:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/28084759/hitner.0.jpg)
Brandon Hitner, a 6'6" 255 pound offensive lineman from Garnet Valley, PA has signed a National Letter of Intent to play football at Villanova, the school announced this morning. Hitner follows in the footsteps of rising sophomore Matt Donoghue as players to graduate from the run-heavy Garnet Valley football program.
Brandon Hitner committed to Villanova in late-November, and was the seventh commitment in the 2014 class. Hitner, in addition to having an amazing last name for a football player, has primarily played guard in high school, but with his height likely projects as an offensive tackle once he arrives on the Main Line this summer.
Here's the depth chart heading into 2014:
| Class | Name | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior | Vince Kowalski | 6'4" | 305 lbs. |
| (RS) Junior | Brad Seaton | 6'8" | 290 lbs. |
| (RS) Sophomore | Jake Prus | 6'4" | 285 lbs. |
Tackle depth is thin now behind Kowalski, but it's more likely that if Seaton or Prus isn't ready for the left tackle job, some players are shuffled around on the line.
Hitner will likely redshirt as a freshman to work on getting up to speed at the college level and filling out his frame closer to the 280-to-300-pound range that is typical for a Villanova lineman. While he will not likely start immediately, the Wildcats are slated to lose at least four offensive linemen to graduation after the 2014 season, opening up a spot on the roster not far down the line.
Hitner appears to be hitting a major growth spurt, as he weighed just 205 pounds during his junior season but put on nearly 50 pounds in the offseasonbefore helping Garnet Valley to a 10-1 record and Central League championship.
