Coming into the 2024 season, expectations are high at Villanova; after making the quarterfinals of the NCAA FCS Playoffs, the Wildcats started the season ranked in the top 10 and were picked to win the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) championship.
In the 2023 playoffs, the ‘Cats lost to South Dakota State but gave the Jackrabbits their most competitive game in their run to a second straight National Championship. It was 17-12 early in the fourth quarter before the ‘Jacks won 23-12.
The Wildcats have been in a similar situation before, they lost to South Dakota State in the 2021 quarterfinals and entered 2022 with the weight of expectations only to stumble to a 6-5 mark. The veteran players on the team are committed to making history, not repeating it.
“We've already spoken about it as a team," said cornerback Isas Waxter, a second-team All-CAA player in 2023, "us being rated number one and the last time that happened. For us as a program, we don't like to shy away from anything, we always say, 'Pressure makes diamonds.' So that’s the pressure, being considered number one is not something for us to shy away [from]. It just means we have to work a little harder to make that come to reality for us.”
“Coming out of the ‘21 season, everybody thought we were going to be good and that was when I was stepping in to play quarterback," added Connor Watkins, the preseason CAA Offensive Player of the Year. “We're coming off the CAA championship [and] I’m excited to play with these guys that have experience.
"The ‘22 season went the way it did, and that was a reality check for a lot of us, especially me. So, going into last season, how do we prevent any hiccups that we could face throughout the year? How do we get everybody bought into the same message and that's where ‘we over me came in’.
"We really lived it. So, I think it's that kind of mentality and bringing everybody together and doing things for the greater good of the team that put us in the position we were last year and something that we've tried to keep going into this season.”
Through two games, Watkins has proven to be a dual threat, in the season opener against Youngstown State, he ran for 107 yards and a pair of touchdowns while completing just six passes for 90 yards in the 24-17 win.
In week two, a 28-3 win at Colgate, he threw for two scores, both of which went to newcomer Devin Smith, a first-team All-MEAC performer in 2023, who transferred to Villanova. Watkins finished with 247 yards passing plus 18 yards and a touchdown on six runs.
At 6-3, 225, Watkins can be a physical runner who on occasion will leave his feat to leap over would-be tacklers.
"Coaches are always going to try and see the big picture," said the Williamsport native. "I think players are competitors and they're in the moment. They're going to do what they feel they need to do to make the plays. They're going to tell me afterward if I do something they think is stupid, but he realizes I'm going to play my game regardless."
Or as head coach Mark Ferrante said, “Connor’s going to do what Connor does.”
The hope on the Main Line is that Watkins and a talented veteran group do a lot.*
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