Villanova Football Recruiting 2019: DB Jalen Goodman commits to ‘Nova

While the ‘Nova Nation fixated on the hype surrounding Draft Day, head coach Mark Ferrante and his staff got a verbal commitment from a local star.

Jalen Goodman, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound receiver from Lower Merion (Pa.) announced his decision to stay home and play at Villanova.

Goodman’s recruitment really picked up in May, as he started raking in a handful of scholarship offers. However, he ultimately selected Villanova over offers from Air Force, Army and fellow CAA rivals—Albany and New Hampshire.

Lower Merion’s Class of 2019 two-way star was a standout at wide receiver and safety, excelling on both sides of the ball. Goodman is a dynamic athlete, one that has great football instincts whenever he steps onto the field and is capable of making big plays. Although the Aces struggled this past season, finishing 2-9, Goodman was a bright spot all-throughout.

As a receiver, he averaged over 20 yards per catch and found the end zone five times. On defense—which is where he is expected to play at Villanova—he was a ball hawk. Goodman tallied 65 tackles, three interceptions, three fumble recoveries, and a forced fumble. He was honored as a first team All-Central League defensive back.

Also a member of the school’s track team, Goodman possesses great speed. He runs a 4.6-second 40-yard dash, and can change direction and pick up speed rather quickly. With the way he pursues opposing ball carriers and his intuition as a safety, he should be a nice contributor for Villanova over the coming years.

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