:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/15509593/bnyzaw2cuaaeh7p.0.jpg)
Villanova football is hot on the trail for 2014 recruits this summer, landing their third 2014 commitment in the month of June this afternoon when Cardinal O'Hara's Steve Weyler committed to the Wildcats. Weyler is a 5-11, 170-pound placekicker and punter with a strong leg. He started at kicker for O'Hara for the last three seasons, earning first-team all-Catholic League Class AAA honors as PK last year and was a second-team punter.
Weyler received interest from Stanford, Miami, Harvard and Army in addition to Villanova, but the Springfield, PA native chose to stay close to home at Villanova. Kickers rarely receive scholarship offers this early in the process and are instead asked to walk-on and wait to see if a scholarship will be available -- Villanova offered one, however.
He showed a strong interest in Stanford during the process, making two unofficial visits and planning to attend their camp this summer.
I will be attending Villanova University #Wildcats #NovaNation
— Steve Weyler (@sweyler37) June 27, 2013
#UpperHand K Steve Weyler to #Villanova!!! Huge get for the boys on the Main Line.
— Matt Alkire (@MattAlkire) June 27, 2013
He decided to pull the trigger on a college decision early on, however, and Villanova was looking for a kicker and punter to replace Mark Hamilton after Fall 2013 season ends. Weyler, hailing from the Wildcat's backyard, became an obvious target.
"Villanova wants me for more than kicking and punting," he told Philly.com. "They want me as a young man, not just as a football player. It feels good to know you're not being seen as a commodity. Villanova has always treated me fantastically.
"Another reason I'm picking Villanova is this early offer. Most of the time, kickers/punters have to be walk-ons or maybe they get a last-minute scholarship. To offer me this so early, it shows what kind of program they have, and that they value special teams. That means a lot to me."
Also currently committed to the 2014 recruiting class are defensive tackle Rick Young, receiver Alessandro Padovani, and cornerback Mark Clements.