"In terms of affecting our recruiting, it has been difficult because a lot of players want to know if you're going to be in the Big East," he added. "That would determine whether or not they come to Villanova or go to another Big East school. It's made our recruiting extremely competitive."
Meantime, Talley has a more immediate issue to deal with, and that's maintaining the high standard the Wildcats have established as a national contender in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision, formerly Division 1-AA.
The core of the teams that went 33-9 the past three seasons, won the FCS national championship in 2009, and made the semifinals last season, is gone. Among the 12 starters Talley must replace, 10 were All-Colonial Athletic Association picks, two were first-team All Americans, and one (defensive lineman Ben Ijalana) was a second-round selection in the NFL draft.
Along with Ijalana, quarterback Chris Whitney, a four-year starter, and Matt Szczur, who was widely considered the country's top all-purpose back, must be replaced. He is now an outfielder in the Chicago Cubs organization.
Villanova is picked to finish seventh in the CAA, the top conference in the FCS. In the Sports Network preseason top 25 released Monday, the Wildcats are No. 14, below CAA opponents William and Mary (No. 3) and Delaware (No. 5). The disparity in their rankings indicates how difficult it is to predict the kind of season they'll have.
