Villanova Wildcats quarterbacks Coach Sam Venuto doubles as the offensive coordinator, so it's no surprise that the he's typically recruited signal callers that can both run and throw. He's got one of the best in the country at his disposal for the third straight season in John Robertson - who's picked up the nickname of Pinball (H/T Fact on Villanova Sports) due to his ability to bounce off would-be tacklers in the open field.
The biggest concern since Robertson broke in to the spotlight has been the depth behind him. Robertson has managed to steer clear of the injury bug so far in his career, but his primary backup is the man he replaced during his freshmen season, and past that is a mix of inexperience and youth.
Projected Depth Chart
Quarterback | Year | Height | Weight |
---|---|---|---|
John Robertson | JR | 6'1" | 221 lbs |
Chris Polony | SR | 6'3" | 213 lbs |
Cody Pittman | JR | 5'9" | 178 lbs |
Zach Bednarczyk | FR | 6'1" | 198 lbs |
Quarterback
There's not much more to say about John Robertson, other than he's outstanding and the most important player on the Wildcats roster. He won the Jerry Rice Award for being the top freshmen in all of FCS in 2012, along with being named the CAA and ECAC Offensive Rookie of the Year. He rushed for over 1000 yards and threw for nearly 2000 in his first year of action.
Last season, he was named 2nd Team All-CAA in what many felt was a robbery. He set a school-record by completing 68.4% of his passes en route to 1,957 yards passing and 13 touchdowns (7 INT). He rushed for 1,405 yards and 20 touchdowns. He's a monster, simply put.
Chris Polony serves as the primary backup. He got the starting call against Temple in 2012 before Robertson took over. He hasn't played much since then, but in fairness, he's look pretty good when he's been on the field. He doesn't possess the same skillset as Robertson on the ground, but he's a better passer.
Cody Pittman you'll recognize if you pay attention on field goal and extra point attempts - he serves as the holder during those sets. He's another player that Andy Talley can use for more than just that though. He threw a touchdown pass on a fake field goal attempt vs. Stony Brook last season.
Zach Bednarczyk is the lone freshmen at quarterback this season. Assuming injuries don't take their toll, he'll likely preserve a year of eligiblity. Once Robertson graduates he will be in prime position to take over the starting job. Like Robertson, he's capable both through the air and on the ground. Lastly, Peter Burkly is a walk-on who can provide depth.