Feb. 3, 2000
VILLANOVA, Pa. - Villanova University head football coach Andy Talley today announced the signing of 12 recruits to National Letters of Intent. Line play was the emphasis of this year's class with seven of the 12 being linemen, including five on the offensive side of the ball.
"We were looking for offensive and defensive linemen in this year's class and we are very pleased with the quality and size of the linemen we signed," said Talley. "Some of these players will have to step in and play right away. Overall, this is one of our best recruiting classes ever."
Pennsylvania and New Jersey were the states that were good to Talley and his staff this year, as the Wildcats signed five from the Keystone State and three from New Jersey. Villanova also received one commitment each from the states of California, New York, Georgia and Ohio.
Villanova is coming off a 7-4 season in 1999 and a final ranking of No. 24 in the national polls. The Wildcats will open the 2000 campaign on Sept. 2 at Rutgers.
2000 VILLANOVA UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP SIGNINGS
| NAME | HT | WT | POS | HIGH SCHOOL/HOMETOWN |
| Matt Baumbach | 6-4 | 295 | OL | Harrison H.S./ Acworth, Ga. |
| Jamil Butler | 6-3 | 208 | LB | Norristown H.S./ Norristown, Pa. |
| Noble Champen | 6-2 | 180 | WR | Oneonta H.S./ Oneonta, N.Y. |
| Matt Chila | 6-3 | 235 | TE | Ocean City H.S./ Ocean City, N.J. |
| Clarence Curry | 6-0 | 185 | CB | Parsippany H.S./ Parsippany, N.J. |
| Carmen DeFrancesco | 6-0 | 185 | CB | Danville H.S./ Danville, Pa. |
| Greg Dickerhoof | 6-3 | 265 | OL | Massillon H.S./ Massillon, Ohio |
| Carmen Falcone | 6-2 | 240 | DE | Perkiomen Valley H.S./ Collegville, Pa. |
| Michael Finn | 6-2 | 265 | OL | Danville H.S./ Danville, N.J. |
| Jason Rogers | 6-4 | 280 | OL | Immaculata H.S./ Dayton, N.J. |
| Mike Roseman | 6-5 | 245 | DL | West Chester East H.S./ West Chester, Pa. |
| Chad Tovar | 6-4 | 280 | OL | Diamond Bar H.S./ San Dimas, Calif |
CAPSULE BIOGRAPHIES OF 2000 VILLANOVA FOOTBALL SIGNINGS
MATT BAUMBACH 6-4 295lbs OL
Harrison H.S./ Acworth, GA
1999: All County (Atlanta Journal Constitution), All County (Marietta Daily Journal), Team Elite (Southeast) Gridiron Great, USA All Star Team (Starting OT)
JAMIL BUTLER 6'3 208lbs LB
Norristown H.S./ Norristown, PA
1999: Captain Senior Year, 1st team All-League (Suburban I), 1st team All-Area (Times Herald), Player of Week, twice (Times Herald), 1st Team All Area, Bucks & Montgomery Counties) (Philadelphia Inquirer), Team MVP, Recorded over 200 tackles in 2 seasons
NOBLE CHAMPEN 6-2 180lbs WR
Oneonta H.S./ Oneonta, N.Y.
1999: 1st team All-League, First team All Metro Binghamton, NY, Player of the Year (Oneonta Daily Star), 1st team All State Section 4, 2nd team All State Class B, 5th in State Triple Jump as Junior
MATT CHILA 6-3 235lbs TE
Ocean City H.S./ Ocean City, N.J.
1999: 1st Team All Conference New Jersey, 1st Team All South Jersey, 1st Team All Area, 1st Team All State Group III
CLARENCE CURRY 6-0 185lbs CB
Parsippany H.S./ Parsippany, N.J.
1999: 1st Team All Conference, 1st Team All County (Coaches), 1st Team All County (Daily Record), 1st Team All County (Star Ledger), 2nd Team Gannett NJ All State-Return Specialist, 2nd Team Gannett NJ All State-Return Specialist, 2nd Team All Star-All Groups, 1st Team All-State
CARMEN DEFRANSESCO 6-0 185lbs CB
Danville H.S./ Danville, PA
1999: Only Player in CSC-Central Susquehanna Conf.- History to be named First Team All-Conference 4 times, 3 Time Defensive Back of the Year, CSC-1997-99, 2 Time Offensive Back of the Year, CSC-1998, 1999, 3 Time Reading Eagle Big School 1st Team-1997-1999, 1999 Reading Eagle Player of the Year, 1999 Football MVP (Bloomsburg Press Enterprise), 3 Time 1st Team All Star & 2 Time DB of the Year (Bloomsburg Press Enterprise), 1998 AP All State 1st Team DB "Big Schools", 1999 AP All State 1st Team DB "Big Schools", 1998 1st Team All Conference (CSC) Basketball
GREG DICKERHOOF 6-3 265lbs OL
Massillon H.S./ Massillon, OH
1999: 1st Team All State Ohio, 1st Team All Conference, 1st Team All District
CARMEN FALCONE 6-2 240lbs DE
Perkiomen Valley H.S./ Collegeville, PA
1999: Team Captain Senior Year (1999), 1st Team All-Pac 10 Junior & Senior Year (1998 & `99), 1st Team Junior & Senior Year (Times Herald), 1st Team Mercury All-Area Junior & Senior Year, The Mercury All-Area Player-of-the-Year Senior Year, PAC-10 Co-MVP Senior Year, All-Bucks & Montgomery County 2nd Team (Philadelphia Inquirer)
MICHAEL FINN 6-2 265lbs OL
Danville H.S./ Danville, Pa.
1999: Team Captain & Team MVP, 1st Team Big School All-State DL, Defensive Player & DL of the Year (Reading Eagle All Anthracite), Central Susquehanna Conference OL & DL of the Year, All-State (Press Enterprise & Daily Item), Northumberland County 1st Team OL & DL
JASON ROGERS 6-4 280lbs OL
Immaculata H.S./ Dayton, N.J.
1999: Super 100 All-State Football Team (NJ Football Coaches Assoc), 1st Team All-County, Offense (Star-Ledger), All-Area (Gannett Newspapers), 1st Team All-Conference (Mountain Valley), All-East Selection (Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report), All-American (Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report), Ranked as one of the top 5 offensive lineman in NJ (McCarthy Report), Monsignor Kelly Award for Outstanding Achievement (Immaculata H.S.)
MIKE ROSEMAN 6-5 245lbs DL
West Chester East H.S./ West Chester, Pa.
1999: Captain Senior Year, Honorable Mention All-Chesmont for defensive Junior Year, 1st Team Chesmont League Senior Year, 1st Team All-Chester County Senior Year, Named Best Defensive Lineman East High School, Member of the National Honor Society
CHAD TOVAR 6-4 280lbs OL
Diamond Bar H.S./ San Dimas, CA
1999: 3 Year Starter for Varsity Football, DBHS Back-to-Back C.I.F. Southern Section Div. 2 Champions, Named "All Sierra League" OL, January 2000, Named "All Inland Valley" OL.
