle. Thankfully, running back is not a huge priority for the program. Best of luck to Stacey Bedell.

Bryan Osei, a 6'2" 220 lb. defensive end from Abington, PA has committed to Andy Talley and the Villanova Wildcats football team. Osei becomes the 10th commitment in Villanova's 2012 football recruiting class. Osei cited education as the most important factor in his recruitment.

"I had a few Division I-A offers, but education comes before football," said the 6-foot-2, 220-pound senior. "Also, it looks like the team will wind up playing in the Big East. That's exciting to me."

Osei also had offers from Kent State, Temple, Stony Brook and Old Dominion. You can see Bryan Osei's Rivals recruiting profile here.

Highlights of Osei:

Michael Burke has committed to play football for Andy Talley and the Villanova Wildcats. Burke, a 6'3" 195 lb. WR from Columbia, PA, committed Monday morning while visiting campus with his parents. Burke seems relieved to have the recruiting process come to and end.

"Finally," Burke IV said Monday night. "A huge weight off my shoulders."

Burke, like some of the other 'Nova commits, earned his scholarship offer at Villanova's spring camp. He also had visited BYU, Syracuse, Pitt and Towson while receiving interest from Albany, Akron, Boston College, Bowling Green, The Citadel, UConn, Delaware, Maine, Monmouth, SMU and West Virginia – among others.

Burke's father said that relationships with the coaches and how his son would fit into the 'Nova offensive scheme made it a great fit.

"We had a tour and we met the coaches and he just fell in love with the campus and what their plans were for him," said Columbia coach – and Mike’s dad – Mike Burke III. "He fits in really well with their offensive scheme and he really hit it off with their offensive coordinator (Sam Venuto) and wide receiver coach (Brian Flinn)."

Burke also spoke about Villanova's potential move up to FBS football, and corroborated Stacey Bedell's claims that Villanova should know by the fall if they're moving up or not.

Burke IV said that Villanova should learn its fate by the end of the summer, and that if the Wildcats do indeed jump to the Big East, his entire recruiting class would be redshirted. If Villanova remains in the Colonial Athletic Association, Burke IV likely could play right away.

Burke is the first WR in Villanova's 2012 football recruiting class. You can check out Michael Burke's ESPN recruiting profile here.

Highlights and ESPN's analysis is after The Jump.

Continue reading this post »

Villanova Wildcats head football coach Andy Talley received two more verbal commitments on Monday to bring his 2012 class to 8 as the team prepares for the new season.

Tonah Kpassagnon of Wissahickon, PA is a DE/TE who stands at 6'7" and 245 lbs. He was also recruited by Stony Brook and Princeton. Kpassagnon is a raw talent who sports a 39" vertical jump, and impressed 'Nova coaches at their 1-day camp several weeks ago to earn an offer.

Aaron Wells is a RB from Clarksville, MD and stands 5'8" and 185 lbs. Wells was also receiving interest from Stanford, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Wake Forest, although 'Nova was his only offer. Check out Aaron Well's Rivals recruiting profile here.

...Teach Kpassagnon how to play football and it sounds like he could be special, similar to how Ben Ijalana was coming out of high school...Wells is one more weapon with speed to add to the offense...

Villanova Wildcats football head coach Andy Talley landed the 6th commitment in his 2012 class when Javon White committed to Villanova on Wednesday. The speedy RB from Souderton, PA checks in at 5'10", 195 lbs. and rushed for 825 yards and 9 touchdowns last season in a limited role.

White recently clocked a 4.3 40-yard dash time at a one-day camp at 'Nova. You can check Javon White's Rivals recruiting profile here.

...Another speedy RB to pair with Stacey Bedell...doesn't appear the spread is going anywhere anytime soon...

Make sure you read about all of Villanova's 2012 commitments in our Villanova 2012 football recruiting section.