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ELON, N.C. – With the 2017 Elon football season approaching, get to know the Phoenix's upcoming opponents with our preview series. Today, we get a closer look at Villanova.
 
VILLANOVA WILDCATS
 
Location: Villanova, Pa.
Home stadium: Villanova Stadium
Conference: CAA Football
2016 record: 9-4
2016 conference record/finish: 6-2 (T-2nd)
2016 Postseason: Second Round FCS Playoffs
All-Time series: Elon trails 1-0
Head coach: Mark Ferrante (1st season)
Letterwinners returning/lost: 32/14
Offensive/Defensive starters returning: 9/6
Top returning offensive players: 
• RB Aaron Forbes (132 carries, 799 yards, 6.1 ypc, 8 TD, 61.5 ypg)
• WR Taurus Phillips (36 rec., 497 yards, 3 TD, 13.8 ypc, 38.2 ypg)
• QB Zach Bednarczyk (178-297 passing, 2,158 yards, 19 TD, 10 INT, 59.9 completion pct.)
Top returning defensive players: 
• LB Jeff Steep (39 ua, 47 at, 86 total tackles, 8.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 1 INT)
• LB Ed Shockley (59 ua, 27 at, 86 total tackles, 11.0 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 1 FR)
• DB Rob Rolle (39 ua, 24 at, 63 total tackles, 0.5 TFL, 7 INT, 5 PBU, 1 FR)

2017 Schedule
Sept. 2 at Lehigh
Sept. 9 at Temple
Sept. 16 vs. Lafayette
Sept. 23 at Albany
Sept. 30 at Towson
Oct. 7 vs. Maine
Oct. 14 at James Madison
Oct. 28 vs. Elon
Nov. 4 vs. Richmond
Nov. 11 at Rhode Island
Nov. 18 vs. Delaware
 
A Glance at the Wildcats
Head coach Mark Ferrante is in his first season as Villanova's head coach after taking over for 32-year head coach Andy Talley. Ferrante is no stranger to Villanova, however, as he served on Talley's staff for 30 years, including 18 as the assistant head coach.

Villanova returns nine starters on the offensive side of the ball that helped the Wildcats average 378.8 yards and 24.4 points per game a year ago. Quarterback Zach Bednarczyk is the leader of the offense and accounted for 166.0 yards per game through the air and another 41.5 yards per game on the ground last season. He threw for 19 scores and ran for two more. Leading rusher Aaron Forbes, a third-team All-CAA Football selection last year, is also back for the Wildcats. Forbes gained nearly 800 yards on 132 carries during Villanova's 2016 campaign. The offense brings back its top nine pass-catchers from last year, including Taurus Phillips who had a team-high 497 receiving yards and Ryan Bell, a third-team all-conference tight end, who caught a team-best seven touchdowns.

The Wildcats sported the top defense in all of the FCS last year, as the unit allowed just 15.0 points and 259.8 yards per outing. Despite losing lineman Tanoh Kpassagnon to the NFL, Villanova returns six starters on defense. Among them are preseason All-American and preseason CAA Football Defensive Player of the Year Rob Rolle. Rolle, a defensive back, was a first-team all-conference pick last year after ranking ninth in the nation with 0.5 interceptions per game. A third-team all-league linebacker in 2016 and a preseason all-conference selection, Ed Shockley is also back for the Wildcats. Shockley finished the year tied for the team lead with 86 tackles, second on the squad with 4.5 sacks and third on the team with 11.0 tackles for loss.

In 2016, Villanova opened the year with an FBS loss at Pitt before reeling off five consecutive victories. Following a loss at #6 Richmond, the Wildcats picked up league wins over Albany and Maine before suffering its second league setback against #6 James Madison. The following week, Villanova knocked off rival Delaware to wrap up the regular season. In the FCS Playoffs, the Wildcats hosted Saint Francis in a first round game, earning a 31-21 victory, before seeing their season come to a close with a 10-7 loss at #7 South Dakota State in the second round.
 
Matchup
Last year's meeting at Rhodes Stadium is the only meeting between the two programs. The Phoenix fell by a 42-7 margin in that game.